Shanghai General Hospital Launches Intraocular Fluid Testing Center: Single Drop Diagnoses Multiple Ocular Diseases

一滴眼内液可测多种眼病 上海市第一人民医院揭牌成立眼内液检测中心

    On July 20, Shanghai General Hospital officially inaugurated the National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases' Intraocular Fluid Testing Center. This center is established under the aegis of the National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases and is prepared and constructed by the Clinical Laboratory Medicine Center. The newly established Intraocular Fluid Testing Center aims to significantly enhance the laboratory diagnostic capabilities for ocular diseases, with a particular focus on the precise diagnosis and treatment of uveitis.

    At the unveiling ceremony, Professor Sun Xiaodong, Vice President of Shanghai General Hospital and Head of the Ophthalmology Center, stated that Shanghai General Hospital serves as the host institution for the National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases and boasts a robust Laboratory Medicine Center, providing an inherent advantage in establishing an intraocular fluid testing center. The development of intraocular fluid testing will significantly enhance the precision diagnosis and treatment of fundus diseases and is expected to form a standardized "Shanghai General Hospital model" for the collection, transportation, and testing of intraocular fluid, benefiting more patients.

    Due to the presence of the blood-eye barrier, peripheral blood markers often fail to reflect the actual condition within the eye. Intraocular fluid is a component of the ocular microenvironment, including aqueous humor, vitreous humor, and tears. By testing for inflammatory factors, specific antibodies, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and tumor cells within the intraocular fluid, the true state of ocular pathology can be revealed, providing clinical information on intraocular local etiology and immunology. This aids in the rapid identification of disease causes and precise treatment. However, due to the minute volume of intraocular fluid and limitations in testing technology, there are currently few clinical laboratories in China that routinely conduct intraocular fluid testing.

    Ophthalmology Department at Shanghai General Hospital is a distinguished specialty within the institution, with a high volume of patients presenting with retinal diseases annually, resulting in a strong demand for intraocular fluid analysis. The hospital's Laboratory Medicine Center has addressed the challenges associated with the minuscule volume of intraocular fluid by introducing advanced technologies, optimizing testing protocols, and establishing standardized procedures. This has enabled the center to offer over 70 types of intraocular fluid tests across seven categories, requiring only 150 microliters of fluid to analyze numerous laboratory indicators.

    Currently, Shanghai General Hospital has launched online consultations for intraocular fluid testing and laboratory services. Looking ahead, the Intraocular Fluid Testing Center will continue to adopt and develop novel micro-sampling technologies and introduce new testing services. The goal is to establish comprehensive laboratory diagnostic solutions for autoimmune-related ocular diseases, genetic and metabolic ocular diseases, thereby significantly enhancing the diagnostic capabilities for eye diseases. This will enable the hospital to extend its intraocular fluid testing services more conveniently throughout Shanghai and the broader East China region.