Within the framework of supporting the 57357 group and its expansion projects, AFNCI took over the cost of establishing and equipping a new pathology lab in Hospital 57357 aiming to provide highest quality service to Egypt’s children. The current pathology lab with an area of 65 square meters will be upgraded to occupy a complete floor with an area of 1050 square meters. Through three stages, the lab will be set up with the latest novel equipment

The first stage is the setting up of  automation pathology.The process  that used to span over three to four days. Now it will be totally automated by adding “same day automation pathology” equipment which will deliver results in one day. Hence the results will be faster and more accurate which will contribute to faster diagnosis and consequently the quick start of the treatment.

The second stage is digital pathology, where the Association will provide the equipment that will scan specimens, store them and provide printed report while automatically sending a digital copy to the patient’s file that is stored on the Hospital’s digital system HIS. Through artificial intelligence the system offers diagnosis for certain types of tumors to help physicians obtain accurate diagnosis. This way the results that used to take a week to be obtained through the old system will be released in one or two days with more accuracy, which will contribute to faster decision making for the children’s treatment.

The third stage, molecular pathology, is a new type of labs that analyses the biological molecules of the specimen. Through this process gene targeted treatment will be determined.

These services and capabilities are offered for the first time in Egypt, while it is available in limited places in the Middle East.

It is noteworthy that work on the first stage started in 2019 and the equipment were received.  Work is in progress for the second and third stages. Hospital 57357 is the biggest project undertaken by AFNCI as it built it and equipped it, and is still supporting it as an important part of the Association’s mission which is to offer free world quality service to children with cancer and to support the Hospital’s expansion projects.