Standardized Staining Technology Advances Digital Pathology Workflows

Digital pathology is increasingly used to streamline cancer diagnostics, yet staining variability can hinder slide interpretation and limit the reliability of artificial intelligence tools. Laboratories require consistent, reproducible color and contrast to support remote review and algorithm performance at scale. A new quality-control slide system now supports standardized staining to accelerate AI-enabled diagnostic workflows.

The technology, called TANGO, was developed at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s National Pathology Imaging Co-operative and is positioned for international deployment through a commercial agreement with Epredia. Under the partnership, Epredia will develop new pathology slide products incorporating TANGO and make them broadly accessible to laboratories adopting digital pathology. The agreement enables wider roll-out across the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Image: Professor David Brettle, Chief Scientific Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust with a pathology slide showing the TANGO technology (Photo courtesy of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

TANGO uses a specially designed reference slide that functions as a quality control measure during staining. By providing an internal standard within the staining workflow, the system is intended to reduce variation, improve inter-run consistency, and support faster, more efficient cancer diagnostics. The approach targets a widespread challenge in pathology labs where slight staining differences can affect result interpretation and limit the effectiveness of artificial intelligence tools.

According to the organizations, TANGO has been evaluated through international research demonstrating support for quality assurance across pathology workflows. Epredia, described as the world’s largest diagnostic glass slide manufacturer, plans to begin integrating TANGO into new laboratory slides from late 2026. The collaboration brings together NHS innovation and industry manufacturing expertise to extend access to standardized staining for digital and AI-enabled pathology.

“Digital pathology and AI have the potential to help accelerate cancer diagnostics speed and quality and ultimately improve patient care. By adding this powerful innovation to our world-class portfolio of precision cancer diagnostics products, we are investing in technologies that can help make that future a reality,” said Steven Lynum, President and CEO at Epredia.

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Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Epredia