New Study Validates Ibex Breast Solution

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center study results confirm that Ibex Breast, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostic support solution developed by Ibex Medical Analytics (Ibex), significantly improves breast pathology evaluation accuracy and efficiency. The findings, published in Clinical Breast Cancer, demonstrate the ways in which AI technology can help providing pathologists with quicker and more trusted diagnostic results.

“This study represents a critical step forward in validating the role of AI in breast pathology,” said Zaibo Li, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pathology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Our findings show that AI-powered tools can enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve workflow by reducing review times and additional testing.”

The study analyzed 104 real-world breast biopsies, including invasive and microinvasive carcinomas, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) and other benign lesions. Three expert breast pathologists independently reviewed each case digitally, both with and without Ibex Breast support. Results demonstrated a clear benefit: When using AI, diagnostic accuracy improved from 97.1% to 100%, with previously missed precancerous lesions such as lobular neoplasia and microcalcifications, correctly identified. Pathologists using AI also experienced up to 23% reduction in review time and an average 33% decrease in immunohistochemistry (IHC) test orders; these more efficient workflows increase pathologists’ productivity, reduce turnaround times, and ensure patients receive their diagnosis as soon as possible.

Released in 2022, Ibex Breast detects more than 50 tissue morphologies—both malignant and benign— and has been widely adopted by pathology labs worldwide. The AI solution was trained and validated on a large and diverse collection of breast slides from laboratories internationally using different digital scanner models. A global team of senior pathologists marked and labelled tissue morphologies to ensure the AI’s accuracy and the robustness of diagnostic support provided. By accurately classifying challenging lesions and supporting real-time diagnostic decisions, Ibex Breast delivers both clinical and operational value to pathology labs under pressure.

“Beyond the numbers, Ibex Breast bolsters pathologists’ confidence and peace of mind, especially when navigating complex or borderline cases. What this ultimately means is that patients can receive their diagnosis sooner—and that’s absolutely critical in breast cancer, where time matters both medically and emotionally,” stated Dr. Manuela Vecsler, vice president of Clinical and Scientific Affairs at Ibex Medical Analytics.

The increasing number of breast cancer cases and growing case complexity with advances in precision oncology, combined with a shortage of pathologists, makes Ibex Breast an promising tool for improving diagnostic consistency, reducing turnaround times, and alleviating the resource strain throughout the U.S. healthcare system, Ibex Medical bigwigs contend.

Ibex Medical Analytics is striving to improve cancer diagnostics with clinical grade AI-powered solutions for pathology. Empowering physicians and supporting pathologists, Ibex is working to provide accurate, timely, personalized cancer diagnoses. Ibex is the first and most widely deployed AI-powered platform in pathology, according to the company. Pathologists worldwide use Ibex as part of their daily routine to improve cancer diagnostics accuracy, implement comprehensive quality control measures, reduce turnaround times, and boost productivity with more efficient workflows.

The Ibex platform includes solutions that are CE-IVD certified and registered with the U.K. MHRA, TGA in Australia and ANVISA in Brazil. It includes a solution that is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and others that are only for research in the United States.