The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and British Association for Cytopathology (BAC) have released a joint statement to guide the delivery of diagnostic cytopathology services across England.
Diagnostic cytopathology (still sometimes referred to as non-gynaecological cytology) is an integral part of cellular pathology, and the provision of such a service involves a team of trained healthcare professionals.
Since the original guidance, written in 2016, the service delivery of diagnostic cytopathology has altered dramatically. This is due to a combination of advances in medicine and service developments within and outside cellular pathology.
The latest guidance, entitled The role of biomedical scientists within the provision of a diagnostic cytopathology service has been issued by the conjoint board in cytopathology, which is jointly administered by the RCPath and the IBMS, covers the role of biomedical scientists in diagnostic cytopathology.
Historically, this area of healthcare science was provided by medically trained pathologists who would report and sometimes take samples. This model has evolved significantly, and many biomedical scientist staff are developing and acquiring qualifications in diagnostic cytopathology. Biomedical scientist staff holding such qualifications are now fully integral to many cytopathology departments.
The new guidance therefore provides clarification to assist laboratories, clinical teams and hospitals in service provision. The document covers sample preparations, rapid onsite evaluations (ROSE), reporting, multidisciplinary team meetings, as well as continuing education, assessments and appraisals.
Pictured is a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology sample of lymph node showing Hodgkin's lymphoma (Romanowsky staining).