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Embedding Capacity Calculator

Laboratory success is a team effort.

Teams can use these calculators to identify gaps, set goals, and plan for future staffing needs. Adjust the workload and time available to explore what’s possible for your lab.

All results represent one person’s workday. Include time spent helping colleagues under additional responsibilities below.

Results (Example)

Projected blocks per hour

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Enter average minutes per block to see projected blocks per hour.

Projected blocks per day

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Enter average minutes per block to see projected blocks per day.

Time allocation

hours(excluding breaks)450 min

    Inputs

    Specimen Types & Additional Responsibilities

    View timing references
    Daily time—

    Flexibility allowance

    Reserve additional time for interruptions, unexpected work, or variation in completion times.

    Allowance method

    Embedding timing reference

    Back to calculator inputs

    These sources offer broad examples, not a required pace. Choose the closest tissue category and adjust for your laboratory’s orientation requirements and workflow. The prefilled Derm and GI values of 2 minutes per block are editable planning examples.

    Published examples · minutes per block
    Tissue or workflowMinutes to enterSource and context
    Biopsy tissue2Marshfield Labs, 2015 · page 2One training program’s graduate competency expectation.
    Surgical tissue1Marshfield Labs, 2015 · page 2One training program’s graduate competency expectation.
    Manual embedding, mixed workload1.2Buesa, 2010Reported 50 blocks/hour; converted as 60 ÷ 50.

    These historical figures are not national standards or Rellan productivity targets. The biopsy reference does not distinguish skin shaves from other biopsies. Use local observations when tissue orientation, fragment count, or equipment changes the work involved.

    Further reading