Lab Setup

Mohs, dermatopathology, GI path & histology lab setup

Turnkey setup for frozen-section and pathology labs — layout, equipment, installation, validation, and the CLIA documentation you need on day one. Then we stay on to keep it inspection-ready.

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From empty room to inspection-ready lab

Opening a pathology or histology lab is a major undertaking — layout, equipment, validation, and the CLIA documentation that has to exist on day one. BMCA sets it up end to end, then stays on as the team that keeps every instrument calibrated, maintained, and audit-ready.

Why set up with BMCA

Most vendors sell you a box and leave. We plan the workflow, install and validate the equipment, build your documentation file, and become the recurring service partner that protects the investment — one accountable team from setup through every future inspection.

What setup includes

Lab layout & workflow planning
Equipment specification & sourcing guidance
Cryostat, processor, microtome & stainer setup
Installation, calibration & electrical safety
Refrigeration & temperature monitoring setup
Baseline certificates & maintenance logs
Slide / specimen storage planning (10-yr retention)
Ongoing PM & calibration to stay inspection-ready

Built for your specialty & specimen mix

Mohs surgery lab

Frozen-section lab co-located with the surgical suite — built around the cryostat, staining line, and a teaching microscope for same-day margin reading. CLIA high-complexity.

Dermatopathology lab

Permanent-section derm path — processor, embedding, microtomy, H&E and special stains, and coverslipping, with the QC and storage a derm-path practice needs.

GI / gastrointestinal pathology lab

Endoscopy-driven biopsy volume — high-throughput processing, microtomy, and staining tuned for small GI specimens and rapid turnaround.

Histology lab

A general histology bench — grossing, processing, embedding, sectioning, staining, and coverslipping, scaled to your specimen mix and volume.

A clear path from plan to go-live

Plan & design

STEP 01 Layout, workflow, bench placement, ventilation, eyewash/sink, chemical storage, and slide-storage planning sized to your case volume.

Specify & source equipment

STEP 02 Cryostat, tissue processor, embedding center, microtome, stainer, coverslipper, microscope, refrigeration — matched to your lab type and throughput.

Install & validate

STEP 03 Equipment installed, calibrated, electrical-safety tested, and verified — with baseline certificates that start your documentation file.

Document & go live

STEP 04 Maintenance logs, temperature monitoring, QC records, and labeling set up so you open CLIA-ready — not scrambling at your first inspection.

Maintain & stay ready

STEP 05 Ongoing calibration, PM, and refrigeration service keep the lab inspection-ready for life — the recurring partnership that protects your investment.

The full pathology & histology bench

Cryostats (frozen section)
Tissue processors
Embedding & cold plates
Rotary & sliding microtomes
H&E & special stainers
Automated coverslippers
Teaching / lab microscopes
Flotation water baths
Lab refrigerators & freezers
Fume hoods & ventilation
Slide & cassette printers
Chemical storage & eyewash

Mohs, dermatopathology, GI path & histology lab setup — common questions

What does it take to set up a Mohs lab?

A Mohs lab is built around a cryostat for frozen sections, a staining line, and a microscope — located close to the surgical suite for fast tissue transport. It operates as a CLIA high-complexity laboratory, so beyond equipment you need validated instruments, a laboratory director, maintenance and QC documentation, and proper specimen and slide storage. BMCA plans the layout, installs and validates the equipment, and sets up the documentation so you open inspection-ready.

Do I need CLIA certification for a Mohs or pathology lab?

Yes. Mohs and pathology testing are categorized as high-complexity under CLIA, which requires a Certificate of Compliance or Accreditation (not a waiver). We set the lab up to that standard — calibrated, electrically safe, temperature-monitored, and documented — so you can meet certification requirements from the start.

What's the difference between setting up a Mohs, dermatopathology, GI path, and histology lab?

They share core histology equipment but differ in workflow: Mohs is frozen-section and same-day, co-located with surgery; dermatopathology and GI pathology are permanent-section with processing, embedding, and staining tuned to their specimen types and volumes; a general histology lab is scaled to your overall specimen mix. We tailor layout, equipment, and throughput to each.

How long does it take to set up a lab?

It depends on space readiness, equipment lead times, and your certification path. We give you a clear, staged plan — design, sourcing, installation and validation, documentation, and go-live — so timelines are predictable.

Do you maintain the lab after setup?

Yes — that's the point. After go-live we keep every instrument calibrated, electrically safe, and preventively maintained, with refrigeration service and documentation that keep you inspection-ready for the life of the lab. Setup is the beginning of the relationship, not the end.

What slide and specimen storage is required?

Under CLIA, pathology slides are retained for ten years, with structured storage planned from the outset. We build storage and documentation planning into the setup so retention and retrieval aren't an afterthought.

See where your lab stands — free.

Request a no-obligation Compliance & Equipment Readiness Assessment. We'll spot-check your equipment and documentation and leave you a short readiness report.

Prefer to talk? Call 305.238.5326