Technical error in surgical pathology threatens diagnostic accuracy and patient safety, yet its true prevalence remains unclear due to inconsistent definitions and variability in what constitutes a reportable event. Drawing on findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis of the surgical pathology Total Testing Process, this webinar examines the gap between reported (logged) errors and those identified through active detection methods, highlighting how surveillance approaches and quality culture shape observed error rates. Underrecognized contributors, such as specimen contamination, and the challenges of identifying human error in complex manual workflows, will be examined. Framed as a systems-level issue, this session emphasizes the need to move beyond individual blame toward improved definitions, detection strategies, and system design to strengthen diagnostic reliability and patient safety.
