Waiting for biopsy results can feel like the longest stretch of time imaginable. Whether a small skin lesion was removed for testing or a more complex tissue sample was taken during a screening procedure, the period between the biopsy and the phone call with results is often filled with anxiety and uncertainty. So, how long does it take to get biopsy results in Ontario? The short answer is that most patients can expect results within one to four weeks, but the actual timeline depends on a wide range of variables — from the type of biopsy performed to the workload at the pathology laboratory processing the sample.
Ontario's healthcare system handles hundreds of thousands of biopsy specimens every year. Each one must travel from the clinic or hospital where it was collected, arrive safely at a certified pathology lab, undergo careful processing and microscopic examination by a trained pathologist, and then have a formal report generated and sent back to the ordering physician. Only then does the patient receive a call or appointment to discuss the findings. Every step in this chain can speed things up or slow things down.
This guide breaks down the entire process in plain language. It covers realistic timelines for different biopsy types, explains the factors that cause delays, outlines what Ontario's healthcare benchmarks say about acceptable wait times, and offers practical tips for patients who want to stay informed without adding to their stress.
Before diving into specific timelines, it helps to understand what actually happens to a tissue sample once it leaves the body. A biopsy is not an instant test like a blood sugar reading. It involves multiple carefully controlled steps, and each one takes time.
During the biopsy procedure, the physician removes a small piece of tissue — or sometimes the entire lesion — and places it in a container filled with a preservative solution, usually formalin. This chemical "fixes" the tissue, meaning it stops the cells from breaking down so they can be examined later. The container is labeled with the patient's information and details about the specimen.
If the biopsy was a skin excision for a suspicious mole, a cyst removal, or a punch biopsy, this step happens right in the clinic. For internal biopsies (such as a breast core biopsy or a colonoscopy biopsy), it happens in a hospital or specialized facility.
The preserved specimen must be physically transported to a pathology laboratory. Some large hospitals have on-site labs, which speeds things up. Many community clinics and private practices, however, rely on courier services that pick up specimens on a scheduled basis — sometimes daily, sometimes a few times per week. Transport alone can add one to three days to the timeline.
At the lab, a pathology assistant or pathologist performs "grossing" — a careful visual inspection and description of the specimen. They measure it, note its color and texture, and cut thin slices that will be embedded in paraffin wax. These wax blocks are then sliced into ultra-thin sections using a device called a microtome and mounted onto glass slides.
This processing step typically takes 24 to 48 hours, though it can be longer for larger or more complex specimens.
The glass slides are stained — most commonly with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) — to make the cellular structures visible under a microscope. A pathologist then examines the slides, looking for abnormal cells, signs of infection, inflammation, or cancer.
For straightforward cases, this examination may take one to two days. However, if the pathologist needs additional information, they may order:
Each of these add-ons can extend the timeline by several days to two weeks.
Once the pathologist reaches a diagnosis, they dictate or type a formal pathology report. This report is reviewed, finalized, and sent to the physician who ordered the biopsy. In Ontario, reports may be delivered electronically through systems like the Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS) or by fax.
The ordering physician — whether a family doctor, dermatologist, or surgeon — reviews the report and then contacts the patient. Some clinics call within a day of receiving the report. Others may wait until the next scheduled appointment or batch their callbacks. This final step can add a few days to a week or more, depending on the clinic's workflow.
💡 Did You Know? According to some Ontario family health teams, it can take approximately 10 business days for biopsy results to arrive at the clinic for review — and in some cases, the full cycle from lab completion to the report reaching the family doctor can stretch to four weeks.
Not all biopsies are created equal. The type of tissue sampled, the clinical question being asked, and the complexity of the case all play a role in determining how quickly results come back. Below is a general overview of expected timelines for common biopsy types in Ontario in 2026.
Skin biopsies are among the most common biopsies performed in Ontario. They are often done in a dermatologist's office or a minor surgery clinic to evaluate moles, rashes, or suspicious lesions.
Skin Biopsy TypeTypical Result TimelineNotesShave biopsy5–10 business daysSimple processing; usually straightforward diagnosisPunch biopsy7–14 business daysMay require special stains for inflammatory conditionsExcisional biopsy7–14 business daysLarger specimen; margin assessment may add timeExcision with cancer suspicion7–21 business daysMay need IHC or molecular testing
For patients who have had a mole or skin lesion removed and are waiting on results, the timeline often overlaps with the physical healing period. Learn more about what to expect during recovery from mole removal or explore skin biopsy and skin cancer screening options in Mississauga.
Breast biopsies — including core needle biopsies and surgical biopsies — are commonly performed after an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound finding. In Ontario, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) sets targets for how quickly patients should receive a diagnosis after an abnormal result.
In practice, Ontario has historically met the non-biopsy target more consistently than the biopsy target. Data from 2021 showed that only about 55% of breast biopsy cases post-abnormal mammogram were resolved within 7 weeks, a decline from earlier years partly attributed to staffing challenges. The median time from breast cancer suspicion to diagnosis has been reported at approximately 27 days, but the 90th percentile — meaning the slowest 10% of cases — stretched to 127 days (over four months).
📊 By the Numbers: In 2018, about 77% of breast biopsy diagnoses in Ontario were completed within the 7-week target. By 2021, that figure had dropped to roughly 55%, highlighting the impact of pandemic-era disruptions and workforce shortages.
Biopsies taken during a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy are processed similarly to other tissue samples. Results typically take 7 to 14 business days, though polyps with atypical features or suspected malignancy may require additional testing.
Prostate biopsies, often performed as transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) biopsies or MRI-targeted biopsies, involve multiple tissue cores. The large number of specimens per patient can increase processing time. Results generally arrive within 10 to 21 business days.
Biopsies of lymph nodes, liver, kidney, lung, or other internal organs tend to be more complex. They frequently require immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, or molecular testing, especially when lymphoma or other cancers are suspected. Timelines of two to four weeks are common, and some specialized tests may take even longer.
Biopsy TypeEstimated TimelineFactors That May ExtendSkin (routine)5–14 business daysSpecial stains, cancer suspicionBreast (core needle)7–21 business daysIHC, molecular markers, second opinionGI (colonoscopy/endoscopy)7–14 business daysPolyp complexity, cancer stagingProstate10–21 business daysMultiple cores, Gleason scoringLymph node14–28 business daysFlow cytometry, gene rearrangementOrgan (liver, kidney, lung)14–28+ business daysSubspecialist review, molecular testing
⚠️ Important: These are general estimates. Individual experiences may vary significantly based on the factors discussed in the next section.
Understanding why some patients get results in a week while others wait a month or more requires looking at the many variables that influence the process. Here are the most significant factors.
Ontario's pathology laboratories have faced chronic staffing pressures in recent years. A shortage of pathologists, pathology assistants, and lab technologists means that specimens may sit in a queue before being processed. High-volume periods — such as after a backlog clears following a holiday or after a public screening campaign — can temporarily increase wait times.
The COVID-19 pandemic created significant backlogs in 2020 and 2021, and while recovery has been ongoing, some regions continue to experience longer-than-ideal turnaround times in 2026.
A straightforward skin tag removal that is sent for routine histology is far simpler to process than a breast lumpectomy specimen that requires margin assessment, hormone receptor testing, HER2 analysis, and possibly genomic profiling. The more complex the clinical question, the longer the analysis takes.
Specimens that require any of the following will almost always take longer:
Ontario is a vast province. Patients in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, and other major urban centers generally have access to large academic pathology labs with shorter turnaround times. Patients in Northern Ontario or rural communities may experience longer transport times and have their specimens processed at regional labs with smaller staff.
Some remote communities rely on sending specimens hundreds of kilometers to the nearest qualified lab. This transport delay alone can add two to five days to the overall timeline.
Even after the lab completes the pathology report, there can be a significant delay before the patient hears the results. This depends on:
🗣️ "Systemic fragmentation — not just funding — is what causes some patients to wait months for biopsy results that should take weeks." — Healthcare navigation experts have argued that better coordination between labs, clinics, and patients could dramatically reduce unnecessary delays.
Not all biopsies are treated equally in the queue. Specimens flagged as urgent or "rush" — typically those with a high clinical suspicion of aggressive cancer — are prioritized by pathology labs. A rush skin biopsy for suspected melanoma, for example, may return results in three to five days, while a routine benign-appearing lesion might take two weeks.
If a physician suspects basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, they may request expedited processing, which can shorten the wait.
In some cases, the initial pathologist may be uncertain about the diagnosis and send the slides to a subspecialist or academic center for a second opinion. While this is a sign of thoroughness and good medical practice, it can add one to three additional weeks to the timeline.
Ontario's publicly funded healthcare system processes the vast majority of biopsies. However, some patients access care through private clinics that may have established relationships with specific labs or faster internal workflows. The lab processing itself is still done through Ontario's regulated laboratory system, but the overall coordination may be more streamlined in some private settings.
For patients exploring private dermatology options, finding a top-rated private dermatologist in Ontario may offer a more coordinated experience from biopsy to results.
Ontario Health and its partner organizations have established benchmarks and quality indicators to measure how quickly patients move through the diagnostic process. Understanding these benchmarks can help patients set realistic expectations.
The Cancer System Quality Index (CSQI) tracks several indicators related to diagnostic timeliness. Key benchmarks include:
IndicatorTargetRecent PerformanceBreast cancer diagnosis within 7 weeks (biopsy required)≥90%~55% (2021 data)Breast cancer diagnosis within 5 weeks (no biopsy)≥90%~78% (2021 data)Median time from suspicion to diagnosis (breast)—~27 days (2020 data)90th percentile suspicion to diagnosis (breast)—~127 days (2020 data)
These numbers reveal a gap between targets and reality, particularly for cases requiring biopsy. Ontario Health's 2024-25 Annual Report, published in January 2026, highlighted ongoing programs to improve cancer care pathways, though no biopsy-specific timeline updates were included.
Ontario is not alone in facing diagnostic wait time challenges. However, some provinces have performed better on specific benchmarks. For example, Alberta has historically met or exceeded the ≥90% target for breast cancer diagnosis within 7 weeks post-biopsy, outperforming Ontario in this metric.
For patients with a strong suspicion of cancer, Ontario's guidelines generally aim for:
Despite these targets, some patients have reported waits of several months from initial suspicion to confirmed diagnosis, particularly in regions with limited specialist access.
Different medical conditions come with different diagnostic urgencies and complexities. Here is a closer look at what patients might expect for some common scenarios.
When a dermatologist or family doctor removes a mole that looks suspicious, the biopsy is typically processed with moderate to high priority. If the clinical appearance strongly suggests melanoma, the physician may request a rush. Results for suspicious moles generally come back within 7 to 14 business days, though melanoma cases requiring Breslow depth measurement and staging may take slightly longer.
Patients who are nervous about mole removal can find reassurance in understanding the process. Our guide on whether mole removal causes cancer addresses common concerns, while information on early-stage skin cancer signs can help patients understand why timely biopsy is important.
Many cysts — such as epidermal inclusion cysts, sebaceous cysts, and ganglion cysts — are removed surgically and sent for pathology as a matter of routine, even when cancer is not suspected. In these cases, results typically arrive within 7 to 14 business days. The pathology report confirms the cyst type and rules out any unexpected findings.
For more information about cyst removal procedures and recovery, see our detailed guide on how long cyst removal takes to heal.
Lipomas — soft, fatty lumps under the skin — are almost always benign. However, physicians often send removed lipomas for pathology to confirm the diagnosis and rule out liposarcoma (a rare malignant counterpart). Results for lipoma biopsies typically take 7 to 14 business days. If the pathologist suspects an atypical lipomatous tumor, additional testing may extend the timeline.
Patients recovering from lipoma surgery can learn about recovery expectations after lipoma removal while awaiting their results.
As discussed earlier, breast biopsies in Ontario have some of the most closely tracked timelines. The overall journey from abnormal screening to diagnosis can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the case and regional factors.
The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) has noted that biopsy results are often available within days of the procedure itself, but the complete diagnostic resolution — including any additional imaging, specialist consultations, and treatment planning — takes longer.
Polyps removed during a colonoscopy are routinely sent for biopsy. Most results come back within 7 to 14 business days. The pathology report will classify the polyp type (e.g., hyperplastic, adenomatous, sessile serrated) and note whether any high-grade dysplasia or cancer is present. This information determines the recommended follow-up colonoscopy schedule.
The waiting period can be emotionally challenging. Here are some practical strategies to manage the wait constructively.
At the time of the biopsy, ask the physician or clinic staff:
Having clear expectations reduces uncertainty and gives a concrete date to follow up if needed.
Some clinics operate on a "no news is good news" policy, meaning they only call if results are abnormal. This is not universal. Always clarify the clinic's policy. If the expected timeline has passed and there has been no contact, it is entirely appropriate to call and ask.
While waiting for results, focus on proper wound care. Follow all instructions provided by the physician regarding:
If the expected timeline has significantly passed — for example, if it has been more than four weeks for a routine biopsy — and repeated calls to the clinic have not yielded answers, consider:
Recognizing that diagnostic delays can have serious consequences — both medically and psychologically — Ontario has invested in several initiatives to improve timelines.
Ontario has established Diagnostic Assessment Programs at hospitals across the province. These programs are designed to streamline the journey from an abnormal screening result to a confirmed diagnosis by coordinating all necessary tests, specialist consultations, and follow-ups in one place. DAPs exist for breast, lung, and other cancers.
Patient navigators — healthcare professionals who guide patients through the diagnostic process — have been shown to reduce delays and improve patient satisfaction. Rather than relying solely on hiring more pathologists (which is a long-term solution), navigation services address the fragmentation that often causes the biggest delays: specimens sitting in transit, reports languishing in fax queues, and patients falling through the cracks between providers.
Healthcare experts have argued that investing in navigation and coordination could be more immediately impactful than simply increasing lab funding, particularly given the time required to train new pathologists.
Ontario is gradually adopting digital pathology, which allows glass slides to be scanned and viewed remotely by pathologists anywhere in the province. This technology can:
While these technologies are still being rolled out across the province in 2026, they represent a promising path toward shorter turnaround times.
Ontario Health's ongoing cancer care programs continue to monitor and publish quality indicators through the Cancer System Quality Index. Public reporting of wait times creates accountability and helps identify regions or pathways that need improvement.
The biopsy itself may be performed more quickly at a private clinic due to shorter booking wait times, but the pathology processing is done through Ontario's regulated laboratory system. Some private clinics may have more efficient internal workflows for tracking and communicating results, but the lab turnaround time is generally similar.
This varies by clinic. Always ask at the time of the biopsy what the communication policy is. Do not assume that silence means everything is fine.
An inconclusive result means the pathologist could not make a definitive diagnosis from the sample provided. This may lead to a recommendation for:
Inconclusive results are not uncommon and do not necessarily indicate cancer.
In Ontario, patients have the right to access their own health records, including pathology reports. Some results may be available through online patient portals (if the clinic or hospital uses one). Otherwise, a formal request to the clinic or lab can be made.
The biopsy technique (e.g., fine needle aspiration vs. core needle biopsy vs. excisional biopsy) affects the amount and type of tissue obtained, which in turn can influence processing time. Fine needle aspirates, for example, are often reviewed by cytopathologists and may have different timelines than core biopsies reviewed by surgical pathologists.
Rush or urgent biopsies — typically requested when there is a strong clinical suspicion of aggressive cancer — can return results in as few as two to five business days. However, "rush" status is determined by the clinical team, not the patient.
The question of how long it takes to get biopsy results in Ontario does not have a single, simple answer. For most routine biopsies, 7 to 14 business days is a reasonable expectation from the time the specimen reaches the lab to when the report is finalized. However, the full timeline — from biopsy day to the moment a patient hears the results — can stretch to three to four weeks or longer when transport time, lab processing, additional testing, and clinic communication are all factored in.
The most important variables are the type and complexity of the biopsy, the workload and staffing at the pathology lab, the geographic location within Ontario, and the communication practices of the ordering physician's clinic. Urgent cases with high cancer suspicion are typically prioritized, while routine specimens follow standard processing queues.
Ontario's healthcare system is actively working to reduce diagnostic wait times through technology, navigation services, and quality benchmarking. While the system is not perfect, patients who are informed, proactive, and engaged in their own care are better positioned to navigate the process with confidence.
For those seeking timely skin biopsies, mole evaluations, or minor surgical procedures in Ontario, exploring options at a specialized minor surgery clinic can be a valuable first step toward getting answers sooner.
