Why Amyloid Gets It Wrong – and How CAP Plans to Set It Right
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January 23, 2026
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8 min
The College of American Pathologists has released a new guideline aimed at standardizing diagnostics for amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by abnormal amyloid deposits. The guideline addresses concerns of variability in laboratory detection methods and highlights the need for early, accurate diagnosis, especially in light of advancements in imaging and therapies. It emphasizes standardized diagnostic panels, the importance of proper specimen handling, and the benefits of mass spectrometry over conventional immunohistochemistry for accurate amyloid typing, which could significantly improve patient outcomes.
1. New CAP guidelines standardize amyloidosis diagnostics.2. Emphasis on early detection and accurate fibril characterization.3. Mass spectrometry recommended over immunohistochemistry for typing.4. Importance of well-standardized diagnostic panels.5. Fat pad FNA as a valuable first-line test with limitations.6. Optimal tissue section thickness for staining is 8 to 10 microns.7. Goal to reduce variability in lab practices with guidelines.8. Future advancements may include AI in pathology diagnostics.
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