Pictor Labs launches virtual staining for digital sequencing workflows

Building on the success of its DeepStain and ReStain technologies, ClearStain delivers a clear advantage for sequencing by enabling pathologists to visualise and annotate the exact tissue being selected for molecular testing directly from unstained slides. Pathologists compared tissues and tumours visualised with ClearStain to traditional chemically stained slides and found them visually comparable in 99-100% of regions reviewed. ClearStain made its debut at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2025 Annual Meeting, 5-9 November, in Maryland.

Pictor Labs says that ClearStain redefines the molecular diagnostics workflow by generating AI-powered virtual H&E images directly from unstained slides. This enables real-time visualisation, annotation, and quality control of the exact tissue being identified for testing with no adjacent slides, no lost tissue. In place of chemical H&E staining, ClearStain can preserve tissue for additional downstream assays, improve tumour purity, and lower sequencing failure rates.

"With ClearStain, cases that would have failed sequencing in the past can be rescued," said Megan Rothney, Vice President, Product at Pictor Labs. "ClearStain optimises the sequencing workflow to minimise failures, improve accuracy, and reduce turnaround time. ClearStain is critical for both patients and pathologists. Pathologists can now guide molecular testing with complete confidence, on the same tissue, in real time, and giving molecular data to patients who might not have received it before."

The global shift toward AI-assisted tissue analysis has created demand for interoperable solutions that connect histology and molecular data. ClearStain directly addresses this need bridging the gap between pathology and precision diagnostics with standardised, reproducible imaging outputs that integrate seamlessly into digital pathology workflows.