Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. the pathology service providers  through its interactive medical education initiative, ‘Metrospheres’ has embarked on an experience based learning programme in immunohistochemistry (IHC). The objective is to create a pool of industry ready doctors to ensure better patient outcomes and treatment in oncology in an age of evidence based medicine. It would also impart special hands on training to post graduate students of MD/DNB Pathology, besides practicing pathologists.

IHC is used for prognosis of tumors and as a justification to commence expensive targeted therapy in oncology in patients. The wider application of IHC is that it enables a surgical pathologist to participate in the subsequent clinical decision making process.

According to Metropolis, the training programme imparts theory and extensive hands-on experience in IHC techniques. The Metrospheres IHC module, would create a better understanding of this complex subject and troubleshoot problems in oncosurgical pathology & oncohematology.

“With this initiative we have created a platform to bring together practicing and  training pathologists to discuss complex IHC markers which have a direct role in targeted therapy and personalised cancer treatment. As technology and science meet at Metropolis we feel it is important to familiarise the next generation with the latest techniques. The hands on training will help them to standardise this beautiful test in their own laboratories & hospitals, said Dr. Kirti Chadha, national coordinator & HOD, surgical pathology.

The laboratory demonstrations, exercises, discussions, and trouble-shooting sessions focus on IHC clinical & technical, ASCO/CAP reporting guidelines for ER, PgR & HER2Neu, role of IHC in Hodgkin & Non Hodgkin Lymphomas, carcinomas overview especially CUP that is carcinoma of unknown primary and sarcomas overview.  

Metropolis, the pathology specialists which have provided over 15 million tests annually, catering to over 10,000 laboratories, hospitals, nursing homes and two lakh consultants. It is the only multinational chain of diagnostic centres with presence in UAE, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius and Ghana. Its network includes 105 state-of-art laboratories across India with over 700 collection centres, processing over 4500 varieties of tests and supported by an efficient team of more than 3000 people. Since a decade it has expanded into new service lines like clinical trials, hospital lab management, home health services, preventive health check-ups and corporate & wellness solutions.

It has CAP (College of American Pathologists), accreditation and its 12 laboratories in India are NABL certified. Its Mumbai lab adheres to CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) Its unit in South Africa is approved by South African National Accreditation System.