Dubai: The American Hospital of Dubai (AHD) has become the first private hospital in the UAE to make available to residents a sophisticated technology to make a definite diagnosis on some cancers within hours rather than days, saving precious time for patients.
The flow cytometer, a sophisticated laser cell counter system, is able to diagnose tumours of blood cells (leukaemia) and lymph nodes (lymphoma) and help expedite treatment. Previously, this diagnostic tool was available only at the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA’s) Rashid Hospital and Dubai Hospital.
How does it work?
Dr Aaron Han, Hematopathologist and Chief of Pathology at AHD, explained : “Flow Cytometry is a sophisticated instrument that can specifically analyse cells using a laser detector. The patient’s tissue is obtained through biopsy or blood draw and this specimen is analysed. The cells are first marked with specific antibodies that can distinguish and differentiate different cell types through lasers. The information, referred to as immunophenotyping is then interpreted through skills of a highly trained certified cytometrist. Initial results are available within two hours rather than days. Typically, it is used for examination of blood, bone marrow, or lymph node specimens,” he explained. “With traditional diagnostic methods [tissue pathology] it is very difficult to make a definitive diagnosis in most cases of lymphomas and leukaemias. Immunophenotyping information from flow cytometry gives us the information needed to be certain, and it also informs treatment decisions, predicts tumour behaviour, prognosis and outcome,”
Public-private collaboration in health care
Dr Rania Medhat Seliem, Hematopathology consultant and Head of Pathology Laboratory, Rashid Hospital, DHA, said that the test which has been available in other countries was established in DHA more than 10 years ago. “Flow cytometry is now an established technology, which is now widely used as standard practice for making diagnosis of hematologic malignancies. The achievement of American Hospital Dubai being the first private hospital offering the service will allow more opportunities for collaboration between the public-private sectors,” she said.
Both the doctors are board certified by the American Board of Pathology with special qualifications in hematopathology, the study of disease of blood cells, and qualified to interpret such studies.
