The clinical hematology services include different programs in order to provide comprehensive diagnostic care and management for patient with benign and malignant hematological disorders. Clinical programs include:

Bone Marrow Transplantation

The BMT program, established in the department since 1995, serves the entire country and continues to provide curative treatment for patients with hematological malignancy, bone marrow failure and potentially fatal genetic diseases. On an average every year between 20-24 allogeneic transplants are performed making a total of 425 transplants since 1995. While Autologus transplants started in 2004. Average number is 5 to 8 transplants per year making a total of 96 transplants. The results of this transplant center are comparable with those of the best centers worldwide. The Adult BMT services are managed by Dr. Mohammed Al-Hunieni, Dr. Murtadha Al Khabori and Dr. Thuraya AlBusaidi.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) treatment was launched for the first time in Oman at SQUH on 15th January 2023, it is a medical treatment for BMT patients with graft versus host disease (GVHD).

Sickle Cell

The department looks after a large number of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), providing acute medical care as well as genetic counselling and preventive programs (vis-à-vis cord blood and premarital testing) and guiding patients and the medical community regarding SCD care. The involvement of our department is highlighted through the community outreach programs via the Hereditary Blood Disorders Society. Several patients with severe SCD have now benefited from the department’s active role in transplanting these patients from sibling donors with good success. The Sickle cell services are managed by Prof. Salam Alkindi with Dr. Mohammed Al-Hunieni and Dr. Hammad khan.

Lymphoma and Myeloma

The department is now an important tertiary care center for most referrals for adult hematological malignancies, particularly lymphomas and myelomas. Patients are able to receive state-of-the-art care in terms of both diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, including allogeneic and autologous BMT and the advanced molecular diagnostics needed for proper workup and follow-up. The Lymphoma/Myeloma services are managed by Dr. Khalil Alfarsi.

 Leukemia

This unit was established at the beginning of 2014 and caters to referrals of patients with leukemia from SQUH as well as other hospitals in the country and abroad. These patients receive world-class state-of-the art diagnostic as well as therapeutic interventions with different updates chemotherapy, including allogeneic BMT as needed. The Adult Leukemia services are managed by Dr. Mohammed Al-Hunieni, Dr. Murtadha Al Khabori and dr Thuraya Al Busaidi

Thalassemia

The department has been managing approximately 144 patients with thalassemia, delivering comprehensive care including blood transfusions, chelation therapy and regular meticulous monitoring for the side-effects and complications of the disease and its treatment. The unit is a center of excellence in the region with extensive involvement in care and research, including participation in an international clinical trials. The availability of the latest state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging MRI T2* equipment at the Radiology & Molecular Imaging Department has improved the monitoring of the cardiac and liver iron overload status of these patients. The thalassemia services is managed by Dr. Hammad khan.

Hemostasis/Thrombosis

The department provides diagnostic and care to bleeding and thrombotic disorders including thrombosis, von willebrand disease, haemophilia and platelet disorders. The hemostasis/thrombosis services are managed by Dr. Bader ALRawahi,  Dr Murtadha Al Khabori and Dr. Zainab Al Hosni.

Ambulatory services

1- Outpatient services (OPD)

Timing: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday  from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm

Ext. 24144575

Each specialist clinic is run by a team who will be able to provide medical and social assessment, counseling service, treatment and procedures to different cases.

2- Day care services (DCU):

The haematology daycare provides facilities for a number of procedures including bone marrows test/ lumber puncture,  blood product transfusion, chemotherapy, and intravenous iron/ other short IV therapy.

Ext. 241447308- 24144721

In patient services:

Patient requiring comprehensive diagnosis process, initiation of chemotherapy/ blood product transfusion/ special procedure requiring observation per and post therapy.

Laboratory services

The hematology laboratory provides comprehensive diagnostic tests in different section including the following:

General Haematology Laboratory

General haematology lab provides a 24/7 service including public holidays. The services provided by the laboratory include full blood count, reticulocytes count, sickle cell screening, G6PD testing, infectious mononucleosis testing and malaria parasite screening and identification. Morphological examination of blood films, bone marrow aspirates and different body fluids is also part of routine daily work.

Haemostasis and HPLC Laboratories

Haemostasis and HPLC laboratories provide a 24/7 service including public holidays. The services provided during and after working hours include coagulation profile (PT, APTT, TT and Fibrinogen), D-dimer and haemoglobin variant analysis. Other assays are tested during working hours and within a timed schedule. These assays include thrombophilia workup, anti-thrombin, proteins C and S, coagulation factors (II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII), prekalikrein, HMW kininogen, inhibitor assays, lupus anticoagulant, platelet aggregation, platelet function assay, von willebrand workup, Anti-Xa, haemoglobin electrophoresis gels.

Molecular Laboratory

Molecular laboratory provides services during working hours mainly. The tests include testing for gene mutations for CML, AML, ALL, APML and MPNs. Post-transplant chimerisim and perforin gene mutations are also tested.

Flow Cytometry Laboratory

Flow cytometry laboratory provides services during working hours. The tests tested by the lab include immunophenotyping using acute panel; LPD panel; plasma cell panel and selective markers on all types of samples (PB, BMA, CSF, other body fluids and biopsies). Other tests run by flow cytometry lab include B-ALL remission check, PNH clone detection, perforin, hereditary spherocytosis, detection of platelet glycoproteins, lymphocyte subsets, CD34+ enumeration and CD3+ count for donor lymphocyte infusion.

Blood Bank

Blood bank at SQUH provides a 24/7 service, including on public holidays. The services include patient blood grouping, antibody screening and identification, DAT, cross-matching and issuing compatible blood products (PRBC, platelets, FFP and cryoprecipitate).

Donor blood units are processed, group checked, screened for antibodies and Rhesus phenotyped. Other routine tests that are provided by the blood bank include anti-A and anti-B titers, extended RBC phenotyping and Kleihauer test for fetomaternal hemorrhage estimation.

A detailed list of all the tests, sample requirements and turnaround time is listed in the link: (Lab test manual).