Hospital & Surgery Center

Pathology Services

Overview

Collaborative Relationships & Direct Communication

At Sagis, we prioritize strong relationships and open communication with the hospitals and surgery centers we serve. Our pathologists are accessible, responsive, and engaged—committed to working alongside clinical teams to support high-quality patient care. We believe collaboration leads to better outcomes, fewer errors, and more efficient care delivery. When questions arise or clinical input is needed, your physicians will know exactly who to call.

In-depth experience

Subspecialty-Driven Diagnostic Support

We operate within a subspecialty practice model that ensures every case is reviewed by a pathologist with focused expertise. This approach enhances diagnostic accuracy, reduces variability, and promotes meaningful communication with clinicians. Whether the case is straightforward or highly complex, our pathologists bring a depth of experience that reflects both academic rigor and practical insight.

Surgical Pathology

Collections Guide

Gross examination with additional H&E stain for pathologic evaluation. Special stains and immunohistochemistry as ordered by pathologist to assist in diagnosis.

Surgical Pathology Collection Guide

Meet Our Pathology Specialists

Jordana Paine
Laboratory Director, Huntsville Memorial Hospital
Cytopathology, Hematopathology, Surgical & Hospital
Stephen Samuel
Laboratory Director, St. Joseph Medical Center
Hematopathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Cytopathology, Surgical & Hospital
Ghassan Tranesh
Laboratory Director, the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.
Anatomic / Clinical Pathology & Cytopathology
Thomas Wheeler
Director of Surgical & Cytopathology
Urologic Pathology, Thyroid Pathology
Robyn Gaffney
Breast Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Surgical & Hospital, Cytopathology
Jason Gregorio
GI Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Surgical & Hospital

Certifications & Accreditations

Lab Compliance

In addition to diagnostic services, Sagis provides CLIA and CAP-compliant laboratory medical directorship to hospitals and surgery centers. Our pathologists are experienced in fulfilling the oversight requirements for accredited laboratories, including quality management, regulatory compliance, inspection preparedness, and clinical liaison roles. We work closely with administrative and clinical teams to maintain operational excellence and ensure the highest standards of laboratory medicine.

At Sagis, we ensure top-tier diagnostic services and proudly uphold the highest standards of pathology excellence with our CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory.

CAP Accredidation
On the Cutting Edge of Patient-Focused Lab Services

Accurate Results. Reliable Partnership.

Sagis is a full-service pathology and laboratory testing provider, partnering with physicians, clinics, and health systems to deliver accurate, timelyresults. Our board-certified pathologists, laboratory experts, and responsive client services team work together to support better clinical decision-making  and patient care.

Whether you need pathology interpretations, toxicology testing, or specialized lab services, Sagis offers the expertise, technology, and personalized service that help elevate your standard of care.

We are here to help

Frequently
asked questions

If your question isn’t addressed below, please contact us

Working With Sagis

Sagis provides comprehensive anatomic and clinical pathology services to hospitals and surgery centers across Texas. Our pathologists serve as Laboratory Directors at partner institutions and integrate directly with clinical teams to support high-quality, timely patient care. Services include intra-operative frozen section consultations, cytological adequacy assessment, subspecialty-driven diagnostic review, and full CLIA/CAP laboratory medical directorship.

Yes. Sagis is 100% physician-owned. Our hospital pathology services are led by board-certified pathologists who bring both academic training and real-world community hospital experience to every institution they serve.

Pathologist Access & Collaboration

Highly accessible. Our pathologists are embedded in the institutions they serve, participate in hospital leadership committees, and are available for direct physician-to-pathologist communication. When clinical questions arise, your physicians will know exactly who to call.

Yes. Our pathologists actively contribute to quality, safety, and laboratory-focused committees within each partner institution. This participation helps integrate diagnostic medicine across departments and ensures pathology expertise informs broader clinical and operational decisions.

Absolutely. Direct communication between clinicians and pathologists is a core part of how we operate. Our pathologists are responsive, engaged, and committed to collaborative case discussion, particularly for complex or urgent diagnoses.

Intra-Operative & On-Site Services

Yes. Sagis provides frozen section and intraoperative consultation support for hospitals and surgery centers. As digital pathology continues to transform surgical pathology practice, we are investing in technology-enabled workflows that connect facilities with experienced pathologists, expand access to subspecialty expertise, and create scalable solutions for the future of patient care.

Cytological adequacy assessment is an on-site evaluation performed at the time of specimen collection to confirm that a sample contains sufficient diagnostic material before the patient leaves the procedure room. Sagis provides this service to help reduce non-diagnostic rates, minimize the need for repeat procedures, and improve overall efficiency of patient care.

Subspecialty Diagnostic Expertise

Our subspecialty practice model ensures every case is reviewed by a pathologist with focused expertise in that specific area of medicine. This approach enhances diagnostic accuracy, reduces variability, and supports more meaningful communication with the treating clinical team, whether the case is routine or highly complex.

Our team includes subspecialty expertise across dermatopathology, gastrointestinal and hepatic pathology, genitourinary pathology, renal pathology, hematopathology, cytopathology, and more. This breadth supports a wide range of surgical and medical cases across hospital departments.

Laboratory Directorship & Compliance

Laboratory medical directorship encompasses the full scope of oversight required to operate an accredited clinical laboratory. At Sagis, our pathologists fulfill directorship responsibilities including quality management, regulatory compliance, inspection preparedness, and clinical liaison roles. We work closely with both administrative and clinical teams to maintain operational excellence and meet the highest standards of laboratory medicine.

Sagis supports compliance with CAP (College of American Pathologists), CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), JCAHO (The Joint Commission), DNV, and COLA. Our pathologists are experienced in preparing for and navigating laboratory inspections under each of these frameworks.

Our pathologists work proactively with hospital laboratory and administrative teams to maintain documentation, quality indicators, and procedural standards required for inspection readiness. We do not wait for inspection cycles to identify gaps. Ongoing compliance oversight is built into how we operate day to day.

Yes. Our clinical pathology support services include transfusion medicine oversight, laboratory operations guidance, and test utilization review. These services help hospitals manage costs, reduce unnecessary testing, and ensure laboratory resources are aligned with clinical needs.

Specimen Collection & Submission

All surgical pathology specimens should be submitted in a 10% neutral buffered formalin container at a specimen-to-formalin volume ratio of 1:20. Place tissue in formalin immediately after collection. Each container must be labeled with at least two patient identifiers (full name and date of birth) and the specimen source. A completed Surgical Pathology Requisition including pertinent clinical history, rule outs, ordering physician name, and specimen source should accompany the specimen in the outer pocket of a sealed biohazard bag. Transport to the lab via courier or shipping service. View our Surgical Pathology Collection Guide for complete instructions.

Yes. Several tissue types require handling outside of standard formalin fixation. Lymph node specimens with a suspected lymphoma diagnosis should be submitted fresh in RPMI (or fresh/refrigerated if RPMI is unavailable). Breast tissue must be placed in formalin within one hour of biopsy or resection, with collection date, time, and time in formalin noted on the requisition. Products of Conception (POC) may be submitted in formalin or fresh in RPMI depending on whether chromosome analysis is needed. Stones (kidney, gallbladder, urinary bladder, salivary, prostate) must be submitted dry, without formalin or any other liquid. For muscle, nerve, or kidney biopsies, please notify the lab in advance as a special kit is required. Failure to do so may result in specimen rejection.

Specimens may be rejected for the following reasons: the container is unlabeled; the specimen is a Category A infected specimen (CJD); the specimen was not received from a licensed, authorized source; or the specimen was intended for a different laboratory. Proper labeling with at least two patient identifiers and accurate requisition completion are the most important steps in avoiding rejection. Refer to the Sagis Surgical Pathology Collection Guide for full requirements. 

Turnaround Time

Standard surgical pathology cases have a turnaround time of 24-48 hours. Cases requiring immunohistochemical (IHC) studies for diagnostic clarification have a turnaround time of 48-72 hours. For intra-operative frozen section consultations, our pathologists provide real-time results to support surgical decision-making. If you have questions about turnaround expectations for a specific case type, contact your Sagis pathologist or account representative directly.

Getting Started

We welcome conversations with hospital administrators, CMOs, and laboratory directors interested in exploring what a Sagis partnership could look like for their institution. Setting up service is simple. Contact your local sales representative to establish your account by finding your territory rep using our Find My Sales Rep Map or by submitting our Become A New Client form. After setup is complete, you can easily order specimen supplies, requisition forms, and courier services through your rep or directly via our Supplies & Requests portal.