“Traditionally, these equivocal cases are subjected to fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique for the final status. This test mandatorily requires fluorescent microscope and trained personnel, which is not easily available in all Indian hospitals dealing with cancer cases. Hence this necessitates outsourcing this test to a specialized centre either within the city or outside,” said Dr Gangoli.
Furthermore, the test itself is time-consuming, invariably leading to a waiting period of a week to 12 days, depending on the work load and other variables. DISH, on the other hand, provides the final HER2 status report within 24-48 hours. What’s more, it is available at the same price point as FISH, she said.
Unlike FISH though, DISH is interpreted through the usual binocular, non-fluorescent microscope on the same biopsy tissue, through a different technique. The slide preparation albeit is done on an automated platform, Ventana, in accordance with the standard guidelines. In addition, DISH also enables the pathologist to visualise and thereby select the individual tumour cells better, which is not possible in FISH.
Currently, Cytelabs provides easy access to high-quality cancer diagnostic services to oncologists and patients across 65 partner hospitals in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. As an exclusive tissue pathology lab, with an accent on cancer pathology, it provides accessible, affordable and accurate evidence-based tissue pathology reports in the shortest possible turnaround time so that the right treatment can ensue seamlessly.
With highly trained personnel, Cytelabs also performs specialized tests, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), integral to cancer diagnosis, using the automated Ventana platform for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The focused expertise allows Cytelabs to deliver precise oncopathological services that greatly contribute to improved patient outcomes.
