On-site Laboratory

We process and prepare skin biopsy tissue here in our clinic. For many procedures—especially Mohs surgery—slides are created and evaluated on the same day, in the same facility, so care moves faster and with tighter quality control.

• Faster answers: No shipping delays; fewer handoffs
• Higher quality: Close collaboration between your surgeon and the lab team
• Convenience: Fewer return visits or phone-tag for results
• Safety: Chain-of-custody stays under one roof

Your slides are reviewed by Dr. Hocker, a board-certified dermatologist, dermapathologist, and Mohs Surgeon, with dermatopathology support as needed. When a second opinion or special testing is appropriate, we coordinate that for you.

• Mohs surgery: Tissue is processed immediately using frozen sections; your surgeon examines the margins while you wait and continues only if cancer cells remain.
• Standard biopsy (shave, punch, excision): Tissue is fixed, processed, and examined; results are communicated to you once the report is finalized.

Most routine dermatology biopsies return in 3–7 business days. More complex cases that need special stains, immunohistochemistry, or an outside consult can take longer. We’ll keep you updated.

Yes. We contact patients with all results—benign, atypical, or malignant—and document the plan (no treatment, medical treatment, or further surgery).

Absolutely. Ask at checkout or call us once results are ready. We can also send the report to your primary care provider or referring physician at your request.

Occasionally, stains or consults with a reference dermatopathology lab provide additional clarity. We arrange that for you; it may add a few days to turnaround and could appear as a separate lab charge depending on your insurance.

Our lab operations follow federal and state quality standards (e.g., CLIA) with routine quality-assurance checks, equipment maintenance, and proficiency testing.

We use standardized processing, dual identifiers on every specimen, and closed-loop verification between the surgical and lab teams. When appropriate, we obtain second-reader reviews to enhance diagnostic confidence.

We’ll call you (and/or use your preferred secure method) with clear next steps. If we miss you, we continue outreach and invite you to call the office anytime for an update.

You may see separate charges for:

• The procedure (biopsy or surgery)
• Pathology (the lab’s preparation/processing)
• Professional interpretation (the clinician/dermatopathology reading) Coverage varies by plan; our team can help you understand expected benefits.

Do not stop anticoagulants unless your prescribing clinician instructs you to. We safely perform most skin procedures while you continue these medications.

You’ll receive written instructions. In general: keep the area clean, apply a thin layer of ointment if directed, and change the dressing as instructed. Call us for increasing pain, spreading redness, drainage, fever, or bleeding that doesn’t stop with firm pressure for 20 minutes.

We typically process specimens obtained in our clinic to maintain safety and documentation. If another clinician collected your biopsy, we can coordinate transfer of slides/blocks or reports—just let us know.

Yes. All specimens and reports are handled under HIPAA privacy rules with secure labeling, storage, and communication practices.

We’re happy to facilitate an independent review or send slides to a trusted dermatopathology partner. This does not delay urgent care—we proceed with the safest plan while consultation is pending when necessary.

Call the office and reference your full name and biopsy date. We’ll connect you with a clinician who can review findings, explain terminology, and discuss treatment options.