Starting a molecular lab

[big al]

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Would there be a way to market the idea of a molecular lab to academic institutions that do not have this type of facility? For example, in this month's CAP Today there is an article talking with the director of a center in MI about the tests they offer and plans for the future. If you completed a fellowship in molecular pathology would there be interest from hospital CEO's in hiring you to start a new molecular lab? How difficult of an endeavor would this be? What type of volume would be needed to keep something like this financially fiscal?

 

[GeoLeoX]

It seems to me that volume is a significant issue with molecular testing. The power (and much of the cost-savings) comes from being able to batch samples and process numerous samples at once (PCR for example). That being said I can tell you a little about the nascent molecular lab where I work...

It started several years ago with microbiology. First with HCV copy number, then with actual pathogen identification. All PCR-based. The next technology I think was FISH with Urovysion (amplification of 3,7,17 and loss of 9p21) and HER2. FISH expanded to some EWS breakapart probes for Ewing's and continues to progress. We are stalled on hematopathology apps at the current time - hopefully some straightforward testing (t(9,22), t(15,17)) will be brought on board first, then maybe some minimal residual disease testing. The next big thing will be MRSA screening and I think that will be the thing that really pushes molecular to the forefront.

Research is a lower priority at this time. I think finding a small niche that displays obvious cost-savings and patient benefit is a place to start. Once the tree is planted then it needs to be watered and pruned.

G