ACADEMIC CENTRE FOR PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC-MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS IN BIALYSTOK (AKADEMICKI OŚRODEK DIAGNOSTYKI PATOMORFOLOGICZNEJ I GENETYCZNO-MOLEKULARNEJ SP Z O.O.)

Academic Centre for Pathomorphological and Genetic-Molecular Diagnostics (Akademicki Ośrodek Diagnostyki Patomorfologicznej i Genetyczno-Molekularnej Sp. z o.o.) is one of the largest in the country and the largest in the north-eastern region comprehensive diagnostic centre performing histopathological, cytological, intraoperative, histochemical, immunohistochemical examinations, autopsy as well as molecular biology and cytogenetics tests. It holds the licence of the Polish Society of Pathologists as a Level III diagnostic centre reference: No. 68/2022. 

ACPGMD provides diagnostic services for the largest healthcare facilities in the region. It employs a team of qualified pathologists and laboratory diagnosticians specializing in medical genetics, medical microbiology, and laboratory medical diagnostics, who systematically improve their qualifications through specializations, training, scientific conferences, courses, workshops, and conventions. 

ACPGMD is a regular participant of external quality control programs and European certification programs for molecular and immunohistochemical tests (GenQA, EMQN). The credibility of the performed diagnostic procedures is also guaranteed by modern equipment, and an automatic system for sending encrypted test results electronically to ordering facilities, in compliance with cybersecurity rules, which is the gold standard. 

In addition to the thriving pathomorphology laboratory, meeting new world standards ACPGMD has also introduced digital pathology, which includes the creation of digital images from microscope smears using specialized scanners, as well as the interpretation and analysis of the images obtained using specialized software, both for diagnostic purposes (telepathology) and as part of scientific activity. As part of the highly developed molecular diagnostics, ACPGMD performs modern genetic tests based on the new generation sequencing technology (NGS), addressed mainly to patients with lung cancer, colorectal cancer and all so-called BRCA-affiliated cancers. These advanced NGS tests are a critical element of the diagnostic procedure in terms of selecting the appropriate regimen of molecularly targeted therapy for patients. In addition, ACPGMD conducts comprehensive, full-profile diagnostics of hemato-oncological diseases and in the field of molecular microbiology.

Apart from diagnostic activities, ACPGMD participates in numerous R&D and scientific projects. Currently, it is the Leader and main implementer of the project financed under Sub-measure 1.1.1 of the Smart Growth Operational Program 2014-2022 co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, leading to the optimization, clinical validation and commercialization of the new, fast hybrid molecular SARS-Hyb -45 test for direct SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, both on a laboratory scale and as part of "point-of-care" diagnostics (total value of the project: PLN 4,082,205.04).

Link to the unit's website: https://aodp.pl/