The microscope has played a central role in histological analysis. Now, an alternative technique, originally designed for DNA microarray analysis, has been adapted for use in the rapid and quantitative analysis of histological specimens. Hanzel et al. compare the performance of a confocal laser fluorescence microscanner with that of a conventional microscope, studying immunostained amyloid plaques from Alzheimer's patients and brain sections from a transgenic model of Alzheimer's. They found that the scanner has a larger field of view, more uniform response, superior light collection, and larger dynamic range than traditional microscopic analysis (see p. 53).