This question lies at the heart of diagnostic medicine, and physical examination today is complemented by a formidable array of clinical tests and imaging systems that provide insights that were simply unavailable a generation ago. The Infrared Pathology initiative at IBD is developing diagnostic tests for the next generation.
Diagnosis often begins with a tissue biopsy.
The first step in this procedure is to collect a small piece of the tissue believed to be affected. Typically, the tissue, regardless of type, reveals little of value when examined with the naked eye or even under a microscope. It is only when specialized stains are applied that colours and contrast emerge and the secrets are revealed. Infrared pathology provides colour patterns and contrast to form the basis for diagnosis without the application of any stains. Characteristic tissue changes that occur with disease are reflected by characteristic changes in the infrared spectrum of that tissue.