Charles River Laboratories International Inc. (NYSE: CRL) announced the deployment of an AI-enabled digital pathology platform designed to reduce study timelines and enhance pathologist efficiency in nonclinical research.

The company stated it aims to cut at least one week from standard pathology timelines while maintaining Good Laboratory Practice rigor and regulatory compliance. The platform integrates a histology laboratory information management system, AI-powered slide quality control, and digital primary pathology reviews.

Charles River developed the AI-powered quality control platform in partnership with Deciphex. The system automatically detects scanning artifacts and is being deployed in phases. Scanning quality control is currently in production, while histology artifact detection is targeted for release in the third quarter of 2026, and organ sub-compartment completeness verification is planned for the first quarter of 2027.

The company has implemented GLP-validated digital primary pathology reviews, which it says reduce pathology read times by an average of 20%. Digital reviews eliminate the need to physically ship glass slides and enable collaboration across Charles River's global pathology network.

Charles River is also deploying an integrated histology tracking system called Prima to create a paperless workflow. The company plans to implement AI-powered decision support and anomaly detection tools, with validation plans being developed in alignment with FDA guidance and the EU AI Act.

The platform utilizes Charles River's pathology image library and a network of more than 150 pathologists for model training and validation. The company stated the tools are trained on slides from laboratories worldwide and multiple scanning platforms.

Digital pathology enables the use of Virtual Control Groups, which leverage historical digital slide data to reduce the number of control animals required for studies when scientifically appropriate. The initiative is part of Charles River's Alternative Methods Advancement Project, focused on developing alternatives to traditional animal testing.