From 20 Minutes to 30 Days: What Are the Actual Biopsy Turnaround Times in Kazakhstan and What Will AI Change?

Waiting for test results when cancer is suspected is perhaps one of the most difficult experiences for any patient. Sometimes answers are delayed for weeks or even months. Tiek.kz sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan to find out the exact timelines for biopsy testing, the reasons for delays, and the prospects for introducing artificial intelligence into diagnostics.

Official timelines: When should a biopsy be ready?

According to the Ministry, the timelines for conducting examinations are strictly regulated by a special standard (Order No. ҚР ДСМ-259/2020 of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan).

Medical organisations are required to comply with the following timeframes:

• Urgent biopsy: the result must be ready within 30 minutes of the material being received by the laboratory.
• Rapid cytological examination: takes up to 20 minutes.
• Routine cytological examination: completed within 2 working days.
• Complex biopsy and surgical specimens: from 5–7 to 10 working days.
• Histological examination: depending on the level of complexity, takes 10–14 working days.
• Immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations using several markers require at least 14 working days.
• Molecular examinations (SISH/FISH): completed within 10 working days.

Why do delays occur and how many people are waiting?

The main reason for exceeding the standard timelines is the high complexity of biological material.

If additional tissue sampling, the use of new testing methods, or consultations with specialised experts are required, the deadlines may be legally extended.

In particularly complex cases, international telepathology consultations are organised, and waiting for them can take up to 30 working days.

Interestingly, there are currently no precise nationwide statistics on the number of patients waiting for biopsy or tumour-marker results.

The Ministry of Healthcare explained that the existing statistical reporting forms simply do not provide for the collection of such a separate indicator.

Tumour markers: Debunking a popular myth

There is a common misconception in society: “I’ll have a blood test for tumour markers, and it will immediately become clear whether I have cancer.”

The Ministry strongly warns that tumour markers are not an independent method of confirming a diagnosis. They are only a small part of a comprehensive examination of a patient.

The turnaround time for these tests varies depending on the specific type of marker and the laboratory method used.

New equipment and artificial intelligence: What awaits the sector?

To reduce the workload on laboratories and speed up processes, the Ministry is implementing a Comprehensive Plan for 2023–2027.

Here are the key developments:

Modernisation-2025

18 types of modern equipment have already been purchased for oncology laboratories.

Plans for 2026

The purchase of 27 additional types of equipment is planned, including systems for scanning histological slides and devices for processing biopsy material.

New centres

Four new reference centres are planned to be opened on the basis of National Scientific Oncology Center LLP.

In the near future, as part of digitalisation, all histological slides will be converted into digital format.

The main innovation, however, is the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in pathomorphological diagnostics, including the analysis of medical images.

The Ministry of Healthcare notes that once the digital infrastructure is fully ready, AI will become part of routine practice in Kazakhstan’s hospitals, significantly accelerating the diagnostic process and improving the accuracy of diagnoses.