Techcyte, Aignostics launch AI-guided NGS macrodissection workflow

Techcyte says AI-guided macrodissection for next-generation sequencing preparation is now available in Fusion AP, using Aignostics’ HETA Tumor Cellularity. The workflow is designed to help pathology teams find tumor-rich regions, set scraping boundaries, and reduce failed or repeated molecular tests.

Why it matters: - Pathology teams need enough tumor cells and enough tissue for downstream molecular testing. - A better macrodissection workflow can reduce failed sequencing runs and repeat testing. - The new workflow connects digital slide review, pathologist decision-making, and physical tissue scraping in one process.

What happened: - Techcyte announced that AI-guided macrodissection for NGS preparation is now available on Techcyte Fusion AP. - The workflow uses Aignostics’ HETA Tumor Cellularity product. - The announcement came Oct. 16, 2026, ahead of Pathology Visions 2026 in San Diego. - Techcyte will show the workflow at booth 410. - Aignostics will show the workflow at booth 311.

The details: - Within Fusion AP, pathologists review a digital H&E slide with cell classification and tissue segmentation overlays from HETA Tumor Cellularity. - The overlays highlight candidate tumor-rich regions. - Pathologists can adjust tumor cellularity thresholds and refine scraping boundaries based on the intended test requirements. - The system updates estimated tumor cellularity, scrapable surface area, tumor cell count, and total cell count as regions change. - After a pathologist confirms a region, a slide-sized view helps a histotechnician align the corresponding physical unstained slide with the selected boundaries. - The histotechnician then uses the view as a guide for scraping. - HETA Tumor Cellularity is part of Aignostics’ HETA Clinical product family. - Techcyte Fusion AP and Aignostics’ HETA Tumor Cellularity are for Research Use Only in the United States and are not for diagnostic use. - Techcyte Fusion is for Research Use Only in the United States.

Between the lines: - The collaboration is aimed at a common failure point in molecular pathology: tissue selection that does not meet tumor-content requirements. - Aignostics is positioning HETA Tumor Cellularity as a cell-by-cell quantification tool that proposes a region for macrodissection. - Techcyte is positioning Fusion AP as a handoff layer that translates digital review into a practical scraping guide for lab staff. - The workflow reflects a broader push to use AI to standardize pre-analytical steps before sequencing.

What's next: - Pathology teams can evaluate the workflow in person at Pathology Visions 2026. - Broader adoption will depend on how labs assess utility in research workflows and fit with their existing molecular testing processes. - Techcyte and Aignostics are likely to use the conference demo to drive interest among pathology labs and AI-focused buyers.

The bottom line: - Techcyte and Aignostics are packaging AI analysis and macrodissection into a single workflow meant to help labs pick the right tissue before sequencing starts.