[Automation and the use of robots in the pathology laboratory : A journey through time and a consideration of efficiency].

In the past 20 years, numerous technical innovations were introduced to the histopathology laboratory, providing tools for improved standardization and occupational safety. Digital tracking serves as a backbone accompanying the workflow from the labeling of cassettes and slides to the final steps of preparing whole slide images and archiving blocks and sections. Multifunctional devices eliminated time consuming manual work prone to mistakes and loss of materials. At present, collaborative robots take over manual work that was considered to be exclusive to humans. The advent of these new technologies is expected to ameliorate the increasing staffing shortage in the laboratory but also of histopathologists.