{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T14:00:09Z","timestamp":1790172009213,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788998400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788998400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Pediatric Blood &amp;amp; Cancer"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Next\u2010generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a promising approach to improve diagnostic accuracy, but its feasibility in low\u2010 and middle\u2010income countries remains unknown. This study characterized the diagnostic landscape and assessed organizational readiness for NGS implementation at two childhood cancer treatment centers in Accra, Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A situational assessment of pediatric cancer diagnostics at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) was conducted between October and December 2024. Data were collected through site assessments, interviews, and the Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) scale. Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon rank\u2010sum tests were used for analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In 2024, approximately 211 and 41 new pediatric cancer cases were diagnosed at KBTH and GARH, respectively. Morphology remained the primary diagnostic modality, with limited access to immunohistochemistry and outsourcing required for immunophenotyping, cytogenetic analyses, and molecular testing. Both centers reported access to essential laboratory resources for NGS testing through a public\u2013private research partnership providing sequencing equipment and technical expertise. However, notable gaps in research infrastructure were identified. Pediatric oncology providers at KBTH and GARH demonstrated high organizational readiness for NGS implementation (median ORIC score: 50\/60). Cited barriers to NGS implementation in Ghana included high equipment costs, limited training opportunities, and insufficient political prioritization.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>While morphology remains the cornerstone of pediatric cancer diagnosis at KBTH and GARH, both centers demonstrated readiness and emerging capacity to implement NGS. However, addressing financial, infrastructural, and workforce barriers will be critical for its sustainable integration into pediatric oncology care in Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/1545-5017.70670","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T14:21:32Z","timestamp":1789050092000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A Situational Assessment of the Diagnostic Landscape and Organizational Readiness to Implement Next\u2010Generation Sequencing at Two Childhood Cancer Treatment Centers in Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"73","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9607-0999","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Melissa","family":"Carvalho","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Global Health Sciences University of California San Francisco  San Francisco California USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2965-7597","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emmanuella","family":"Amoako","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Cape Coast Teaching Hospital  Cape Coast Ghana"},{"name":"Yemaachi Biotechnology  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6420-027X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nihad","family":"Salifu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatrics Greater Accra Regional Hospital  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0788-8861","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lily Gloria","family":"Tagoe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Child Health Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9786-7564","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yaw","family":"Bediako","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Yemaachi Biotechnology  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1790-2679","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michelle","family":"Hermiston","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics University of California San Francisco  San Francisco California USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-4030-418X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Catherine","family":"Segbefia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Child Health Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Accra Ghana"},{"name":"Department of Child Health University of Ghana Medical School  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_13_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1200\/EDBK_320499"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S1470-2045(18)30909-4"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/pbc.30175"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aaw4892"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1158\/2159-8290.CD-21-1094"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/cncr.35065"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fonc.2024.1329024"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ht7040039"},{"issue":"12","key":"e_1_2_13_10_1","first-page":"1341","article-title":"Precise Pediatric Cancer Diagnosis Using Immunohistochemistry: Reducing Cost of Care and Improving Outcomes in a Low and Middle\u2010Income Setting","volume":"40","author":"Akinsete A. 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