On the economic and management front, there are probably no doubts. AI can have lots and lots of that data, we’re talking about millions of pieces of informationpotentially processable in a very short time. A “mission impossible” for the human mind, especially when it comes to laboratory medicine, where “Machine Learning” tools have been used for some time also because interconnections between different tests are often needed to define a risk profile based on a algorithm. But the doctor remains the key elementfundamental to a progressive development process that sees artificial intelligence and Big Data in the evaluation process of blood, urine and other biological components.
In short, the future has already begun. But it will take time for a complete development of these tools, as confirmed by the experts gathered a few days ago in Bologna on the occasion of the national conference of the SIBioC (Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology).
Growing technologies
According to research conducted recently on over 200 members of the scientific society, in the face of the whirlwind and apparently unstoppable development of Machine Learning in the medical fieldit is necessary to create knowledge and competence for optimal exploitation of these resources.
In Italy just the 10% of specialists reports having specific skills on these new and complex technologies. But the IT infrastructure must also grow.
In approximately eight out of ten cases (we are still talking about the results of the survey) adequate software, platforms and PCs would be absent in healthcare facilities, so much so that in 16% of cases external suppliers are used. The perception that these opportunities could become really important for the laboratory, in any case, is particularly high. Over 90% of professionals consider AI a valuable resource which must also be exploited more in the medical laboratory. But be careful: only 2% predict that it will be able to totally replace human intelligence in medical analyses.
A revolution already begun
“The digital revolution is revolutionizing the world of diagnostics, including laboratory medicine – reports Marcello Ciaccio, SIBIOC National President. As emerges from our investigation, the need for one is strong greater training for medical-health personnel. Artificial intelligence represents a great and interesting challenge and opportunity for individual professionals and for the entire national healthcare system.
In Laboratory Medicine, AI has already been a concrete reality for some years for some very widespread diseases in the general population, such as hypercholesterolemia, diabetes or Covid-19 infections. Thanks to cutting-edge computer programs we can have at our disposal millions of data that are analyzed in a very short time. It is therefore possible to give more precise answers to medical questions but the work of the professional is always absolutely necessary. At the moment, therefore, artificial intelligence it is not yet able to surpass that of the doctor but it can be very useful in supporting his decisions.”
In the end, therefore it must always be there the person. With his preparation, able to select the proposals of Machine Learning algorithms. Also to avoid potential judgments that are not completely personal, perhaps only for that single case, linked to the evaluation algorithm.
A research recently published in JAMA and written by experts from the University of Michigan shows precisely this: the doctor must not become just a simple “bearer” of evaluation of an AI system, even if it is at the highest levels of data measurement. You have to the healthcare professional knows the algorithm and evaluates it critically and above all, make the information deriving from your judgment your own. To then hand them to the user. This means that AI must have a transparent path understandable by the human mind, in order to allow this second fundamental step in the relationship between doctor and patient.
Tailored diagnosis
“The clinical laboratory it is a fundamental and essential part of the national healthcare system – continues Ciaccio -. We play a crucial role in all phases and stages of medical healthcare, guiding and supporting the Clinician in the correct management of the Patient, from screening to diagnosis, monitoring of a pathology and therapy”.
For example, Laboratory Medicine allows the prevention of cerebro-cardio-vascular diseases which with over 220 thousand deaths every year are the leading cause of death in Italy.
“Today, we have biomarkers that allow us to precisely and accurately “photograph” the state of health of a single individual, early identifying the risk of developing a pathology and thus allowing timely intervention, before the appearance of clinical symptoms – concludes Ciaccio -. The role of the clinical laboratory in the oncology field is also of great importance. Cancer is not a single nosological entity but a group of very heterogeneous pathologies which includes over 200 different types which differ based on the organ or tissue affected and which overall affect over 3 million individuals in our country. The latest generation technologies make it possible to obtain a complete molecular profile of each individual patient’s neoplasm in a single analysis, allowing the identification of molecular targets and the implementation targeted treatment strategiesthus implementing precision medicine in order to guarantee the best outcome (i.e. the outcome) for the patient with the least toxicity”.
In short, thanks to the laboratory, we can increasingly arrive at one precision and personalized medicinegiven that increasingly targeted tests are possible, we can have a more complete and precise picture of the individual patient.