Table 2 Comparison of outcome between oriented and non-oriented fresh rectal suction biopsy (RSB) specimens per biopsy occasion. Diagnostic efficacy was defined as % of RSB occasions yielding a conclusive assessment without need for any repeated RSB. First answer was defined as when the pathologist could answer whether ganglion cells were present or absent, before finishing the G-series (HE, calretinin and S-100). Final answer was defined as answer after full staining routine with HE and automatically ordered G-series. n (%), median (min-max)

Diagnostic efficacy n (%)

36/37 (97)

38/44 (86)

0.119¹

First answer n (%)

20/37 (54)

9/44 (20)

0.002¹

Time from biopsy to first answer (working days)

2 (1–5)

n = 20

3 (2–8)

n = 9

0.015²

Time from biopsy to final answer (working days)

4 (2–8)

n = 37

5 (2–14)

n = 44

0.002²

High-quality RSB specimen/total number of specimens

42/106 (40)

34/136 (25)

0.018¹

Number of biopsy occasions with deeper leveling ordered after the automatically ordered G-series

14/37 (38)

9/44 (20)

0.137¹

Number of levels ordered after the automatically ordered G-series n (range)

8 (3–26)

16 (7–72)

0.012²