GE HealthCare Invests In Blood Cancer Testing Technologies

GE HealthCare announced that its company Clarient Diagnostic Service Inc. has made improvements in its fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technologies for analysis of testing results for a range of blood cancers including leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndrome.

The company is now offering a new service called PATHSiTE Virtual HemeFISH (VHF) as an integrated component of a web-based case management portal as part of the new upgrades. PATHSiTE VHF will aid pathologists in better interpretation, diagnosis, and reporting of suspected blood diseases and cancers.

Blood cancers affect the production and function of blood cells such as fighting infections or preventing serious bleeding events. Over 254,000 patients in the US are living with leukemia, while nearly 602,000 are affected with lymphoma, according to the Leukemia Research Foundation. Approximately 35,000 to 55,000 people are living with myelodysplastic syndromes in the US. Blood cancers claim an estimated 60,000 deaths per year.

Cindy Collins, CEO of Clarient Diagnostics Services, said, “GE Healthcare has invested significantly to ensure our services are cutting-edge and among the best available in the industry. The new VHF service will help pathologists provide better diagnoses, enhancing the care provided to patients. Simultaneously, we have upgraded all of our leukemia and lymphoma panels to further improve sensitivity and specificity and simplify the pathologists’ experience. In clinical practice, it is vital to provide an accurate, complete and timely diagnosis in order to treat patients appropriately and these improvements will help pathologists achieve this.”

The company provides pathologists and oncologists with diagnostic test access to help understand the complex nature of various cancers. Clarient said the VHF solution is the latest innovation in digital pathology. It combines intuitive viewing experiences with case management and reporting power on PATHSiTE to improve the way pathologists read, interpret, and report suspected hematologic malignancies. Clarient designed PATHSiTE Virtual HemeFISH to help healthcare professionals make informed decisions regarding the best treatment for patients.