Advances in Molecular Pathology: Hong Kong Experience

Abstract

In the recent decades, there is a belief that our fate lies not in our stars but in our genes. Indeed, molecular pathology and genetic analysis has been increasingly applied in daily medical practice. We are now applying molecular pathology in a wide spectrum of practice in Hong Kong. It is important for screening of diseases, from prenatal diagnosis to assessing risk of subsequent development of diseases including cancers. It has become crucial ancillary tool for diagnosis of solid and haematological malignancies with characteristic genetic aberrations. Molecular pathology can predict response to drug, particularly molecular targeted therapy. It has become an indispensable tool in identifying micro-organisms responsible for infection. It is important for matching of transplant donor and recipients. The application in forensic science is vast.To safeguard the interest of patients and upkeep the quality of molecular pathology service in Hong Kong, enormous collaborative effort has been applied to training of pathologists and accreditation of pathology laboratories. Structured training in molecular pathology is introduced into the six-years training of different specialties of Pathology by the Hong Kong College of Pathologists. Accreditation of training centres has been conducted. Moreover, a post-specialty fellowship in Genetic and Genomic Pathology is being established by the College. Accreditation of pathology laboratories on the clinical practice of molecular pathology is also quite commonly conducted involving international and local accreditation bodies.