Toronto Oral Pathology Service (TOPS)
Comprehensive Oral Pathology Evaluation Services
COVID-19 Update (19/03/2020): Please note: the Toronto Oral Pathology Service remains open and we continue to accept biopsy specimens. Couriered specimens should be delivered to Receiving, located at the driveway entrance on 101 Elm Street, between the hours of 8 am - 2 pm.
For more information about available courier services or for any other inquiries, please email oral.pathology@dentistry.utoronto.ca, as telephone messages to oral pathology will be checked only sporadically.
We will respond to email messages within one working day. Please consider converting to Dentdox as a secure and efficient means of report delivery if you have not already done so.
Thank you for your continued support and stay safe.
The TOPS team
Email: oral.pathology@dentistry.utoronto.ca
With over 6,500 new cases per year, the Toronto Oral Pathology Service (TOPS) at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto is one of the largest oral pathology diagnostic laboratories in Canada. We provide expert diagnostic services to dental and medical professionals across Canada and internationally, while remaining actively engaged in graduate and undergraduate teaching and innovative research.
Our services include standard tissue processing, staining and immunohistochemistry. The average turnaround time for specimens is 3 business days (from receipt of a specimen to issuing a report.)
A Level of Confidence
Our team of certified oral pathologists is always available to discuss reports, supporting superior patient care.
Our collaborations with specialists across the Faculty of Dentistry’s Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery specialties, as well as pathology departments at Toronto’s teaching hospitals, helps us ensure accurate diagnoses and disease management support.
Read about our experts in oral pathology and oral medicine
How to submit a specimen
Biopsy kits are provided to dental offices at no cost. To request a biopsy kit, call us at 416-864-8243 or email us indicating the number of kits required and the full name of the dentist, office address and telephone number.
A biopsy fee of $98 CAD includes the standard processing of the soft tissue or hard tissue biopsy specimen, staining, and immunohistochemical studies as required, and a report. Payment may be made by cheque or credit card; the submitting clinician will be billed directly.
Each biopsy needs to be submitted with a completed REQUISITION FORM. (Please note: to maintain patient privacy, we cannot accept forms submitted electronically.)
Please ensure that the specimen bottle is labeled with the patient’s full name as well as the dentist’s name, and that the patient’s name on the bottle matches exactly with the name provided on the requistition form.
Please ensure that the biopsy specimen is placed promptly into the formalin fixative in the specimen bottle, and that the bottle is securely closed. Place the specimen bottle in the provided plastic bag with zip-lock seal, wrap the requisition form on the outside of the plastic bag, and place the specimen package in the provided mail container for shipping.
Please use the provided address label for shipping. Transport of the specimens is the responsibility of the submitting doctor. Specimens may be sent by: Canada Post Priority Courier or other courier services.