Innovations in Diagnostics: AI-Powered Pathology Research in South Africa
Johannesburg – The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has announced a major initiative centered on artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology research, aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy, consistency, and efficiency within South Africa’s public health framework.
This program is part of the NHLS’s broader mission to modernize laboratory medicine and harness innovation to boost patient outcomes.
A key area of focus is haematopathology, where assessing plasma cell burden is critical for diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as multiple myeloma.
Traditionally, this evaluation has been time-consuming and prone to variations among observers, particularly when plasma cells are sparse or unevenly scattered in bone marrow samples.
These challenges underscore the need for advanced tools that enhance reproducibility, diagnostic reliability, and the quality of patient care.
This research is in line with the NHLS’s five-year strategic plan, which emphasizes the adoption of innovative technologies within laboratory systems.
In this context, AI is becoming a crucial driver of laboratory modernization, providing healthcare professionals with sophisticated tools that improve workflow efficiency, reduce manual tasks, and enhance standardization.
Importantly, the NHLS notes that AI is designed to assist rather than replace laboratory professionals, ensuring that expert interpretation and clinical oversight remain essential for patient care.
Dr. Ethan Gantana, a pathologist and PhD candidate in Haematopathology at the NHLS and Stellenbosch University, is leading efforts to develop innovative diagnostic techniques that integrate AI with laboratory medicine.
His research focuses on diagnosing plasma cell cancers and includes peer-reviewed studies and international presentations on AI-powered plasma cell quantification, surrogate models for assessing bone marrow involvement, and advanced computational clustering analysis of routine flow cytometry data.
These advancements are set to provide quicker, more reliable, and cost-effective cancer diagnostics in public healthcare laboratories.
By improving diagnostic services, the NHLS aims to enhance patient care while addressing systemic challenges in South Africa’s public health sector.
Beyond technological advancements, this initiative highlights the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among clinical medicine, pathology, and data science.
It also creates opportunities for local innovation, research growth, and educational training, reinforcing South Africa’s position in the global AI and digital pathology landscape.
As the NHLS pursues its strategic objectives, the integration of innovative technologies into laboratory systems remains key to its transformational agenda, placing the organization at the forefront of data-driven, modern laboratory medicine.