Iran’s laboratory facilities on par with int’l standards

Tehran, Dec 8, IRNA - Iran’s specialized facilities and specialists on laboratory diagnosis are comparable to global standards, said Peyman Mohammadi Torbati, the scientific secretary of the 16th National Congress of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In an exclusive interview with 'Iran Daily', published Monday, Torbati added that currently, there are 5,400 medical laboratories and 2,000 pathologists nationwide. Given its population of 78 million, he said, Iran has one medical diagnosis laboratory for every 15,000 persons. He added that each year 100 pathology and medical laboratory assistants graduate from universities. In fact, medical labs render services to physicians in various fields, he said noting physicians should turn to clinical pathologists for assistance in diagnosis. Mohammadi Torbati continued that the seminar is scheduled for December 10-12 at Tehran’s Razi International Convention. He added 150 academic papers would be presented in the seminar. The three-day event, he noted, seeks to upgrade the scientific level of pathologists, specialists, assistants, and general practitioners. The discussions will focus on gynecological diseases, digestive system, pediatrics, blood bank and new laboratory methods, he added. He listed other topics of discussion at the congress as liver and pancreas pathology, skin pathology, hematopathology, cytopathology, molecular diagnostic techniques, comprehensive management and quality control in laboratory, pediatric pathology, flow cytometry (FCM), blood bank, latest news on biochemistry, immunology, and microbiology. In addition, roundtables and panel discussions on clinical issues, thyroid diseases, pathology of gastrointestinal infections, pathology of gynecological diseases, antibiotic resistance and challenges in diagnosis of diabetes will be held on the sidelines of the congress. Participants in the congress will include pathologists and specialists, he said. The congress will be organized jointly by the Oncopathology Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Blood Transfusion Organization, Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Iranian Center for Disease Control, Iranian Cancer Society (ICS), and Iranian Research Center for Infectious Disease, he concluded./end