How Henan Provincial People’s Hospital Built a CNAS‑Certified Digital Pathology & AI Network with KFBIO

Henan Provincial People’s Hospital is a leading tertiary hospital in Central China. Its pathology department employs over 98 staff and processes more than 400,000 slides annually. In 2018, it achieved CNAS accreditation (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment) – one of only five pathology laboratories in the country to hold this prestigious certification.

Partnering with KFBIO and China Huayi Group, the hospital implemented a comprehensive digital pathology transformation, creating a fully digital diagnostic workflow that integrates slide scanning, AI‑assisted analysis, large‑scale data storage, and a provincial telepathology network. This case study details the architecture, achievements, and measurable outcomes of the project.

Strategic Vision: Digital Pathology + AI as an Unstoppable Trend

“Digital pathology construction is an unstoppable trend. Scanners are essential, but AI integration will play an even greater role in advancing pathology digitalization.”

Project Overview: End‑to‑End Digital Transformation

The hospital, together with KFBIO and China Huayi Group, built a unified digital diagnostic workflow and management platform that connects clinical, academic, and AI‑assisted processes.

1. Digital Slide Scanning Infrastructure

• Installed four KFBIO digital slide scanners to digitize slides for external consultation, research, and multiple subspecialties.
• Throughput: over 1,000 slides scanned per day.
• Result: significant improvement in efficiency and image standardization.

2. Scalable Data Storage System

• Deployed 1 petabyte (PB) of annual data storage capacity.
• Average slide file size: 250 MB per digital slide.
• This scalable infrastructure supports large‑scale, high‑resolution image archiving and long‑term accessibility.

3. AI‑Assisted Applications

The hospital introduced AI diagnostic modules for three critical areas:

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC) – automated interpretation and scoring
• Gastric biopsy interpretation – lesion detection and classification
• Slide quality control (QC) – automatic assessment of slide preparation quality

These AI tools reduce diagnostic workload and enhance accuracy and consistency across the department.

4. Centralized Digital Pathology Management System

A unified platform was built to manage slide scanning, data archiving, and quality control. The system integrates AI algorithms for case management, report generation, and diagnostic decision support, significantly improving workflow automation and diagnostic reliability.

5. Provincial Remote Consultation Platform (Telepathology Network)

• Established a provincial‑level telepathology network connecting 268 hospitals across Henan Province.
• As of March 2023, the platform has completed 57,321 remote consultations, including:
  • 264 frozen sections
  • 172 cytology cases
• Enables real‑time collaboration, remote expert review, and expanded diagnostic accessibility for primary hospitals.

Key Outcomes: Efficiency, Standardization, and Regional Reach

• High‑throughput digitization – 1,000+ slides/day, supporting both routine and complex case workflows.
• Standardized data & QC management – AI‑powered quality control and centralized archiving ensure consistent, traceable results.
• Regional remote consultation coverage – 268 hospitals connected, over 57,000 consultations completed, facilitating tiered diagnosis and treatment.
• CNAS accreditation maintained & enhanced – digital and AI capabilities strengthened the lab’s national leadership position.

Conclusion: A Model for Provincial‑Scale Smart Pathology Integration

The partnership between Henan Provincial People’s Hospital and KFBIO demonstrates how a large, CNAS‑accredited pathology department can successfully transition to a fully digital, AI‑driven workflow. The combination of high‑volume scanning, petabyte‑scale storage, subspecialty AI modules, and a province‑wide telepathology network creates a replicable blueprint for other regions aiming to improve diagnostic quality and accessibility.

Call to action: Contact KFBIO to discuss how our digital pathology and AI solutions can help your hospital achieve similar results – from departmental automation to regional telepathology networks.