International Federation ofClinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine

serving laboratory medicine worldwide

AnnualReport 2018
Advancing excellence in laboratory medicine
for better healthcare worldwide

i fcc@ if cc. org

Highlights of the Year• 1st IFCC, EFLM, AFCB, FIFBCML Conference “Laboratory Medicine: Meetingthe needs of the Mediterranean Nations” – Rome (IT), July 2018
• IFCC General Conference – Budapest (HU) November 2018(http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-congresses-and-conferences/ifcc-general-conferencebudapest-hungary/)• IFCC VLP programme supported by Abbott(http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/emd-special-projects/)• IFCC Speakers’ Bureau (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/speaker-s-bureau/)• Roche/IFCC Travel Scholarships• IFCC Professional Scientific Programmes (PSEP/PMEP)• IFCC FEN - Foundation for Emerging Nations (http://www.ifccfoundation.org/)• New Division on Emerging Technologies (ETD) established(http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-emerging-technologies-division/)• Webinars and Distance Learning Modules(http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/webinars/ifcc-webinars/)• Task Force Young Scientists (TF-YS) webinars(http://www.ifcc.org/task-force-young-scientists-web-pages/tf-ys-webinars/)• IFCC Expert Database (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/experts/)• The IFCC Curriculum, Phase 1 released(http://www.ifcc.org/media/477266/ejifcc2018vol29no1pp055-093.pdf))• e-Academy, open educational resources (http://eacademy.ifcc.org/)• Increased frequency of eNews letter to monthly (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcccommunications-publications-division-cpd/ifcc-publications/enewsletter/enewsvolumes/)• IFCC ejIFCC fully indexed in PMC (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-communicationspublications-division-cpd/ifcc-publications/ejifcc-journal/ - https://www.ncbi.nlm.
nih.gov/pmc/journals/2920/)• IFCC Handbook 2018-2020(http://www.ifcc.org/executive-board-and-council/ifcc-handbook-2018-2020/)• IFCC app – release on both Android and iOS platforms• IFCC on Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/ifclinchem/)• IFCC Flow cytometry courses (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/working-groups-special-projects/httpifccorghostinginsoftdkmedia46789217_phd_
course_program_bpdf/)• 9th Beginners´ Course in Molecular Diagnostics(http://www.ifcc.org/media/477209/2018-c-cmbc-slovakia-course.pdf)• DQCML Projects in Malawi and Nepal(http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/working-groups-special-projects/
developing-quality-competence-in-medical-laboratories-dqcml/• Implement cooperation and agreements with IFCC Regional Federations
2

Index
Message from IFCC President______________________________________________________ 4
Executive Board___________________________________________________________________ 5
Treasurer Report__________________________________________________________________ 6
Corporate Members______________________________________________________________ 10
Committee on Congresses and Conferences (C-CC)________________________________ 12
Scientific Division (SD)____________________________________________________________ 13
Educations and Management Division (EMD)_______________________________________ 46
Communications and Publications Division (CPD)___________________________________ 55
Emerging Technologies Division (ETD)_____________________________________________ 63
Task Forces______________________________________________________________________ 64
FEN - Foundation for Emerging Nations ____________________________________________ 66
Federations______________________________________________________________________ 68• AFCB - Arab Federation of Clinical Biology_______________________________________ 68• AFCC - African Federation of Clinical Chemistry__________________________________ 71• APFCB - Asia-Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry andLaboratory Medicine and Laboratory Medicine____________________________________ 73• COLABIOCLI - Latin-American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry_______________ 75• EFLM – European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine_________ 81• NAFCC - North American Federation Of Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine ____ 86
Full Member Societies____________________________________________________________ 88
Affiliate Member Societies _______________________________________________________ 153

3

The following President’s report was prepared by Professor Morris prior
to his untimely passing. We present it here as a tribute to Professor Morrisand the leadership that he provided to the Executive Board and the IFCC.

The IFCC mission ‘Advancing excellence in laboratory medicine for better
healthcare worldwide’ has been the guiding principle for our work in 2018, myfirst year as President. It is a great privilege and honour to serve in this rolewith the opportunity to meet and learn from so many of our learned, skilled andexperienced clinical laboratory specialists internationally. Their devotion of timeand energy to voluntarily undertake our numerous projects is most inspiring.
Significant developments have been undertaken including the new Executive
Board with representation of each of the Regional Federations, the development of our 20182020 Strategic Plan and the General Conference in Budapest in November 2018.
It is a great pleasure to report on the success of the new Executive Board. All members haveexperienced the benefits of this significant change to IFCC leadership whether it be the availabilityof specific issues or conditions within the regions or information or resources available throughthe international standing of IFCC to national societies and regional federations. The IFCC has
indeed benefited greatly from this constitutional change to our governance.
The 2018-2020 strategic plan supports the principle of maintaining the IFCC as the as themost respected international resource of expertise for the improvement of patient care throughlaboratory medicine. In preparation for and following the General Conference we conductedsurveys of our national representatives. The Executive Board is most grateful to all who have
responded. They provided vital information on the major issues facing our national societies.
These include funding for laboratory medicine, involving the recognition of the value of laboratory
medicine and reimbursement; maintaining membership, involving continuing professional
development and ongoing career development; and finally quality clinical laboratory performanceand specifications.
Our strategic plan aims to address these issues. The establishment of the EMD Committee
for the Value Proposition in Laboratory Medicine (C-VPLM) is undertaking research to assess
methods for estimating the value of medical tests within the healthcare system in terms offinancial impact and patient outcomes. This committee is also charged with assembling acompendium of tools such that all clinical laboratory specialists will be capable of undertaking
such projects within their own environments and to use their data to negotiate with clinical,
financial and administrative officers in their institutions or health jurisdictions.
The CPD eAcademy continues to be developed to provide a quality, comprehensive curriculumin laboratory medicine via 20 to 40 minute webinars, with learning points and a certifiable
assessment. Coordinators have been enlisted to assist presenters easily and uniformly recordand deposit their presentations on the website. Currently these are largely available in English
although collaborations are underway to increase the Spanish language presentations. These
are available for all interested individuals to access and expand their skill set. Perhaps more
importantly is utilization of the eAcademy by national societies or perhaps local area branchesof national societies. These webinars are an excellent tool to bring together younger or trainee
clinical laboratory specialists with one or two more experienced practitioners to listen to thepresentation, discuss the learning points and then individually undertake the assessment.
Learning together is always a more enjoyable experience.
The excellent work of the Scientific Division in collaboration with the Joint Committee forTraceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) and the International Consortium for Harmonizationof Clinical Laboratory Results (ICHCLR) and other metrology and reference material manufacturers
continues to expand the standardization and harmonization of clinical laboratory assays. Thisis a key strategy to ensure accuracy or at least harmonization of results of medical tests for4

optimal medical practice. During the next period the IFCC will be working with metrology
institutes, both regional and national, to enhance collaboration and avoid duplication of the
preparation of certified reference materials. This has been identified as the current requirement
for the profession to take the next steps in this long-term strategy.
The 2-day General Conference was attended by some 210 delegates who reported
overwhelmingly on the usefulness and benefits of this time of intense activity. We are very
appreciative of the strong contingent from our Corporate Members. There was strong support
for the scientific program and I am very appreciative of the extensive work contributed by all
members of the program committee. Importantly, on the question of the most appreciatedpresentation, there was strong support across the whole program indicating that it met theneeds across the broad spectrum of delegates. As well we are very grateful to our colleagues ofthe Hungarian Society of Laboratory Medicine who assisted the organization of this important
event for the IFCC.
I thank all IFCC officers for their invaluable service throughout 2018 as described in their specificreports below. I am extremely thankful for the excellent work of the EB in 2018 especially mypredecessor Professor Maurizio Ferrari for all his support and advice and to Professor Dave
Kinniburgh for the production of this Annual Report and his work throughout 2018. My sincere
thanks also to the member organizations: full, associate and corporate members, for theircontinued support of the IFCC and for the individuals that they nominate to the IFCC functionalgroups. I wish to thank the IFCC Office Staff, Paola Bramati, Silvia Cardinale and Silvia ColliLanzi for their dedicated efforts in managing the day to day business of the IFCC, and for theirpersonal assistance to me as President.
Howard Morris, President

EXECUTIVE BOARD (EB)The IFCC Executive Board held three meetings during 2018. The first meeting was held in
Milan on February 17-19; the second EB meeting was held in Frascati, Rome, in conjunction
with Laboratory Medicine: Meeting the Needs of Mediterranean Nations on July 5-6; and thethird EB meeting was held in Budapest in conjunction with the IFCC General Conference on
November 8-9.
The IFCC General Conference was held in Budapest on November 10-11, with the theme,
Laboratory Medicine: Preparing for the 2020’s. The meeting was well attended, with 266
delegates from 71 countries. The format for this year’s General Conference was reduced to 2
days and presentations focused on issues in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine thatwere of major importance to members. The post conference survey of delegates indicatedmajor satisfaction for the GC, overall, and supported the revised format. A pre-conference
survey identified issues of major importance to delegates, many of which are currently part of
the EB Strategic Plan and others that are being considered.
The IFCC membership, as of December 31, 2018, included 91 Full Members, 16 Affiliate
Members and 44 Corporate Members. During 2018, three new Affiliate Members joined:
Kazakhstan Public Association – Federation of Laboratory Medicine, French National Networkof Accredited Laboratories of Medical Biology, and the Serbian Society for Clinical Laboratory
Medicine and Science.
A letter was sent to National Societies Full and Affiliate members, and to the Divisions requesting
their annual reports. All reports will be included in the IFCC Annual report for 2018 which will beavailable on the IFCC Website (www.ifcc.org).
The new EB format includes representation from each of the Federations and I urge members,
and individuals, to contact their EB representatives, or the EB directly, with any issues so that
the EB may better understand the issues and concerns that are important to members.
5Finally, 2018 was the first year of my term as Secretary of the IFCC and I would like to thank all
the IFCC officers and colleagues who I have worked with for their cooperation and assistance.
It has been my pleasure to meet many of the IFCC “family” this past year and I look forward tomeeting more over the next 2 years. Special thanks to President Howard Morris, and the otherEB members for their support and diligent efforts, and thanks to the staff of Emmezeta-MZ
Congressi in Milan (Paola Bramati, Silvia Cardinale and Silvia Colli-Lanzi).

David Kinniburgh, Executive Board Secretary

TREASURER REPORT
During the first year of my second term as the IFCC treasurer, with the valuable help andassistance of the IFCC office, the annual dues of Full, Affiliate and Corporate Members werereceived, the adherence of IFCC operating units to their allocated budgeted were monitored
and detailed records of all transactions were kept, reimbursements were processed within twodays after the receipt of the claims from the IFCC office. Close collaboration was achieved with
the IFCC investment bank (Credit Swiss) to optimise the financial return on IFCC investments.
The annual accounts and financial actions were reviewed by an external independent auditor inorder to finalize the actual income and expenses at 31st December 2018.
1. COMPARISON OF 2018 PROPOSED BUDGET WITH ACTUALS AT 31st DECEMBER 2018
The 2018 budget was expected to be closed with a deficit of CHF -1.100 107. Instead, it wasclosed with a deficit of CHF -315.861 (Fig. 1). The main reason for this difference was the highamount of new sponsorship funds and less expenditure.
IFCC Summary budget 2018
Proposal 2018

Actual 2018

Proposal 2019

CHF

CHF

CHF

Total Operational revenues & finances income

612.000

953.0071.709.600

Total Operational costs & financial charges

1.712.107

1.268.868

1.917.148

Profit (-loss) for the year

-1.100.107-315.861-207.548

Summary

Figure 1. 2018 proposed budget versus actual as of 31st December 2018.

6

2. TOTAL OPERATIONAL REVENUES AND FINANCIAL INCOME
The actual total operational revenues and financial income were CHF 953.007 (Fig. 2).
Budget 2017

Actual 2017

Proposal
2018

CHF

CHF

CHF

Full members (National Societies)

175.000

187.584

175.000

Corporate members

270.000

265.600

250.000

Affiliate members

4.000

5.554

4.500

Income from CLSI royalties

2.000

2.211

2.000

Revenue for ICHCLR secretarial support

REVENUES & INCOME

25.000

9.000

9.000

Revenue for ICHCLR sub-account0221.473

40.000EuroMedLab Congress Barcelona 2019

00

1.000.000,00

COLABIOCLI congress at Punta del Este

0

2.624

0

Abbott TSIC 2018

0

3.003

0,00

40.00070.43140.000017.2500

Income for Scientific Division (SD) JRC(ex IRMM)
Income for SD -Thyroid Project sponsorship - phase IV
Share C-CLM Symposium Durban

0

3.345

0

40.00045.42555.000

Income for C-CB support

037.9720

Income for TF-CB support (scorecard study)

025.76180.000,00

Elsevier Support - AACC stand & royalties

3.000

3.420

3.000

Income from Com. Publ. div. (CPD) Elsevier endorsement

22.00023.10630.0000

00Income for Roche travel scholarships

21.00023.95221.000

Income from marketable securities

10.0005.030

0FEN expenses re-imbursed

0

265

100

Profits on exchange

0

0

0

612.000

953.0071.709.600

Abbott VLP sponsorship (EMD)

e-Academy support

TOTAL REVENUES & INCOME

Figure 2. INCOME as of 31st December 2018: CHF 953.007.

3. IFCC MEMBERSHIP DUES
Below is a diagram showing the percentage of the major income of IFCC from the annual
dues of Full, Affiliate and Corporate Members collected during 2018 (Fig. 3). Thanks to all themember Societies and Corporate members that supported IFCC throughout the years. Theircontinuous contributions have made possible the accomplishment of numerous IFCC tasks
and projects. IFCC is grateful to the IVD industry for their support and active participation in the
IFCC scientific events. We also thank the members for their loyalty and attention in paying duesat the start of the year, which helps the cash flow.
Dues

CHF

Full members

187.584

Corporate members

265 600

Affiliate members

5.554

Total

458.738

Figure 3. IFCC membership dues collected in 2018.

7

4. IFCC MEETINGS INCOME PARTITIONIFCC meetings’ revenues are not a regular yearly income. The average yearly income of IFCC
arising from the meetings can be calculated by dividing the total revenue by the frequency ofthe event. The yearly income of IFCC from the recent meetings (EuroMedLab2017 Athens andWorldLab 2017 Durban and shares from the regional federations’ meetings) subdivided per year
is indicated below (Fig. 4).).

INCOMEPARTITION

YEAR AVAILABILITY

WordLab 2017(Durban): CHF 189 429

3 years

CHF 63,143

EuroMedLab2017 (Athens):
CHF 774 318 – 155 737(EFLM share)= CHF 618 581

2 years

CHF 309,290

APFCB share: CHF 25 664

2 years

CHF 12 832

COLABIOCLI Congress Punta del Este – 2017: CHF 2624

2 years

CHF 1 312

CHF 836.298

CHF 386.577

Figure 4. IFCC annual meetings income.

The income of IFCC from the membership dues and annual meetings income (excluding
sponsorships and other revenues) in 2018:
CHF 458.738 (dues) + CHF 386.577 (annual meeting income) = CHF 845.315

5. SPONSORSHIPDivisions and some Functional Units raise some sponsorships funds which give them a certain
flexibility in conducting projects. These sponsorships are used for the specific projects in duetime. The unspent sponsorship funds are carried over to the next years. The total amount ofsponsorships available for specific projects at 31 December 2018 to be carried to 2019 is CHF
689 326.

6. TOTAL OPERATIONAL COSTS AND FINANCIAL CHARGES
The actual total operational costs and financial charges in 2018 were CHF 1.268.868 (Fig.5).

Total With
Sponsorship expenses

8

5. Organisations Affiliated w/ IFCC

66.958

6. IFCC Int/Reg Organisations

89.705

7. IFCC Congresses and Conferences Committee (C-CC)

12.125

8. IFCC Scientific Division (SD)77.077

9. IFCC Education and Management Division (EMD)

132.66610. IFCC Communication Publication Division (CPD)

103.878

11. IFCC Emerging Technologies Division (ETD)

15.802

13. IFCC Special Projects

49.528

14. IFCC Statutes & Rules

13.937

15. IFCC Financial Report

215.742

16. IFCC Organisational Matters

293.966

19. IFCC Executive Board (EB)

197.484
GENERAL TOTAL

1.268.868

Figure 5: IFCC GENERAL EXPENSES-2018

7. IFCC INVESTMENT AT CREDIT SUISSE IN 2017
The important issues of the agreement with Credit Swiss are outlined as below:• Investment strategy: Income oriented• Risk Profile: Moderate• Risk Budget: Moderate• Reporting currency: CHF (with investments in three currencies: CHF, EUR, USD)
• Ticket fee model: 0.20% for the safekeeping fee (no investment fee).

Tomris Ozben, Treasurer

9

CORPORATE MEMBERS
Rolf Hinzmann, MD, PhD, Clinical Pathologist (Roche)
Corporate Representative at IFCC Executive Board (2nd term 2018-2020)
In 2018 IFCC was pleased to welcome Timedico and ET Healthcare as new Corporate Members.
Regrettably, 2 companies left IFCC in 2018: Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech, and Analis. By the endof 2018, the total number of IFCC’s Corporate Members was 42, providing the IFCC with annual
fees of CHF ~280.000 which was approximately 60% of IFCC’s total direct annual income fromits members (which comprise National Societies and Affiliate Member Societies as well). On
top of this, IFCC received sponsorship for scientific or educational projects, awards, travel ofstudents and lecturers, and congresses.
Over the past years, IFCC has been seeing an erosion in corporate membership: Between 2014
and 2018 6 companies joined IFCC while 24 left (and 2 were lost due to mergers). The reasons
are only partly understood; however, important contributors seem to be: Companies that had
joined primarily to receive the lucrative discount on the exhibition fee at conferences dropped
out again once they did no longer exhibit. Other companies see limited value in return for theirannual fee.
Although progress has been made to better address the needs of the Corporate Members, it
is still necessary to further enhance the value of IFCC for its Corporate Members, e.g. by• better serving the needs of the Corporate Members instead of regarding Corporate
Members mainly as a source of income,• making it easier for employees of Corporate Members to actively participate in IFCC
working groups and committees (and not only as corresponding members),• collaborating better with clinical societies to harmonise guidelines and support medical
claims leading to reimbursement for lab tests,• aligning more strongly with others (CLSI, FDA, clinical societies, etc.) to avoid
inconsistency and duplication of regulatory guidelines and recommendations,• pursuing the opportunities of data analytics in laboratory diagnostics.
One important step in this direction is a better representation of the Corporate Members within
IFCC. For this reason, a New Task Force Corporate Members is currently being establishedto facilitate discussions among Corporate Members, identify common topics, and directlyinteract with / report to the Executive Board. The Task Force will define its own scope and goals.
Selection of members is currently ongoing, and the task force will kick off during EuroMedLabin Barcelona in May 2019. The following suggestions for topics have already been received:••••

Suggestions on frequency and locations of IFCC conferences
Alternative funding structure for IFCC by Corporate Members
Collaboration of IFCC with Clinical Societies and Regulators on guidelines
Promotion of the value provided by lab testing

The recently established Emerging Technologies Division provides multiple opportunities for
Corporate Members. It has been agreed that each working group or committee will accept at
least one full member from a Corporate Member company.
The Corporate Members make several important contributions to IFCC activities: Numerous
delegates from Corporate Members are actively engaged in most of the working groups andcommittees in all IFCC divisions and in their Executive Committees, either as full members or10

as corresponding members, as well as in the Congresses & Conferences Committee.
Here is the contact information for Corporate Representatives who were / are members of the
Executive Committees of IFCC’s 4 divisions and the Congresses & Conferences Committee.
Please feel free to reach out to them in case you have questions:• Scientific Division: James Pierson-Perry (Siemens) (2nd term 2018-2020),• Emerging Technologies Division: This newly established division has two Corporate
Representatives: Peng Yin (Abbott) (1st term 2018-2020) and Markus Roessler (Roche) (1stterm 2018-2020),• Education & Management Division: André Ziegler (Roche) (1st term 2017-2019),• Communications & Publications Division: Peter Bialk (Roche) (1st term 2017-2019),• Congresses & Conferences Committee: Cheryl Jackson (Beckman Coulter) (1st term
2018-2020).
The following persons are Corporate Members of the respective Congress Organizing
Committees (COCs):• IFCC / EuroMedLab 2019, Barcelona, Spain: Jaime Vives (Roche)• IFCC / WorldLab 2020, Seoul, South Korea: Douglas Chung (Abbott)• IFCC / EuroMedLab 2011, Munich, Germany: Katja Schwarzer (Abbott)•
Since January 1, 2018 the transition period of certain MedTech Europe Code regulations has
expired, and new rules have become effective:• For third-party organised conferences (main programme): Companies may not directly
support a healthcare professional, neither as a delegate, nor as a speaker.
• For company-organised events in the framework of third-party organised conferences(e.g. satellite symposia): Companies may directly support speakers (i.e. their consultants)
but not delegates.
• Educational grants are still possible. They can only be provided to legal entities but neverto individuals.
• Companies will be able to define the type of recipients who should be eligible for the grant
but will not be able to identify individual recipients.
• Companies must have an internal and independent process based on objective criteria toassess grant requests.
For more information please check out the MedTech Europe website. Similar codes are expected
to come into place in various other regions of the world.
EuroMedLab in Barcelona will be the first major event for IFCC that is falling under the newrules. In spite of these strict regulations, interest of the IVD companies to sponsor the event
is very high. As of March 2019, the following sponsorship arrangements have been made: 5
platinum, 4 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze, 50 additional exhibitors. Several companies have confirmedthat they have made arrangements regarding educational grants according to the new rules sothat we can hopefully expect a large number of delegates at this event.
The next Corporate Members Meetings will be held during EuroMedLab in Barcelona on May
20, 2019 and during AACC in Anaheim on August 6, 2019. I would like to encourage all members
to take part in the meeting. The respective meeting details will be communicated soon.
Rolf Hinzmann, Corporate Members Representative

11

COMMITTEE ON CONGRESSES AND CONFERENCES (C-CC)

The thirty-fifth (35th) meeting of the IFCC Executive Board Committee on Congresses andConferences (C-CC) was held on November 9, 2018 in Budapest, Hungary.
There were several C-CC membership changes as of January1, 2018. Full Member J. Lopez was
replaced by M. Blanes González who transitioned from Corresponding Member. Corresponding
Member changes included the departure of A. Hedhili and the addition of W. Fang, E. Frank and
H. Martin. C. Jackson (Beckman Coulter) replaced P. Yin (Abbott) as the Corporate Member.
International Congresses of Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine (ICCCLM)
IFCC ICCCLM (WorldLab) Seoul, Korea 2020 (May 24-28)
Congress President: Prof. Won-Ki Min; Congress Chair: Prof. Junghan Song
Planning for this Congress is on schedule. H. Martin joined the COC this year as the C-CC
representative. Prof. Min reported on the Congress at the IFCC General Conference in Budapest.
IFCC ICCCLM (WorldLab) Rome, Italy 2023 (May 21-25)
Congress Chair: Prof. Sergio Bernardini
Committee is being assembled and the first meeting is expected to take place in 2019. IFCC
President Morris will serve as the IFCC EB representative and will be replaced by the incoming
IFCC President Elect in 2020. James Wesenberg will serve as the C-CC representative. MZCongressi will serve as the PCO.
Regional Congresses of Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine
APFCB, Jaipur, India, 2019 (November 17-20)
Congress Chair: Prof. Praveen Sharma
Prof. Sharma presented a detailed report at the C-CC meeting in Budapest. Planning for theCongress is on target.
EuroMedLab, Barcelona, Spain, 2019 (May 18 - 23)
Congress President: Dra. Imma Caballé; COC Chair: Prof. Maurizio Ferrari
The latest meeting of the COC was held on November 19, 2018. Planning for this Congress is
on schedule.
EuroMedLab, Munich, Germany, 2021 (May 16 – 20)
Congress President: Dr. Karl Lackner
Dr. Lackner was recently selected as the Congress Chair by the DGKL. Preliminary planning hasgone well. The membership of the COC is being finalized and the first meeting will take placein 2019.
COLABIOCLI, Panama City, Panama, 2019 (September 10-13)
Congress Chair: Lizbeth Campillo, Jovanna Borace
Planning for this Congress is well underway.
AFCB, Ramallah, Palestine, 2018
Congress Chairs: Dr. M H Kamil and Dr. Osama Najjar
Osama Najjar presented a detailed report at the C-CC meeting in Budapest. Overall, this was ahighly successful Congress
AFCB, Beirut, Lebanon, 2021
Congress Chair: Dr. Christian Haddad
Osama Najjar reported only the above details in announcing the next AFCB Congress.
AFCC, Marrakech, Morocco, 2019
Prof. Erasmus reported during the C-CC meeting in Budapest that the sixth (6th) AFCC Congress
is to be held from 26 – 28 September, 2019 in Marrakech, Morocco.
IFCC Specialised Conferences
16th Roche Diagnostics Bergmeyer Conference 2018
This conference has not been held since 2016 because of concerns related to the MedTech
Europe Code of Ethical Business Practice. President Morris indicates that there are ongoing12

discussions within Roche and between the IFCC and Roche in terms of reactivating thisconference.
Congress Guidelines and Other Documents
Review of the C-CC documents was not required in 2018. Many of the C-CC documents will be
due for review and updating as required in 2019.
IFCC General Conference
A successful two-day IFCC GC was held in Budapest, Hungary on November 10 – 11, 2018.
Congresses / Conferences with IFCC Auspices in 2018: 76 events
Other BusinessAs determined at the C-CC meeting in Durban in 2017, the C-CC has worked with MZ Congressi
in the development of a post-Congress survey for WorldLab and EuroMedLab delegates. The
hope is that the survey will be approved by the IFCC and EFLM Executive Boards in time for
EuroMedLab 2019 Barcelona.
James Wesenberg, C-CC ChairSCIENTIFIC DIVISION (SD)
During 2018, the following members served on the SD Executive Committee: Philippe Gillery(FR) (Chair), Christa Cobbaert (NL) (Vice-Chair), Joseph Passarelli (US) (Secretary), Barnali Das(IN) – second half, Konstantinos Makris (GR), Tsutomu Nobori (JP) – first half, Mario Plebani (IT)(members) and James Pierson-Perry (US) (corporate representative). Five representatives ofInternational Organizations are invited to attend the SD meetings as consultants or observers: Gary
Myers (JCTLM), Heinz Schimmel (JRC), Karen Phinney (NIST), Chris Burns (NIBSC) and Youchun
Wang (NIFDC). Two meetings were held during 2018: May 25 - 26 (Milano, Italy at the IFCC office)and November 8 - 9 (Budapest, Hungary in conjunction with the IFCC General Conference).
Relationship with International Organizations
The SD continues to pursue the expansion of its activities to partner with internationalorganizations to promote the implementation of the concept of traceability in laboratory medicine
and the implementation of reference measurement systems.
• Joint Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM)
The JCTLM continues its work which is available for review on its database at www.bipm.org/
jctlm.
The following annual report summarizes 2018 activities of the JCTLM.
Governance:
1. Dr. Gary Myers completed his second and final term as Chair, JCTLM Executive Committee.
Dr. Ian Young was nominated by IFCC and approved by the Executive Committee to servea 2 year (2019-2020) as the new Chair of the JCTLM Executive Committee. Dr. Myers
was appointed by IFCC to replace Dr. Graham Beastall as a representative from IFCC to
the JCTLM Executive Committee. Dr. Myers joins Dr. Anja Kessler (Referenzinstitut für
Bioanalytik) as the two appointed representatives from the IFCC to the JCTLM Executive
Committee.
2. JCTLM Executive Committee Meetings were held as follows:• A conference call of the Executive Committee was held 26 April, 2018.
• 6-7 December 2018 at BIPM
13

JCTLM Membership:
1. JCTLM Executive Committee Organizations.
The JCTLM Executive Committee continued its efforts to engage the International Council forStandardization in Hematology (ICSH) in collaborative programing activities in traceability.
A joint leadership meeting with the ICSH and JCTLM was held 14-15 May, 2018 at BIPM,
France.
Participants:
Webex Participants:
G. Myers (JCTLM Chair)
M. Panteghini (JCTLM DB WG Vice Chair)
R. Wielgosz (BIPM)
L. Wang (JCTLM Blood Cell counting and
G. Beastall (IFCC)
typing Review Team Chair)
S. Maniguet (BIPM)
C. Swart (PTB, for total haemoglobin discussions)
B. Davis (ICSH)
G. Jones (ILAC)
G. Cembrowski (ICSH)
S. Machin (ICSH)
A. Kummrow (PTB, for Blood cell Counting discussions)
Members of the JCTLM Executive Committee and leaders from ICSH met to better
understand the current status of standardization in the field of hematology and to facilitate
further interaction between the ICSH and the JCTLM. The meeting discussion focused on thetechnical aspects and current developments for reference measurement systems for Blood
Cell Counting and total Hemoglobin in blood samples. In this regard, representatives of
ICSH gave an overview of their recommended candidate reference measurement method forplatelet counting and reference material for haemiglobincyanide for blood Hb measurement.
Representatives from the PTB also gave a presentation on the reference measurement methods
that have been developed during the last decade for blood cell counting that are listed in
the JCTLM database. PTB also presented information on their recent developments for Total
Hemoglobin reference measurement method using Isotope dilution measurement principle.
This meeting also provided the opportunity to look at the possibility to strengthen the working
relationship between the ICSH and JCTLM and investigate possible options for further
involvement of ICSH in JCTLM activities. A list of action items was developed.
Dr. Myers was invited to attend the ICSH General Assembly 23-24 October, 2018 Miami, Florida
to present an update on JCTLM. Dr. Bruce Davis, ICSH, reviewed the proceedings from the
14-15 May joint meeting and provided information on the different JCTLM membership options
available to ICSH. Dr. Davis recommended to the General Assembly that ICSH should move to
become a member of the JCTLM Executive Committee.
December 2018 ICSH made application to JCTLM to become a member organization of the
JCTLM Executive Committee. Having met all the requirements for membership, ICSH wasapproved as the newest organizational member of the JCTLM Executive Committee.
1. JCTLM National and Regional Membership Applications
The Executive Committee approved the following applications in 2018 for JCTLM National andRegional Membership:
Ø Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry - Clinical Biochemistry (GSCC-CB)
Ø D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology, Rosstandart (VNIIM), Russian Federation
Ø Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC) / Societé Canadienne de ClinicoChimistes (SCCC)
2. JCTLM Stakeholder Membership Application
The Executive Committee approved the following applications in 2017 for JCTLM Stakeholder
Membership:Ø National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Clinical Chemistry in Greece (ESEAP)
Ø International Consortium for Harmonization of Clinical Laboratory Tests (ICHCLR)
Ø Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH), Canada
14Ø UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Immunology. Immunochemistry& Allergy (UK NEQAS IIA)
3. JCTLM Database:
1. Database Content as of March 2018:• 296 available certified reference materials;• 194 reference measurement methods or procedures• 176 reference measurement services delivered by 17 reference laboratories.
2. The following nominations for JCTLM review team membership were approved:• Dr. Giancarlo D’Agostino (INRIM) as new member of the Review Team for NonElectrolyte Metals• Dr. Jorge Lamboy (Beckman Coulter, Inc) as new member of the Review Team for
Drugs.
• Dr. Denis Grote-Koska (RfB) as new member of the Review Team for Electrolytes andBlood Gases and the Review Team for Enzymes.
• Dr. Jeannine Holden (Beckman Coulter. Inc) as a new member of the Review Team for
Blood Cell Counting and Typing.
• Dr. Virginia Litwin (Caprion Bioscineces, Inc) as a new member of the Review Team for
Blood Cell Counting and Typing.
• Dr. Yutaka Nagai (Nihon Kohden Corp) as a new member of the Review Team for Blood
Cell Counting and Typing.
• Mr. Joffrey Feriel (Diagnostica Stago) as a new member of the Review Team for Blood
Cell Counting and Typing.
3. The JCTLM 2018 nomination cycle for certified reference materials, reference measurement
procedures and calibration laboratories that provide reference measurement services forlaboratory medicine and clinical chemistry closed May 30, 2018. The various Review
Teams completed their respective reviews of the nominations in their areas of responsibility
and the results were reviewed for approved at a meeting of the JCTLM Database WG on 4
December, 2018 at BIPM. Several Review Team leaders who could not attend joined the
WG meeting via Web Ex. Table 1 lists the results of the WG reviews and deliberations.

15

Table 1. Recommendation from Review Teams for 2018 Cycle 15 (Materials and Methods)
and Cycle 13 (Services)
Recommended
for listing ?
Yes/NoRecommended
for listing ?
Yes/NoMaterials# submissions Yes
in 2018

Analyte category

Methods
No # submissions Yes

Services
No # submissions Yes

in 2018

in 2018

Blood cell counting

No

1

Drugs

13

Electrolytes

23

13
18

5

5

3

1

15

15

Non-Peptide Hormones

30

30

Nucleic acid
17

3

14

2

6
2

98

21

77

13

1

6

34

29

7

7

14

7

7

2

1

1

20

2

18

2

1

5

24

1

1

Blood cell counting

Recommendation from review team not yet finalized

Vitamins

Recommendation from review team not yet finalized

7

5

14

1

Vitamins
9

No

13

30
2

ProteinsAll# submissions Yes
in 2018

13

5

Metabolites & Substrates

Recommended
for listing ?
Yes/No1

Enzymes

Total:

Recommended
for listing ?
Yes/No

30

2

1

1

20

4

16

43

90

1
15

8

135

JCTLM WG on Traceability Education and Promotion:
1. JCTLM Newsletter:
This fifth issue of the Newsletter was released in April 2018 and can be downloaded from thefollowing link: http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/JCTLM/JCTLM-Newsletter-2018.pdf
Meetings/presentations under the auspices of the JCTLM
1. JCTLM co-sponsored the 2018: Protein and Peptide Therapeutics and Diagnostics:
Research and Quality Assurance International Workshop (PPTD-2018) in Chengdu,
China. The theme of this workshop was “Measurement and Standards, Quality and
Safety”. The workshop covered the latest developments in measurement methods andstandards for therapeutic protein and peptide characterization, and advances in in vitro
diagnostic measurements and their standardization. The workshop was organized by the
Bureau International des Poids et Measures (BIPM), the National Institute of Metrology(NIM-China), and the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC-China). The
workshop attracted over 500 participants, including participation and sponsorship from
3 Chinese IVD manufactures. The IFCC SD Chair, Professor Philippe Gillery, was invited
to give a presentation on IFCC SD activities in standardization, which was well received.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Prof Gillery to meet with representatives of
the BIPM and some NMIs with metrology programs in Laboratory Medicine to discuss
how the IFCC SD and the International Metrology Community could work most effectively
and efficiently together. The output of this first meeting will be a discussion paper, whichinterested parties will be asked to comment on.
2. Dr. Graham Beastall delivered a JCTLM lecture entitled ‘Traceability in laboratory medicine:what is it and why is it important for patients?’ to three audiences:• 2-4 July in Rome, Italy at the 1st IFCC EFLM, AFCB, FIFBCML Conference on‘Laboratory Medicine: Meeting the Needs of Mediterranean Nations’• 14-21 October in Awka, Nigeria at the biennial meeting of the Association of Clinical
Chemists of Nigeria. (a pre-recorded lecture using the software package Knovio)• 18-19 October in Zagreb, Croatia at the annual symposium of the European Organization
for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine (EQALM)
16

2. 14 November, 2018: Dr. Graham Beastall delivered a JCTLM lecture entitled ‘Traceability
in laboratory medicine: a driver for accurate patient results’ to the Conférence Générale
des Poids et Mesures (CGPM) in Versailles, France. This meeting, held once every four
years, is important in determining priorities and funding for BIPM.
3. 29 November, 2018: 12th International Scientific Meeting of the Centre of MetrologicalTraceability in Laboratory Medicine (CIRME) “Every day is patient safety day”. Milano,
ITALY.
Future JCTLM Meetings
Ø 2-3 December, 2019: JCTLM Members and Stakeholders Meeting, BIPM, Sévres.
Ø 4 December, 2019: JCTLM Database WG Meeting and JCTLM WG TEP, BIPM, Sévres
Ø 5-6 December, 2019 JCTLM Executive Committee Meeting, BIPM, Sévres.
Working Group 1 (GUM): The circulation for review of the first Committee Draft of the
document JCGM 103, Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement — Developing
and using measurement models has been initiated. This document has been prepared by
the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology, of which the IFCC is a member, specificallyby Working Group 1. This document is now being circulated for review amongst the eight
member organizations (BIPM, IEC, IFCC, ILAC, ISO, IUPAC, IUPAP and OIML), and to the
Directors of National Metrology Institutes. The chair proposed to use the review process that
the JCGM has used previously.
Working Group 2 (VIM): The number of members of JCGM-WG2 has expanded since thelast JCGM meeting by 3, from 12 to 15, with new representatives from IUPAP (1), OIML (1),and IUPAC (2), and one representative leaving (ILAC).
The main technical activity of JCGM-WG2 in the period May 2017 – November 2018 has
been to develop a ‘minimum change’ version of a first “committee draft” (CD) of the fourth
edition of the VIM that more fully incorporates entries on nominal properties and, to a muchlesser extent, ordinal properties. The definitions of ‘measurement’ and ‘measurement unit’
have been given careful consideration in this regard. A longer-term ‘evolutionary’ version of
the VIM4 CD has also been under development. Status of these two versions of these VIM4
CDs were presented at the 3 December 2018 JCGM meeting.
Also to be discussed are publishing options of the VIM4 (e.g., electronic, hard copy, structure,
languages).
Joint Research Center (JRC – formerly the Institute for Reference Materials andMeasurements (IRMM))
Close collaboration with JRC continues through a number of joint ventures involving SD
Committees and Working Groups. Within the JRC there are five Directorates. Directorate F isfocused on Reference Materials. Reference materials are still a key area of focus of the JRC.
The status of specific JRC reference materials activity is mostly covered under the respective
Cs and WGs.
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) (formerly NCCLS)
An updated list of joint CLSI/IFCC documents is available on the IFCC web site at: http://
www.ifcc.org/index.asp?cat=Publications&scat=CLSI_(Clin_Lab_Stand_Inst)_-_IFCC_Joint_
Projects&rif=6&dove=1.
A project proposal was accepted by the CLSI Consensus Council for the update to EP28
(guidance document on Reference Ranges). This has direct implications to the Committee on
Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL). As such, it is highly likely that Prof. Yeşim
Özarda (chair of C-RIDL) will co-chair the CLSI Document Development Committee (DDC) for
the revision to EP28.

17

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)NIST continues to undertake a large number of projects, many of which are of considerable
interest to IFCC. The NIST website (www.nist.gov) can provide information on materials andservices available today.
The most relevant projects to the IFCC and SD are:• Renewal of Troponin• Vitamin D• Albumin in urine• National Institute of Biological Standards and Controls (NIBSC)
C. Burns serves as a Consultant to the SD. NIBSC successfully established 11 new WHO
International Standards potentially of interest to the SD, including the first cell counting standard
for CD4 enumeration. In addition, proposed 5 new standards projects to be endorsed by WHO.
• European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM)
The EFLM Science Committee and SD leadership once again agreed there should be close
liaison and communication between the two groups. Professor Eric Kilpatrick is the EFLM SC
chair. The Science Committee is responsible for scientific matters within EFLM and projects
which further the scientific development of EFLM. Activities of the Committee particularly focus
on promotion of research that translates the scientific results of clinical chemistry and laboratory
medicine to clinical applications and improves patient outcomes through the appropriate use
and interpretation of laboratory data in clinical practice. Within the EFLM SC there are working
groups on cardiac biomarkers, biological variation, test evaluation, personalized laboratory
medicine and a number of others but the general consensus of the SD is that these activities
do not overlap with the IFCC SD. Professor Philippe Gillery (SD chair) has been in contact withthe chair of the EFLM SC. Approaches to avoid overlap and work collaboratively continue to be
discussed and explored.
• World Health Organization (WHO)The WHO meeting occurs each autumn. Professor Philippe Gillery attends and participates as
the liaison from the SD. Dr. Chris Burns is also a full member of the WHO Expert Committee on
Biological Standardization (ECBS) and attended the 2018 meeting. Much of the focus was on
public health and emerging pathogens (Zika, Ebola, polio containment). The WHO changed therules of who can come to the ECBS meeting with some restrictions. This should not have aneffect on the IFCC. Much of the activities of ECBS are not relevant to the IFCC. The WHO hasa different perspective with respect to metrology and as a result, commutability of some of thereference materials needs to be carefully considered.
• Congresses (WorldLab, Regional and other congresses):
There were no congresses during 2018. The SD will next present at EuroMedLab 2019 inBarcelona, Spain.
Activities of Committees and Working Groups
The Committees (Cs), which are theme-oriented, carry out much of the scientific and professional
activities of the SD. Their work is often in close collaboration with other international organizations.
For more specific tasks, the activities are usually accomplished through Working Groups (WGs).
COMMITTEES• C-Nomenclature, Properties and Units (C-NPU), Chair: Karin Toska (NO)As a reminder, in 2014 a formal agreement between IFCC and IUPAC was put in place.
Wikipedia presence for the NPU was created 2015 (edited by the chair with input from many
NPU members). The Wikipedia entry is a useful introduction: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
18

NPU_terminology) and the NPU Website is performing well.
The C has written a manuscript entitled: “Recommendation on measurement units - why andhow” intended for submission in the electronic Journal of the International Federation of Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
In a current C-NPU activity, an online manual of NPU terminology is under development. The
goal is to have a sort of encyclopedia for medical laboratory terminology that is accessible
for any medical laboratorians. The project is funded by IUPAC (https://iupac.org/projects/
project-details/?project_nr=2016-044-2-700). The project is in an iterative stage of establishing,reviewing and revising homepages.
The C plans to meet in Barcelona in conjunction with EuroMedLab 2019 and at the IUPAC
meeting in Paris in July.
• C-Molecular Diagnostics (C-MD), Chair: Deborah Payne (US)During 2018 ongoing progress towards C-MD’s terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. To Foster dynamic exchanges between IFCC and molecular diagnostic
laboratories and industry.
Accomplishments Include:
1. Attendance at meetings/email
2. Updated website to include Nomenclature page
3. Proposed symposium to COLABIOCLI entitled “Quality Considerations for MolecularDiagnostics” was approved
4. Contacted two companies: Promega (https://www.promega.com/) and Oxford Gene
Technology (https://www.ogt.com/) regarding harmonization and standardization
projects for lower income countries
5. Communicated with chair of Nomenclature committee regarding C-MD efforts
6. Added additional webpage for Nomenclature to IFCC C-MD
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Develop surveys relevant to various areas of quality in molecular diagnostics and translate into
more languages.
Present plenary session at COLABIOCLI entitled “Quality Considerations for MolecularDiagnostics”
Term of Reference 2. To produce guidelines on clinical validation of tests, conduct and reporton molecular diagnostic tests.
Accomplishments Include:
1. Completed survey on reporting aspects of Molecular Diagnostics
2. Submitted paper and paper was accepted on harmonization of reports
3. Models for pre-emptive Pharmacogenetics in process
4. Opinion or research paper on Alternate Assessment and EQA in consideration
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Complete survey and prepare paper on results for survey on EQA, critical risk values, etc.
Develop checklist to assist with Alternate Assessment and sample AA summary report.
Term of Reference 3. Creation of a network of locus-specific IFCC Molecular Diagnostics
CentresAccomplishments Include:
1. Changed acceptance criteria for Expert laboratories
2. Engaged C-MD members to review articles in CCLM
3. Implement better monitoring and follow-up method for assessing participation of expert
and network laboratories
4. Approved laboratories in Argentina, Austria, Canada, Germany, Iran, Japan, Mexico,
Uruguay and USA as IFCC Expert Centers
5. Added additional expert laboratories to separate page of website

19

List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Send out official certificates to expert centers.
Leverage knowledge of Network laboratories.
• C-Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM), Chair: Anja Kessler (DE)•
During 2018 ongoing progress towards C-TLM terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. To Support activities regarding Traceability in Laboratory Medicine,permitting IFCC to continue its international role in this area and providing an operating link
between the SD and the WGs of the Joint Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine(JCTLM), concerning identification of reference measurement procedures, reference materials
and reference laboratories.
Accomplishments include:
The members of the committee and the participants of the annual meeting have discussed
their active contribution to the work of JCTLM (e.g. as review team members, author of web
presentations) to establish and promote the concept of traceability.
The “Protein and Peptide Therapeutics and Diagnostics Workshop” (PPTD-2018) that was heldat October 10-12, 2018 in Chengdu China under the auspices of the JCTLM. A series of lectures
presented the elements of traceable reference systems. The chair of the C-TLM participatedwith a lecture on reference methods according to ISO 15193. It was also noteworthy that theresults of RELA were cited in various lectures and act as support for the arguments of the
speakers in terms of traceability.
As representative of the SD IFCC the chair of C-TLM participated at the annual meeting of the
JCTLM Working Group “Database” and at the JCTLM Executive Board.
List plannedList planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:
The committee will continue its activities in 2019.
Term of Reference 2. RELA - External Quality Assessment Scheme for Reference Laboratories
The C-TLM supports reference laboratories in the context of complete reference systems(accepted reference measurement procedures of higher order, reference materials, andreference laboratories) by establishing an External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for
reference laboratories in order to monitor their competence.
Accomplishments include:
The results of RELA2017 have been evaluated and published (http://www.dgklrfb.de:81). The
number of published results increased from 343 (RELA2016) to 412 (RELA2017). Especiallylaboratories from Europe and China are active in the project. The results were discussed indetail at the annual meeting.
The survey RELA2018 has been announced. The shipment of samples has been arranged at the
beginning of November. About 515 orders from 53 laboratories are registered.
For listing at JCTLM database, laboratories look for an international scheme which provides
survey for total hemoglobin regularly. Six (6) laboratories using different procedures haveordered the new RELA measurand total hemoglobin for participation. For this investigation, thematerial is not lyophilized and therefore, the stability is limited. As a result, the samples have to
be sent out separately in January.
The committee discussed how to extend the RELA portfolio. The chair of C-TLM is in contact
with the chair of WG-ID and offers the support to establish comparison studies with the newly
developed methods in the future.
RELA is an important forum and the results of the surveys are a widely used data source
for laboratories which intend to be listed at JCTLM, but also for laboratories developing newreference methods.
Planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The results of RELA2018 will be published in mid of 2019. The activities of RELA will be continued
and extend.
Term of Reference 3. To promote establishment and maintenance of IFCC reference laboratory20

networks for clinically relevant measurands.
Accomplishments include:
HbA1c Network
It is standard for the IFCC Network to organize two intercomparison studies a year. This was
also done in 2018 with participation of all approved network laboratories and the designatedcomparison method networks in the US (NGSP/DCCT), Japan (JDS) and Sweden (MonoS). This
year there were no candidate reference laboratories. One of the reference laboratories lost its
approval status because no results were submitted. The Master Equations between the IFCC
Reference Measurement Procedure and the designated comparison methods were confirmed
again.
In July there was a network meeting during the AACC in Chicago. Only half of the laboratories
attended and it was decided to investigate if network meetings should continue. Meanwhile thishas been investigated and the majority expressed preference to continue. Therefore, the next
meetings will be in Barcelona (EuroMedLab May 2019) and Seoul (WorldLab May 2020). Anothertopic was the criterion for approval of the network laboratories. A few had preference to remain
at the 1.9 mmol/mol level and a few preferred the 1.2 mmol/mol criterion. The majority was infavor of tightening to 1.5 mmol/mol and that will be the criterion starting from 2019.
For educational activities the network is part of the IFCC C-EUBD. In 2019, lectures will be given
during symposia at EuroMedLab (Barcelona) and Colabiocli (Panama). EurA1c, the multinational
project in which national EQA organizers share two samples, was first organized in 2016 (results
are published in Clin Chem 2018;64:1183-92 with an editorial in Clin Chem 2018;64:1131-2).
The study was repeated in 2017 and 2018. The number of participating laboratories increased
from 2000 in 2016 to 4000 in 2018. Due to the scale, the trial has a high impact; especially poor
performing manufacturers feel pressure to improve their test (and thus better serve the diabetic
patient).
Planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The HbA1c network will continue its activities in 2019.
Additional Information:
The participants of the annual meeting were asked to report about the present status of
implementation of the concept of traceability in their countries. The different experiences
and approaches initiate fruitful discussions and help to structure and improve the work of thecommittee.
It is planned to prepare a publication about the work of the C-TLM. Up till now the focus isstill open. One proposal is to evaluate the results of accredited calibration laboratories against
candidate laboratories towards their measurement uncertainties reported in RELA surveys.
• C-Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL), Chair: Yeşim Özarda (TR)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards C-RIDL terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Review current concepts of establishing reference intervals (RIs) anddecision limits and to prepare state-of-the-art position statements regarding new avenues.
Accomplishments include:
The review on behalf of the IFCC Committee on Reference Intervals and Decision Limits;
Indirect methods for reference interval determination – review and recommendations
was published in 2018 in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (Clin Chem Lab Med
2018 Dec 19;57(1):20-29. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0073.) to review the current concepts ofestablishing reference intervals. The indirect reference interval study in Turkey was completed
to compare alternative approaches (comparing conventional and big data) for the determinationof reference intervals with data obtained from the global study. The data from 7 geographicalregions of Turkey were included to compare with the direct reference intervals.
The review on behalf of the IFCC Committee on Reference Intervals and Decision Limits;
Distinguishing reference intervals and clinical decision limits, in 2018 Critical Reviews inClinical Laboratory Sciences (CR in CLS, 2018, Vol 55 (6), 420-31) was published to review the21

current concepts of clinical decision limits.
The attempts for updating the CLSI document EP28-28-A3 guideline was initiated as a CLSIIFCC joint project to reflect these recent published works of C-RIDL. The chair of C-RIDL, Dr.
Yesim Ozarda, has been appointed as the vice chairholder for the EP28 revision to ensurealignment and continuity. The main topics discussed in Budapest were the indirect reference
intervals and clinical decision limits for the revision.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The C-RIDL will focus on working on the revision to CLSI document EP28 in 2019. During the
C-RIDL meeting in Barcelona, the group will discuss and work on the revision.
Term of Reference 2. To make available reference intervals and decision limits that respects therequirements of international directives such as the European IVD Directive 98/79, and relevant
ISO standards.
Accomplishments include:
The results of Global Reference Intervals Study performed by C-RIDL were previously
downloaded on the web-page: “A global multicenter study on reference values” Part 1:
Assessment of methods for derivation and comparison of reference intervals, Part 2:
Exploration of sources of variation across the countries. The country-specific reference
intervals were derived for China, Japan, Turkey, Russia, UK, USA, Saudi Arabia, Argentina,
India, Philippines, South Africa, and Pakistan and related analyses on reference values werecarried out and the comparison of the reference values across 12 countries after alignment
based on the panel test results was fully described in these papers.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The findings of the indirect reference interval study of biochemical parameters will be comparedwith the results of Global Reference Interval Study and the comparative data will be given in a
publication and also on the web-page.
Term of Reference 3. To determine priority list of measurands (analytes) for which reference
intervals and/or decision limits have to be developed, considering various factors, such as age,gender, ethnicity, and for which the greatest improvements in medical decision making are
anticipatedAccomplishments include:
The previous studies performed by C-RIDL were on the most commonly used tests in theclinical laboratories for the adult age group in females and males. The main age was 18-65
years, although older healthy individuals were also included. The list of analytes were publishedby CCA and age-related changes in the reference values were nearly consistent across theparticipating 12 countries. As Turkey was an important part of the Global Reference Intervals
study including more than 3000 healthy individuals, the indirect reference intervals study was
performed in Turkey to compare the direct data obtained from the global study with the indirect
data conducted in Turkey.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The comparison with the direct data obtained from the global study and indirect data will be
published in 2019.
Term of Reference 4. To monitor and evaluate currently proposed reference intervals forselected measurands (analytes) in the light of the concept of traceability and of the identificationof the uncertainty.
Accomplishments include:No action was taken on this Term of Reference.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Not planned.
Term of Reference 5. Establish transferability protocols of reference intervals and decision
limits, which take into consideration inter-routine laboratory method variations and achieve
better applicability in clinical practice.
Accomplishments include:
22

The chair, Yesim Ozarda published an opinion paper with Khosrow Adeli titled Verificationof reference intervals in routine clinical laboratories: practical challenges andrecommendations, which the transference and verification protocols of reference intervals
were discussed and taken into consideration with respect to inter-routine laboratory method
variations to achieve better applicability in clinical practice.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Not planned.
Term of Reference 6. To collaborate with other organizations and/or to undertake establishmentof reference intervals or decision limits for measurands (analytes) identified as a priority.
Accomplishments include:
A member of C-RIDL, Thomas Streichert from Germany, is also a member of the German
Association of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DKLG), and he introduced theircurrent projects namely, ‘Integration of indirect reference intervals into laboratory information
systems and pediatric reference intervals using Reference Limit Estimator’ at the Budapest
meeting.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The indirect reference intervals data obtained by C-RIDL will also be evaluated by the method
introduced by DKLG known as the ‘Reference Limit Estimator’. In this way, the indirect reference
intervals methods (Bhattacharya, Hoffman, Reference Limit Estimator, etc.) will be compared.
Term of Reference 7. Work in close collaboration with other Cs and WGs of SD and other
IFCC Divisions for the development and appropriate clinical utilization of reference intervals anddecision limits.
Accomplishments include:
In the indirect reference intervals study, also the data for the pediatric age group was evaluated.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
An attempt will be made to collaborate with the Task Force for Paediatric Laboratory Medicine
for the comparison of reference intervals between adult and pediatric populations.
Additional Information
Chair of C-RIDL, Yesim Ozarda spoke on Personalized Reference Intervals at the 5th joint EFLMUEMS Congress on Oct 10-13, 2018 in Antalya, Turkey.
• C-Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (C-STFT), Chair: Hubert Vesper (US)During 2018 ongoing progress towards C-STFT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Establish a system to maintain traceability of free thyroid hormone andTSH measurements.
Accomplishments include:
1. The new chair of the committee was informed on the repository samples available and thestrategy on the use of these samples. Samples locations were consolidated by moving thoseat Solomon Research Park to NIBSC. At NIBSC different sets for the follow-up panels wereconsolidated.
2. The UGent assessed the ruggedness of the free T4 RMP by validating modifications to thedesign of the equilibrium dialysis cells and the membranes.
3. A network of FT4 reference laboratories is being established that includes four labs in Japan,
The Netherlands, Belgium and the USA. The first method comparison was completed. The
results can be summarized as followed: The correlation of the 4 lab results to the overallmean is very good, the RMP SOP can be reproduced in different labs. The mean biasof labs is within ±2.5% bias, but there is room for improvement. Labs show consistentbias across the concentration range, and this indicates calibration differences rather thansample related issues.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
1. The second phase of the stability study of the free T4 standardization and TSH harmonization
panels is on-going and will be followed-up.
23

2. The reference laboratory network members will:• Improve the calibration status of network laboratories. The CDC will prepare calibrators forcommon use. The calibrators will be aliquoted in ampules. The concentration will be verified
using Q NMR in order to have an independent assessment of the concentration. The goal at
the end of 2018 is to ship the ampules to the different laboratories. The purpose is to get thesystematic bias between the candidate reference laboratories to less than 2%.
• Refine RMP SOP based on feedback from network members to facilitate setup andimplementation of the RMP in other labs.
• After these tasks are completed, a new method comparison will be performed. This new
study will include samples in the hypo- and hyperthyroid concentration range. This new
study is planned to be completed by 3rd or 4th quarter of 2019.
• Define protocol for maintaining the network and for enrolling new candidate members. A
first draft of the protocol is planned to be developed for review first half of 2019.
The network will serve as a point of reference; each network laboratory will serve as referencelaboratory for his/her region.
3. Serum materials for the Network and a third TSH-panel will be collected to ensure continuityof TSH harmonization and of the Network accuracy basis.
• The C will send out a questionnaire in the first quarter of 2019 seeking for (a) (more)collection sites and (b) support from industry• The C will collect more samples in order to have panels for calibration and for verifying
calibration for those doing reference interval studies.
• The targets will be set by the same 4 laboratories as for the previous panels.
Term of Reference 2. Coordinate programs to evaluate free thyroid and TSH assays withregards to their analytical performance.
Accomplishments include:
C-STFT worked with the CDC Clinical Standardization Programs to ensure that reference
measurements performed at CDC are in line with those at IFCC.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
1. An inventory of reference systems and standardization activities for FT4 and TSH will becreated.
2. Relevant stakeholders will be contacted to align local or regional standardization activities
with those of the IFCC.
Term of Reference 3. Develop reference intervals for free thyroid hormones and TSH.
Accomplishments include:
1. A project to develop Japanese reference intervals was discussed and a decision on thedesign of the study was made.
2. Possible collaborations with other groups or organizations to develop regional reference
ranges (i.e., EUThyroid, US NHANES) was explored.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
1. C-STFT will continue to support the project to develop Japanese reference intervals.
Samples will likely be distributed before summer next year. There is interest from otherregions (Croatia and India) to set-up similar projects.
2. C-STFT will continue to work with stakeholders in the US, Europe and other regions todefine reference populations to better describe the challenges and to support work toestablish reference intervals that are linked to the reference system established at IFCC.
3. The C will work on a guidance document to help with linking reference range studies tothe IFCC reference system. This should include information on what kind of population totest and how to calibrate the assays. A draft of the guidance document is planned to becompleted by end of 2019.
4. The committee will reach out to NHANES and the EUthyroid-project to assess if thesestudies and data sources can be used for developing reference ranges.
5. The committee agreed that it will be important to have separate reference ranges in24children and pregnant women. These challenges can be addressed once the network isestablished and operational.
Term of Reference 4. Liaise with key stakeholders to promote the use of the standardized assays
in routine clinical practice and public health, to ensure analytical performance requirements
meet clinical needs, and to help with developing and establishing reference intervals.
Accomplishments include:
1. Presentations were given at the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expoin Chicago, IL July 29 – August 2, 2018 – the work of the C-STFT was presented in
the scientific session on Accurate Measurement of Thyroid Hormones in Disease andPregnancy held on August 1 2018.
2. A workshop was given at the same AACC meeting to manufacturers and stakeholders
3. Information about the IFCC C-STFT was shared and coordinated with the educational
activities conducted by the CDC.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
1. The activities of the previous committee will be continued and be expanded to stakeholders
not yet reached. Educational activities will be coordinated with those of other organizations
to ensure consistent messaging and to make efficient use of resources. Committee
members were encouraged to identify meetings in their region.
2. The committee will revise slides for members to be used at meetings and conferences.
3. To update the C website, members will seek input from all stakeholders. A call forsuggested edits will be sent out first quarter of 2019. Especially the tabs “patients” and“clinicians” can be more educative. The C will also look into the translation of the existing
information into other languages in order to more easily disseminate information about
our work. Once the websites are revised, the C will approach individuals from certain
regions to help with translation.
4. The C will compile Professor Thienpont’s survey on the impact of standardization/
harmonization for laboratories and assay manufacturers. The compilation will be madeavailable to relevant stakeholders.
Additional Information:
The new committee chair (Dr. Hubert Vesper) is in place since 30/03/2018; hence the report
above summarizes the revised terms of reference and current plans for the future. Work inprogress from the previous committee is also listed.
• C-Harmonization of Autoantibody Test (C-HAT), Chair: Joanna Sheldon (UK)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards C-HAT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. To evaluate what are the main causes of variability for a number ofdiagnostically critical autoantibodies.
Accomplishments include:
The C-HAT working with the JRC have sent samples to Dr. Ulrich Specks from the Mayo Clinic
for epitope mapping studies of the reactivity of ERM DA 476/IFCC and ERM DA 483/IFCC. The
preliminary report suggests that both reference preparations have reactivity against the major
epitopes of the relevant antigens. Further details of the epitope mapping studies are expected
and we hope to report them at the C-HAT meeting in Barcelona in May 2019.
Term of Reference 2. To identify autoantibodies where a common calibrator could reduce theinter-assay variability.
Accomplishments include:
IgG anti glomerular basement membrane is the next antibody where the C is planning to preparea certified reference preparation. The committee is currently trying to source additional raw
material for the reference material; a letter was sent from the C chair and Prof. Philippe Gillery
to Dr Mauro Moreno, Direttore Sanitario, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo Sede Legale, Milan Italy andare awaiting a reply.
IgG and IgA anti TTG antibodies are generally considered to be the next important antigens
25

where a common reference material would be beneficial. This will be discussed at a phone
conference in January 2019 to plan next steps.
Term of Reference 3. To identify or produce commutable materials that could be used asinterim calibration material for autoantibody assays
Accomplishments include:
A further commutability study for B2GP1 candidate reference material has given some challenging
results and a suitable way forward is unclear. It may not be possible to assign values in mg/Lof IgG against B2 glycoprotein 1 and may need an alternative approach. Currently, C-HAT is
exploring the possibility of working with the WHO (or their agents e.g. NIBSC) to assign values
in arbitrary or international units.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
FDA and CE
The widespread adoption of these reference materials depends on them having FDA approval
and without this, companies have little incentive to use them. The chair had useful discussions
with the FDA at AACC in Chicago. The comparability of each INDIVIDUAL method with the
FDA predicate method seems to be the most important component of FDA approval rather
than comparability between methods. Further discussions with companies to encourage FDA
submission to incorporate the new IRPs must take place in 2019.
Education
Information to guide companies on how to transfer values from ERM-DA476/IFCC to their local
or kit calibrators is in preparation.
The C is preparing information packs and presentations. These may be used by companies
and providers of the service to show the value of a certified reference preparation and to ensure
there is a consistent message about ERM-DA476/IFCC and ERM DA 483/IFCC. Information
will also be included about how best to implement these changes. It has been suggested thatcompanies continue to advise reporting in their current units but give the users the optionof recording data in mg/L – this will be important to gather the data towards any FDA 510k
submissions.
EQA
The transition towards adoption of the CRMs will have an impact on EQA providers andgenerally these organisations are very supportive of adopting the CRMs. UKNEQAS and theRoyal College of Pathologists of Australia Quality Assurance Programme have both expressed
an interest in encouraging use of the new CRMs.
Communication
The interaction with the FDA are central to being able to promote the use of the new CRMs andthis must be the focus of our activities. Until the use of ERM-DA476/IFCC and ERM DA 483/
IFCC are embedded into the kit documentation, further communication with other bodies will
be difficult.
Time scale
ERM-DA476/IFCC and ERM DA 483/IFCC are both available. Companies may use it to assign
values to their kit standards in mg/L in addition to their usual units.
The incorporation of ERM-DA476/IFCC and ERM DA 483/IFCC into pack information will be amajor task for companies - it is likely that this will take some years.
Further projects:
Anti GBM antibodies – the C is currently sourcing material
Anti TTG antibodies – there have been strong requests to make a reference material for IgG andIgA anti tissue transglutaminase antibodies. This is likely to be the next autoantibody target for
which a reference material is prepared.
Term of Reference 4. To produce well-characterized pure antibody preparations with known
concentration and identity and use these to transfer values to a matrix preparation
Accomplishments include:
The preparation of pure antibody preparations with known concentration is embedded in the26value assignment process.
Term of Reference 5. To evaluate the impact of new reference material on the variability of
autoantibody tests and identify areas where further harmonization would improve diagnostic
accuracy.
Accomplishments include:
The C is in discussion with UKNEQAS and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Quality Assurance Programs.
Additional Information:
Companies generously supported these studies were:AESKU Diagnostics, Bio-Rad Laboratories, DAKO, EUROIMMUN, EuroDiagnostica, IMMCO
Diagnostics, INOVA Diagnostics, Phadia / Thermo Fisher Scientific, Roche Diagnostics, Siemens
Healthcare Diagnostics Products and Staten Serum Institute.
The C specifically encourages all companies not currently members of the IFCC to become
corporate members both in letter and in presentations.

WORKING GROUPS• WG-Standardization of Hemoglobin A2 (WG-SHbA2), Chair: Andrea Mosca (IT)During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-HbA2 terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Definition of a reference measurement procedure for haemoglobin A2.
Accomplishments include:
A paper describing the principle of the RMP based on isotopic dilution and mass spectrometry
and its preliminary validation has been published in Clin Chim Acta. (see Publications section)
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The RMP will be implemented in the third MS lab of the WG (Dr. Quinde Liu, Singapore). A final
validation will be performed, in order to publish the RMP as on official IFCC reference method,
after approval by the Scientific Division and further ballot among the Corporate National
Societies.
Term of Reference 2. Development of a secondary certified reference material (CRM) for
hemoglobin A2 (in cooperation with the JRC).
Accomplishments include:
The JRC approved the start of this project and has recently nominated a project responsible
person (Dr. Guy Auclair). A first conference call has been held in December.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Preparing a preliminary batch of lyophilized material directly in Geel, testing different containers(ampoules, vials). Homogeneity and stability studies will be planned. A couple of suppliers forwhole blood will be tested in order to validate their reliability in collecting and shipping fresh
whole blood to be processed for the preparation of the CRM.
• WG-Standardization of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (WG-CDT), Chair: Jean
Deenmamode (UK)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-CDT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Promoting the use of the HPLC reference measurement procedure (RMP)
as the accuracy base for CDT test standardization
Accomplishments include:
Some members of the WG have been in contact with other groups in Europe, with a focus on
CDT, in Europe to participate as network laboratories by using the HPLC RMP.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:
Further participants will be sought globally. Maintenance of further progress in the setup of
the RMP at interested sites to cover the Asian and African continents will be pursued. Raisingfurther awareness in using the RMP to other groups involved with CDT will also be done.
Term of Reference 2. Maintaining sustainability of an international network of laboratories
27

Accomplishments include:
Sustainability and performance of network laboratories and participating commercial
manufacturers are assessed by the yearly distribution of IFCC calibrators, controls and blindsamples from Dr. Weycamp’s laboratory.
Laboratory performance is assessed on a pass/fail criterion and HPLC RMP performance isassessed in further detail by Dr. Schellenberg.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
All relevant parties were notified to register for participation by 1st Dec 2018.
IFCC CDT blind samples will be distributed at the end of Jan 2019. Results of participation
will follow and discussed in detail at the WG-CDT meeting on 19th May 2019 in Barcelona inconjunction with EuroMedLab.
Term of Reference 3. Supporting the worldwide standardization of commercial methods
against the RMP
Accomplishments include:
Most participating commercial CDT manufacturers have achieved positive results towards
CDTIFCC and have launched respective assays.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of ReferenceContinue to assist the remaining commercial participants in successfully achieving the CDTIFCC
goal.
The WG will endeavour to support the transition from classical CDT to CDTIFCC.
Term of Reference 4. Offering consultation concerning use of biomarkers of alcoholism towards
national and international agencies.
Accomplishments include:
Generally, a local or extended activity initiated primarily by a member of the WG. The process
has been in place with better success in Sweden and the Netherlands. Similar efforts areprogress in the UK with certain agencies, in Asia with commercial airline carriers and aviation
medicine and in Mauritius with Government advisors in road safety.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
To maintain the above activities ongoing in other countries. Furthermore, to communicate directlywith full and affiliate member societies listed on the IFCC WG-CDT web page for assistance andsuggestions in their respected countries.
Additional Information:• Two further terms:
o Providing scientific support for the production and delivery of authorized CRM:
§ Actively supporting other sites interested towards introducing the RMP as partof the network laboratories
o Supporting the development of guidelines for clinical use of CDT assays:§ Work in progress• Current Projects:
o Promoting the use of the HPLC reference measurement procedure (RMP) as theaccuracy base for CDT test standardizationo Maintaining an international network of reference laboratories
o Supporting the worldwide standardization of commercial methods against the RMP
o JCTLM nomination in progress with decision expected during 2019.
•• WG-Standardization of Albumin Assay in Urine (WG-SAU) (a joint committee with theLaboratory Working Group (LWG) of the National Kidney Disease Education Program(NKDEP) - USA), Chair: Lorin Bachmann (US) During 2018 ongoing progress towards WGSAU terms of reference included:
Terms of Reference 1. Status of harmonization among commercial immunoassays for UA(funded by NKDEP).
Accomplishments include:
28

The objectives of this project are to: 1.) Assess current status of harmonization of routine
measurement procedures versus ID-LCMS candidate reference measurement procedure using
native patient samples; 2.) Evaluate analytical performance characteristics of urine albuminmeasurement procedures; 3.) Evaluate commutability characteristics of the Japan Society
for Clinical Chemistry (JSCC) and diluted IRMM ERM-DA470k/IFCC reference materials;
and 4.) Assess utility of candidate reference materials for use in standardization of routine
measurement procedures. Findings were published in Bachmann LM, Nilsson G, Bruns DE,
McQueen MJ, Lieske JC, Zakowski JJ, Miller WG.State of the Art for Measurement of Urine
Albumin: Comparison of Routine Measurement Procedures to Isotope Dilution Tandem Mass
Spectrometry. Clin Chem 2014; 60:471-480.
A freeze-thaw study was performed using 66 pairs of unfrozen and frozen freshly collected, native
urine samples to determine the effects of a single freeze-thaw cycle urine on albumin results.
Samples spanning the concentration range of 15 – 1,000 mg/L were included in the study.
Samples were centrifuged and one aliquot was stored at 2-8C and the other was frozen at -70C
for a minimum of 66hrs. The non-frozen and frozen aliquots were shipped to 10 manufacturers
for albumin measurement. Median bias for frozen vs. non-frozen samples was < 1.2% for all
methods tested suggesting that frozen samples may be used for the commutability studies.
However, outlier samples were observed with biases that exceeded 10%. Formal statisticalanalysis is in process.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
A manuscript for the UA freeze/thaw study is under preparation that will be submitted to CCLM
or JALM.
Terms of Reference 2. Reference measurement procedure for UA (funded by NKDEP and
NIST)
Accomplishments include:
Candidate isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS)
reference measurement procedures for UA are under development by the Mayo Clinic Renal
Testing Laboratory (John Lieske), University of Minnesota Advanced Research Diagnostic
Laboratory (Jesse Seegmiller) and NIST (Ashley Beasley). NIST and Mayo have performed
multiple comparison studies between the two candidate reference measurement procedures.
There were some unexplained discrepancies that are under investigation.
Jesse Seegmiller (Univ of Minnesota) and John Lieske (Mayo) are developing a publically availablereference measurement procedure for UA. To pursue this goal, Univ of Minn has received
NKDEP funding to prepare 15N human albumin for use as an internal standard for method
development. Additional funding from NKDEP has been provided to enable development andmethod validation of the Univ of Minnesota and Mayo reference measurement procedures, withthe goal of submitting the reference measurement procedure to JCTLM and making reference
measurement procedure services available to IVD manufacturers for metrological traceability ofclinical laboratory measurement procedures.
NIST and Mayo continued to perform development of their candidate reference measurement
procedures and conducted planning sessions for validation and JCTLM submission. Monthly
conference calls were conducted beginning in September between NIST, Mayo, Univ ofMinnesota and LWG and WG-SAU chairs. The plan for further development and validation of
the reference measurement procedures according to ISO standards was discussed, including a
discussion of appropriate experiments for interference assessment.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
NIST obtained IRB approval for use of human samples; therefore comparison studies with
Mayo has recommenced. NIST and Mayo will continue to develop and validate their reference
measurement procedures and will work identifying sources of disagreement among themethods. The Univ of Minnesota is collaborating with Mayo to actively pursue development ofa LC-MS/MS candidate reference measurement procedure in accordance with ISO 15193 andother relevant standards for the purpose of JCTLM listing.
29

Term of Reference 3. Reference materials for UA and urine creatinine
Accomplishments include:
SRM 2925 Human Serum Albumin from NIST is a primary certified reference material for use
with higher order reference measurement procedures for albumin. It is a solution of recombinanthuman serum albumin (~1 g/L). Value assignment is by amino acid analysis using ID-LC-MS/MS.
The material is not yet available on the NIST website but is available for use in the developmentof the reference measurement procedures.
To facilitate standardization of routine methods, NIST SRM 3666 is currently being developed
based on the specifications recommended by the WG-SAU and the LWG of the NKDEP. The
NIST Albumin in Human Frozen Urine standard reference material (SRM 3666) will be pooledurine collected from human subjects with four urinary albumin levels: 5-10 mg/L, 20-50 mg/L,
60-180 mg/L, 275-375 mg/L. All four levels of pooled urine will be available frozen, in 1 mL aliquot
volumes. Once developed, a commutability assessment of the materials will be conducted.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
The acquisition of frozen pooled urine samples for preparation of NIST SRM 3666 has been
completed as of December 2018. The individual urine samples that comprise each level of NIST
SRM 3666 are in the process of being shipped to Solomon and Park for vialing and pooling.
The materials will then be value assigned by NIST. The WG-SAU will continue to facilitate
development of NIST SRM 3666.
• WG-Standardization of Pregnancy-associated Plasma Protein A (WG-PAPP A), Chair: Saara
Wittfooth (UK)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-PAPPA terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1: To develop a reference system for standardization of PAPP-A measurement
employed as marker for prenatal screening
Accomplishments include:• Pregnancy serum-based materials diluted in different diluent matrices were tested byvarious assay systems of the participating companies.
• Both 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester serum pools were found suitable as reference materials
to provide better agreement among the commercial assays.
• Calf serum, human serum and company-specific diluent were shown preliminarily suitable
as the diluent.
• The commercial assays were confirmed to detect similarly endogenous PAPP-A indifferent forms.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference• Preparing detailed plans for the continuation of the work described above.
• Identification or preparation of pregnancy-serum based material to be made available as
the certified reference material for PAPP-A.
• Testing the selected material/materials with assays from manufacturers and assignmentof PAPP-A value for this material.
• WG-Growth Hormone (WG-GH), Chair Eef Lentjes (NL)
The overall goal of the WG-GH is to achieve standardization of growth hormone throughsecondary reference materials and a reference measurement procedure. To achieve this goala harmonization study was done, in which several pooled serum samples were tested forcommutability. In this study different calibrators were made by pooling samples from apparently
healthy persons, or patients (adults or children) to asses for commutability. In addition, IS 98/574
was diluted in GH deficient serum. All calibrators were prepared in two different concentrations:about 10 and 40 mU/L or 3.3 and 13.3 ng/mL respectively. Measurements by LCMSMS are still
unavailable. However, results from all immunoassay methods were processed and have been
sent to the members of the working group together with a proposal for the future direction of
investigation.
30

Future directions: The most important change of approach will be the use of more fresh samples,in order to keep the native forms of GH preserved in the samples.
A commutability study will be repeated with 30 patient samples and two IS 98/574 and five
healthy donor calibrators. All available methods that are in use for routine GH measurements
will be included in the study - at a minimum: Immulite 1000 (Siemens Healthcare), Cobas E411
(Roche), DXi (Beckman), Liaison (DiaSorin), and iSYS (IDL).
• WG-Standardization of Insulin Assays (WG-SIA)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-SIA terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. To improve the standardization of assays for insulin by the developmentof a candidate reference method and materials.
Accomplishments include:
1. Ongoing development and validation of MS/MS method for intact insulin at University of
Minnesota. A method has been established and undergoing minor modifications to ensure
appropriate analytical sensitivity.
2. Continued discussions and collaborations with other laboratories developing insulin methods
by mass spectrometry (Quest Diagnostics, Mayo Clinic). The WG plans to sustain these efforts
to evolve potential additional reference method procedures in these laboratories.
3. In collaboration with the College of American Pathologists (CAP), established criteria for
ongoing accuracy based evaluation of serum pools for testing of insulin, C-peptide, and glucose.
This accuracy based survey can be sent globally and utilized to demonstrate ongoing state ofharmonization and standardization of insulin assays (as well as C-peptide assays).
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:Continued validation of an appropriate intact insulin assay via LC-MS/MS that meets all analyticaland clinical specifications for insulin testing. Specific focus on improving the low end analyticalsensitivity and ensuring the method has high analytical specificity. The chairs meets monthly
with the development group at the University of Minnesota to review validation progress.
Term of Reference 2. Establish availability of pure recombinant human insulin as a Reference
Material (RM) for insulin assays and have the RM listed by JCTLM.
Accomplishments include:
A new reference material is available from the NIBSC. Continue collaboration with Dr. Chris
Burns, Dr. Gwen Wark, and colleagues at NIBSC to evaluate and assist with validation of newrecombinant insulin candidate reference material.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:
This reference material will be used to calibrate the insulin LC-MS/MS method at the Universityof Minnesota, which can then be utilized as the reference method and listed by JCTLM.
Term of Reference 3. Continue a program to collect serum samples (and serum pools) as
needed for assignment of IDMS values and a biobank which could be utilized collaboratively by
the WG-SIA and C-peptide Standardization Group. These materials will sustain the program toharmonize results from manufacturers of insulin assays.
Accomplishments include:
Serum samples are bio-banked in -80C freezers at the University of Minnesota. Specimens
were used to compare between a few existing insulin and C-peptide LC-MS/MS methods.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:Continued involvement with evaluation of methods and comparability between platforms.
Existing serum pools will be used to compare results between the new LC-MS/MS RM andoriginal results which have concentrations assigned from Dr. Linda Thienpont’s laboratory.
Additional Information:
The C appreciates the sustained support from the IFCC, as the WG intends to make significant
strides towards achieving a candidate reference method in the upcoming year and calibrating it
against the NIBSC reference material.
Upcoming plans still in discussion:
31

Peer-reviewed publications regarding either insulin/c-peptide serum pool data across hundredsof laboratories/assays and/or lack of harmonized conversion factor across insulin assays.
• WG-Standardization of Troponin I (WG-TNI), Chair: Robert Christenson (US)During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-TNI terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1: Development of a candidate secondary reference measurement procedure
for cardiac troponin I.
Accomplishments include:• The commutable set of Reference Materials (RM) for cardiac troponin I (TnI) has beencoined RM 2922. At this stage of technology development, the material will be a RM rather
than a Standardized RM (SRM) because the mass spectrometry methodology/technology
for appropriate assignment of values to RM 2922 does not yet have the sensitivity andcharacteristics required.
• The Workgroup has finalized the protocol for collecting the ‘raw materials” for RM 2922
samples from patients with myocardial infarction having appropriate TnI concentrations.
• To minimize the health risks associated with use of the RM 2922, subjects from whom
the raw materials come from will be tested for Infectious disease (ID) markers. To do this,one 0.5mL aliquot from each subject will be tested for IDs using US FDA cleared tests forHIV, HepA, HepB, HepC. Samples from any subject that has evidence of infection in theirserum will not be used to constitute RM 2922.
• Subject samples will be pooled and used to develop four (4) levels: 1. Level A >LOQ but< female 99%; 2. Level B ~99% male + 20%; 3. Level C ~ (5 X 99% of males); 4. Level D
will challenge the assay range, e.g. ~12,000 ng/L.
• The WG-TNI will continue to work with NIST and worldwide metrology groups, academic
experts and industry partners toward development of the commutable secondary standard
material.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference• Complete recruitment of subjects and collection of the appropriate samples.
• Transfer the samples to NIST
• Oversee blending and aliquoting by vendor
Term of Reference 2: Development of a candidate secondary reference material for cardiac
troponin I Accomplishments include:• Initiated collection of patient samples for use in developing a commutable secondary
standard using the WG-TnI developed protocol.
• Currently have 25 mL of serum stored at -800C from 12 subjects with elevated cTnI
concentrations. Anticipate that ~35 more are needed.
• Working closely with Dr. Lowenthal and knowledgeable academic and industry scientists
with experience with cTnI assays, a source for the ‘normal’ serum to be blended with thecTnI-containing subject samples has been identified.
• WG-TNI is working together to finalize arrangements with the contractor for blending thematerial and aliquoting the four (4) RM concentrations into 0.5 mL vials each
• RM 2922 will be distributed by NIST.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference• Select and contract with the groups for blending and aliquoting the materials.
• Transfer the subject materials to the contractors.
• Transfer the aliquots of RM 2922 to NIST.
Term of Reference 3: Conduct a round robin study to assess cTnI standardization and initiate
validation among commercial cTnI assays
Accomplishments include:• The WG is in the process of designing a Round Robin Study for high sensitivity (hs)cTnI
methods using common pools of commutable samples.
• Dr. Robert Payne, an extremely will respected scientist from Siemens with vast experience32

in developing hsTnI assays, has agreed to spearhead this activity.
• The material for the round robin will made with de-identified human samples from Dr.
Christenson’s laboratory.
• All manufacturers with hsTnI assays will be invited to participate. The group will also invite
Roche (5th GEN TnT) to participate.
• A primary objective will be to reflect the relationships between the hsTnI methods.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference• Collect the round robin samples from Dr. Christenson’s laboratory with appropriate IRB(Ethics Board) approval.
• Assure that the human samples to be used are negative for ID hazards.
• Transfer samples to Dr. Payne’s laboratory for production of the commutable round robinsamples.
• Recruit manufacturers of hsTnI assays to participate.
• Ship the samples to the manufacturers• Collate round robin data.
• Present data at scientific venues.
• Prepare a manuscript to promulgate the round robin results.
Additional Information:
There are four activities that are being planned:• The production of an app’ will be explored. This app would make available evidence ofthe general relationship of the various hsTnI assays from the round robin activity.
• With many thanks to Prof. Cobbeart, contact has been made with the Maastricht cardiac
biomarker group that has investigated early release of various cTnI subforms. The purposeof this possible collaboration is to discuss a project in which the subforms of TnI in acute
myocardial infarction versus chronic disease are investigated. Characteristics of thevarious hsTnI with acute injury versus chronic forms of heart disease would be defined.
• Progress on developing a commutable reference material will be presented at scientificmeetings.
• Currently the technology does not exist for developing and properly defining a TnI SRM.
The workgroup will continue to discuss what material should be focused on for use indevelopment of an SRM in the future.
• WG-Parathyroid Hormone (WG-PTH), Chair: Cathie Sturgeon (UK)
During 2018 the ongoing progress towards WG-PTH terms of reference included: The WG
continues to work on developing a reference system for PTH. Currently, activities are focusedin three areas:
Term of Reference 1. Collaborative educational effort to encourage worldwide implementationof PTH IS 95/646 and to assess the effect of this on between-method agreement.
Accomplishments include:
The importance of establishing whether PTH IS 95/646 is commutable (see also Term ofReference 2) and improving between-method agreement has been highlighted to audiences
at several national and international conferences. [Please see Additional Information section.]
A protocol for the planned commutability study has been circulated to supporters of the Working
Group. The helpful and positive comments from those who have responded are being collated
and reminders are being sent to those who have not yet replied.
Arrangements for specimen collection and processing are being made with the intention of
having results available for review during the EuroMedLab meeting in Barcelona.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:
Activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference will be the responsibility of the new IFCC Bone
Markers Committee.
Term of Reference 2. Definition of inclusion/exclusion requirements for an appropriate panel ofsera and plasma with which to establish reference intervals and establishment of such a panel
33

with support from the clinical community and diagnostics manufacturers.
Accomplishments include:
Requirements for the reference panel are expected to be similar to those for the commutability
study.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference will be the responsibility of the new IFCC Bone
Markers Committee.
Term of Reference 3. Development of a reference measurement procedure for PTH(1-84) to a
standard that would enable its adoption by the IFCC reference laboratory network.
Accomplishments include:
Considerable progress was made in 2018 to increase the analytical sensitivity of the candidatereference measurement procedure for PTH(1-84) that is being developed at the CDC laboratory
in Atlanta under the direction of Dr Hubert Vesper. Analytical sensitivity of the candidate RMP
now approaches that of immunoassay methods. Preliminary results with the method showpromise for the accurate and reliable quantification of intact PTH and related fragments without
enzymatic digestion. The latter represents a major step toward improving understanding ofwhat is being measured as “PTH”.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference will be the responsibility of the new IFCC Bone
Markers Committee.
Additional Information:
Presentations made during 2018 by the Chair that have described the work of the IFCC PTH
WG in some detail include the following:
Endocrine immunoassay EQA and standardisation. [Wales ACB Meeting, Cardiff, November
2018.]
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurement standardization. [JCTLM/BIPM Meeting, Chengdu,
October 2018.]
Impact of pre-analytical conditions on PTH testing and an update from the IFCC Working Groupfor PTH. [AACC Annual Conference, Chicago, August 2018]• WG-CSF Proteins (WG-CSF), Chair: Johan Gobom (SE)During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-CSF terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1.
- Collaborative effort to develop RMPs and CRMs of CSF biomarkers to enable harmonization
across analytical platforms- Development of new CSF biomarkers
Accomplishments include:- Planning of Round Robin study of candidate RMPs for CSF amyloid beta 1-40
- Planning of Round Robin study of candidate RMPs for CSF tau- Planning of Round Robin study of candidate RMPs for CSF tau
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference- Concluding Round Robin study of candidate RMs for CSF amyloid beta 1-40
- Concluding Round Robin study of candidate RMPs for CSF tau
Term of Reference 2: CSF NFL Method/RMP collaborative project
Accomplishments include:
Still to be done.
• WG – Standardization of Bone Marker Assays (WG-SBMA), Chair: Etienne Cavalier (BE)This is a joint activity with the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-SBMA terms of reference include:
Term of Reference 1: Standardize or harmonize (as technically feasible or appropriate at thistime) clinical assays available for routine and research use for the serum assay for C-telopeptide
34

fragments of collagen type I α1 chains containing the epitope Glu-Lys-Ala-His-Asp-s-Gly-GlyArg in an isomerised form (also known as serum Crosslaps (CTx).
Accomplishments include:
A manuscript has been written and submitted to IFCC, IOF and IVD partners.
Results of the multicenter study have been presented during IOF workshop in Krakow on April
18th 2018.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference• Submit the manuscript for publication.
• Work with manufacturers to improve the assay(s)• Merge into the Committee on Bone Markers (new to start in 2019)
Term of Reference 2: Standardize or harmonize (as technically feasible or appropriate at thistime) clinical assays available for routine and research and the serum assay for N-terminal
Propeptide of Type I Procollagen (P1NP).
Accomplishments include:
The comparability study of the two major clinical assays for PINP has been completed at four
European centres including data on the effects of serum or plasma specimen, fasting or nonfasting subjects and males and females presenting to osteoporosis clinics on the comparabilityof the results of assays from two manufacturers used by clinical laboratories. Quality assurance
and study data have been submitted for analyses at one centre. A preliminary report has beenpresented at the annual meeting of the WG held in conjunction with the World Congress of
Osteoporosis in Florence, 24 March 2017. A draft manuscript is to be prepared.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:• A manuscript has been written and submitted to IFCC, IOF and IVD partners• Results of the multicenter study have been presented at the ABSMR in Montreal on
October 1st 2018
Additional Information:
The activities of this WG will be taken in charge by the formation of a new Committee “Bone
Markers” (C-BM) that will be initiated in 2019. This will also include the WGs –PTH and Vit D.
• WG – Commutability (WG-C), Chair: Greg Miler (US)During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-C terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1: Establish operating procedures for the formal assessment of thecommutability of a reference material intended for use as a calibrator, trueness control or EQA
sample, taking into account different measurement procedure properties and categories oftraceability described in ISO 17511.
Accomplishments include:
Three papers were published in Clinical Chemistry (see publications section).
A proposed revision to the VIM definition of commutability was submitted to the JCGM WG2 via
Gunnar Nordin who represents IFCC on JCGM WG2.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of ReferenceContinue preparation of a manuscript on IFCC recommendations for assessing commutability
part 5: validation of commutability for a replacement batch of a reference material. This
manuscript is started and will be pursued following submission of the manuscript part 4 in thenext term of reference.
Term of Reference 2: Establish procedures to correct for bias in a metrological traceability
hierarchy caused by non-commutability, or by bias that meets a commutability criterion, of areference material.
Accomplishments include:
Described in term of reference #1 and will be addresses in publication #4.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Publish IFCC Recommendations for assessing commutability part 4: correction of bias caused
by non-commutability of a certified reference material used in the calibration hierarchy of an35

end-user measurement procedure. This manuscript is nearing completion and is expected tobe submitted in the first part of 2019.
Addressing how residual bias present in a reference material that meets a criterion forcommutability influences uncertainty may be included in the above manuscript or may be a
separate publication.
Term of Reference 3: Establish how to define the criterion for acceptable commutability thatis required for a given reference material, taking into account its intended use and the intended
use of the measurand.
Accomplishments include:
Included in the part 1, 2 and 3 papers published in Clin Chem and in part 4 to be published in
2019.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Begin drafting a manuscript IFCC Recommendations for assessing commutability part 6: criteria
for making an assessment of commutability of a reference material.
Term of Reference 4: Advise IFCC Committees and Working Groups on how to assess thecommutability of materials on which they are working.
Accomplishments include:
No requests for advice were received in 2018.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
WG-C is prepared to offer advice.
• Immunosuppressive Drugs (WG-ID), Chair: Christoph Seger (CH)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-FIT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Regulatory framework for submission of methods and materials to JCTLM.
Accomplishments include:
During the first meeting the design outline for possible JCTLM submission were discussed.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:Due to the small number of participants this discussion will be broadened in the 2nd WG
meeting.
Term of Reference 2. Measurement comparison initiative.
Accomplishments include:
During the first meeting the design outline for comparative measurements were discussed. The
RfB of the DGKL may serve as distributor (frozen blood only).
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Due to the small number of participants this discussion will be broadened in the 2nd WG
meeting.
Term of Reference 3. Production of reference materials
Accomplishments include:
Not started yet.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Principal discussion with possible stakeholders (producers) is planned.
Term of Reference 4. Establishment of reference methods.
Accomplishments include:
Not started yet.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Principal discussion with possible stakeholders (producers) is planned.
Term of Reference 5. Establishment of reference procedures
Accomplishments include:
Not started yet. Can only start when #3 and #4 is fulfilled.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
To be determined.

36• Apolipoproteins by Mass Spectrometry (WG-APO MS), Chair: Christa Cobbaert (NL)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-APO MS terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1: To achieve standardization of a panel of clinically relevant serum
apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, B, C-I, C-II, C-III, E and apo (a) (including qualitative phenotyping
where needed). Standardization is done in such a way that measurement results are traceable
to SI as outlined in ISO 17511. Other traceability chains will be used in cases where traceability
to SI cannot be achieved.
Accomplishments include:
Reference measurement procedure. In 2018, the WG determined common LC-MS transitions forthe apolipoprotein-derived peptides. Using these common transitions and synthetic peptides,
an instrument comparison study was performed to see whether all three mass spectrometers(each from different vendors) perform similarly. The WG is currently finalizing the data evaluation
towards the end of 2018; so far, only marginal differences in performance were observed
between the three instruments and locations. It is currently investigated whether a common
data evaluation strategy using open-source software is needed.
Moreover, the WG has evaluated the optimal digestion conditions for serum apolipoproteins toensure maximum recovery. For 5 out of the 7 apolipoproteins, this was achieved. For the othertwo, further optimization is needed. An SOP for the harmonized MS-based method is underdevelopment and will be finalized early 2019.

Fig. 1. Timeline of work for the RMP development with achievements for 2018.

Reference materials. It was decided to use a step-up approach in the development of referencematerials. First, reference materials for apo(a) will be developed, followed by apoA-I and apoB.
Reference materials for apoC-I, C-II, C-III and E will follow last. The WG aims to start each of
the projects in approximately ½ year intervals. During 2018, the WG obtained pig EDTA plasma
with human apo(a) with a specified number of kringles. A first evaluation of the suitability ofthis material was performed. Furthermore, a stability study, assessing the stability of apo(a) atdifferent storage conditions is ongoing and will be finalized by Q4 2018.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Reference measurement procedure. The WG plans to perform further experiments to achieve
optimal, and hopefully equimolar digestion for apoCI and CIII, which is not yet achieved with thecurrent protocol. Furthermore, the WG aims to perform a ring trial to do an initial assessmentof the feasibility of harmonization of the MS-based methods by the three laboratories, eventhough peptide-based calibration is not yet feasible. Native, serum based calibration materials
37

for this ring trial have been secured, while the EQA materials will be obtained from JRC.
The WG plans to assess the equimolarity of the digestion, which is necessary to achievecalibration based on synthetic peptides, as is proposed in the terms of reference.

Fig. 2. Timeline of the planned activities for 2019 for RMP development

Reference materials. In collaboration with the JRC, EQA materials will be developed that can beused for the ring trial to evaluate the feasibility of the RMP. Moreover, well-characterized peptide
materials will be developed for apo(a) to assess equimolarity of digestion and subsequently serve
as primary calibrators. An initial commutability study to assess feasibility of standardization of
apo(a) has been planned.
Term of Reference 2: To evaluate clinical performance and clinical utility of serum apolipoprotein
panel(s) for CVD risk stratification and treatment, in comparison to or together with contemporary
blood lipids.
Accomplishments include:
Several studies were initiated at the LUMC, which have resulted in two publications and a
submitted manuscript. Specifically, an apoCII deficient phenotype of young females with highrisk of CAD has been described (Hermans et al. J Clin Lipidol., 2017 11(6):1407-1414. doi:
10.1016/j.jacl.2017.08.002). In a second study, apoA1, apoB, and apoB/apoA1 could strongly
be associated with risk of STEMI, but could not predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE)
in statin-treated patients during 10 year follow-up after a first STEMI. (Bodde et al., Clin Res
Cardiol. 2018, doi: 10.1007/s00392-018-1381-5). A third study indicated that higher levels of
apoC-II, apoC-III and apoE are associated with an increased risk of VTE. (Orsi et al., manuscript
submitted)
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
A literature study will be performed to evaluate the current evidence at the genetic and proteomics
level for the quantitation of apolipoproteins in CVD risk assessment. Based on these outcomes,
an alternative clinical care pathway will be proposed.
Additional Information:
For the development of primary and secondary CRMs a lot of resources are needed. The WG
worked at different levels:
1. JRC has prioritized this topic and has appointed a full time PhD to manufacture secondary
CRMs.
2. LNE has worked on a grant proposal together with other NMIs and also LUMC; the aim is
to obtain finances for the preparation of primary peptide - based standards.
3. Prof. Kostner has made crucial effort in communicating with Dr. Ozawa through Dr.
Meguro from Denka-Seiken to negotiate the purchase of transgenic pig plasma with highlevels of human apo(a).
38Exposure to the work of this WG was given at AACC in Chicago (2018) during a CDC symposium
on standardization of CVD biomarkers (Christa Cobbaert) and at the PPTD 2018 workshop in
Chengdu, China (Renee Ruhaak).
• WG – Pancreatic Enzymes (WG-PE), Chair: Denis Grote-KOSKA (DE)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-PE terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1: To develop a primary reference method for pancreatic Amylase in Serum.
Accomplishments include:
In the calibration laboratory in Hannover different experiments were performed giving the proofof principle of the measurement procedure. Namely: Determination of inhibition coefficients;
recovery of experimental vs. calculated results; linearity of absorbance kinetics; glucosidase
inhibition; correlation to lipase and total amylase;
The measurement procedure is based on the IFCC-PRMP of total amylase. At certain steps,
two mAb’s are to be added as inhibitors for salivary amylase.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Reproduction of the investigation protocol at other sites: Francesca Canalias (Spain); Friederike
Weber (Roche, Germany); Shyamali Pal (India). Roche supports by supplying certain reagents.
Furthermore, a rough estimation of the expected measurement uncertainty will be performed(Ferruccio Ceriotti, Italy). This should lead to a discussion about the justification as a reference
system at the meeting in Barcelona 2019.
Term of Reference 2: To develop a primary reference method for pancreatic Lipase in Serum.
Accomplishments include:
Further investigation and development have been performed by Shigeru Ueda (Japan).
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
No activities are planned by the WG before finishing of term of reference 1.
Term of Reference 3: To support EC-JRC (Joint Research Centre, Directorate F – Health,Consumers and Reference Materials, formerly IRMM) in case of studies and certification ofreference materials for enzymes
Accomplishments include:
A commutability study of an ERM for amylase was published. This was not positioned in WGPE, however, F. Ceriotti, J. Gella and D. Grote-Koska from WG-PE were involved.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
Depending on inquiries by JRC.
• Fecal Immunochemical Testing (WG-FIT), Chair: Sally Benton (UK)
During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-FIT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. To harmonize and/or standardize analysis of haemoglobin in faecal
samples by immunochemistry (FIT).
Accomplishments include:
4 candidate reference materials have been identified. These reference materials are being tested
on 4 different quantitative FIT laboratory analysers at the Cancer Screening Lab in Guildford
with collaboration from the JRC reference laboratory in Geel. Preliminary analysis has been
carried out which was presented at the FIT-WG meeting in October in Vienna
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:
Work will conclude on analysis of the reference materials with the aim to make a decision as towhether any of the tested materials can be identified as a reference material for FIT
Term of Reference 2. To standardize the pre-analytical phase.
Accomplishments include:
A review was completed by Natasha Djedovic of the pre-analytical variables of FIT. This was
discussed at the FIT-WG.
Two presentations were given by members of the FIT-WG on work they had published which
addressed a pre-analytical variable which is the sample pickers. It has been concluded that39

because this is manufacturer specific detail this variable cannot be changed.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
There are no plans for 2019 to progress this TOR.
Term of Reference 3. To establish EQA and 3rd party IQC programmes.
Accomplishments include:
A review of available EQA schemes available globally was completed.
There are currently no 3rd party IQC materials available
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
To publish a summary of the challenges of EQA for FIT and summarise the schemes available.
Term of Reference 4. To determine impact of assay interference of Hb variants and otherfactors
Accomplishments include:
A paper investigating impact of Hb variants on FIT detection has been published by one of thegroup members team and this was discussed at a FIT-WG.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
No specific plans for progression.
• Cell free DNA and related circulating biomarkers (WG-cfDNA), Chair: Ron van Schaik(NL)
The activities of the WG have only recently started. The WG has reached out for corporate
member sponsorships to enable face-to-face meetings.
Terms of Reference:• To identify and provide guidance on preanalytical and analytical aspects for obtaining
good and reproducible results for cfDNA and related circulating biomarkers for clinicaluse, and to guide the correct clinical implementation of these biomarkers.
Current projects:• Defining pre-analytical aspects / drafting guideline• Defining minimal analytical performance• Setting up proficiency testing for cfDNA• Organizing international workshops• Defining grant proposals to address unmet needs
The chair and WG have prepared a paper about the pre-analytical aspects and the paper iscurrently being reviewed by the WG. The chair believes the WG members will provide expertisein lung cancer, organ rejection, and other broad areas (such as exosomes). The WG also plans
to be involved early on with NMIs.
• Standardization of Procalcitonin assays (WG-PCT), Chair Vincent Delatour (FR)During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-PCT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Develop and validate a reference measurement procedure for PCT
absolute quantification by Stable Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry
Accomplishments include:- Different primary calibrators have been produced. Their purity is being characterized byhigh resolution mass spectrometry and PCT concentration in calibration solutions is being
determined by Amino Acid Analysis (AAA)- Different separation methods to purify PCT in biological samples are under developmentwith the objective to validate a candidate reference measurement procedure for absolute
quantification of PCT by IDMS
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:- Suitability of recombinant PCT and/or synthetic peptides as possible primary calibrators
will be investigated based on stability and measurement uncertainties needed to meet the
medical need
- the development of a candidate reference measurement procedure for absolute40

quantification of PCT by IDMS will be pursued to obtain sufficiently low limits ofquantification
Term of Reference 2. Document and understand the variability of results provided by thedifferent commercially available PCT assays
Accomplishments include:- Agreement and correlation between the different PCT assays will be evaluated throughan interlaboratory comparison coupled with a commutability study involving the mostpopular PCT assays. Discussions on the design of the study have started and the following
prerequisites have been identified:- Investigation of the freeze thaw effect to confirm that frozen samples can be used insteadof fresh clinical specimens- Determination of the volume needed by each routine assay to conduct measurements- Determination of assays precision to determine the number of replicates needed tominimize uncertainties and the rate of inconclusive results- Assay manufacturers agreed to conduct measurements in their facilities.
- Leftovers from patients with different PCT concentrations (frozen serum) have beencollected with the objective to prepare pools
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference- Finalize preparation of study materials- Arrange logistics and planning- Conduct the study- Perform statistical analysis of results according to latest recommendations establishedby IFCC WG-C
- In cooperation with IVD manufacturers, investigate what are the causes for the variabilityof results provided by the different commercially available PCT assays
Term of Reference 3. Evaluate the need for standardization of PCT assays.
Accomplishments include:- The ICHCLR identified PCT standardization as high priority with high clinical impact- Consultation of IVD manufacturers was initiated and reveals that the need and demand
for standardization of PCT assays differs in the 2 following situations:• BRAHMS licensed assays are all calibrated with the Kryptor method. Assay
manufacturers feel that recalibration of BRAHMS PCT assays is not a priority andpossibly appears undesirable because introducing a new reference system basedon IDMS could potentially result in the need to revise clinical decision limits, which
could create confusion in the clinical community. However, using an IDMS RMP asstable anchor reference method would be helpful to monitor the stability of the Kryptor
method• For PCT assays other than BRAHMS PCT assays, there is currently no internationallyagreed reference system and there is a need for assay standardization.
- All WG members agree that commutable EQA materials are needed to accurately estimate
between-method agreement
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference- Pursue stakeholder consultation and maintain manufacturers involvement
Term of Reference 4. Evaluate the feasibility for standardization of PCT assays
Accomplishments include:- Feasibility for standardization of PCT assays will be evaluated after activities planned within
ToR 1 and 2 have been completed
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
To be decided.
Term of Reference 5: Perform standardization of PCT assays, if needed and feasible.
Accomplishments include:
The need and feasibility for standardization of PCT assays first need to be evaluated.
41

List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
PCT assays will be standardized:- if the IDMS method meets the necessary performance specifications,- if the variability of results provided by the different commercially available PCT assays
is considered unacceptable and can be improved through common calibration with
commutable secondary calibrators- if correlation between the IDMS method and routine assays is sufficient• Vitamin D Standardization Program (WG-Vit D), Chair: Christopher Sempos (US)During 2018 ongoing progress towards WG-Vit D terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Re-evaluate current Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP)
performance guidelines for serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurement, i.e. CV≤10% andMean Bias ±5% (Clin Chem Acta 2009;408:8-13)
Accomplishments include:
The first meeting of WG-Vit D was on 30 July 2018 at the AACC meeting in Chicago. WG-Vit D
members from universities, IVD manufacturers, Clinical and Commercial Laboratories, and PT/
EQA attended the meeting.
The meeting included a detailed presentation and discussion of the:(1) Overview of the Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP), its goals and objectives;(2) VDSP Performance Criteria – for routine laboratories, i.e. CV≤10% and Mean Bias ±5%;
(3) The Problems with the current VDSP performance criteria – especially Mean Bias; and(4) Terms of Reference for WG-Vit D.
Following that, there was a frank and open discussion among those present. IVD manufacturers’
representatives were concerned that tightening the VDSP Performance Criteria could lead tolack of participation in efforts to standardize the measurement of serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin
D. It was suggested that WG-Vit D consider developing three sets of criteria for meeting or
passing VDSP performance guidelines. Furthermore, it was suggested that current VDSP
performance criteria be retained as the 1st Level Performance Criteria in the revised criteria. The
2nd Level and 3rd Levels would be increasingly more stringent guidelines based on attainable
performance as seen in interlaboratory comparison studies.
There was some concern raised by Members about developing performance criteria for 3-epi25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3. It was explained that the objective of the WG-Vit D was tostandardize research data for those metabolites so that if a clinical use was defined then astandardized research database would be available for developing external clinical cut-points.
Moreover, the ratio of 25(OH)D to 24,25(OH)2D3 is beginning to be used clinically and hence
the need to develop performance criteria in order to promote a standardized research database.
Finally, Drs. Johanna Camara and Karen Phinney of NIST provided updates on development of
RMPs for 1,25(OH)2D3, and Vitamin D Binding Protein and PTH, respectively.
Data analyses for the VDSP 2 Interlaboratory Comparison Study are nearly complete. In thisstudy the performance characteristics of 10 immunoassays were measured vs. NIST RMP
target values on 50 single donor serum samples. These data will be central to the re-evaluationof the VDSP performance criteria. A manuscript is in preparation.
Data analyses for the VDSP 2 Commutability Study of NIST SRMs 972a and 2973 and CAP
and DEQAS serum materials are nearly complete. Duplicate analyses of 50 single donor serum
samples will be used to estimate CV% and Mean Bias for the nearly 40 laboratories from aroundthe world participating in this study.
Data analyses of replicate measures of serum total 25(OH)D in nearly 2,000 participants in
the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Study are being re-analysed to estimate
biological variation (within-person variation). Those analyses will be central to the re-evaluationof the VDSP performance criteria.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference:
There are plans to develop a study protocol and solicit IVD manufacturer/industry support for an42international study of serum total 25(OH)D biological variation associated with immunoassays.
Term of Reference 2. Establish VDSP performance guidelines for 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3
and 24,25-di-hydroxyvitamin D3.
Accomplishments include:
In the last VDSP budget prior to leaving the Office of Dietary Supplements/NIH, the Chair
included monies to support the measurement of 3-epi-25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 in the 50
single donor serum samples used in the VDSP Interlaboratory Comparison Study 2. It is hopedthat NIST can make progress on those measurements as they are essential to the re-evaluationof the VDSP performance criteria.
List planned activities in 2019 for this Term of Reference
A search of the literature to locate data on biological variation in those metabolites will be
conducted.
Additional Information:
The working group on Vitamin D standardization will be merged within the IFCC Committee forstandardization of PTH, vitamin D and bone markers. This proposal has been approved by themembers of the WG and the new Committee will also be endorsed by the IOF.

PUBLICATIONS BY COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS:C-NPU:
Wikipedia page for the NPU Terminology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPU_terminology
C-TLM:The results of RELA2017 has been evaluated and published (http://www.dgklrfb.de:81).
C-RIDL:
1) Yesim Ozarda, Ken Sikaris, Thomas Streichert, Joseph Macri & on behalf of IFCC
Committee on Reference intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL) Distinguishing reference
intervals and clinical decision limits – A review by the IFCC Committee on Reference
Intervals and Decision Limits. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences 2018, Vol
55 (6), 420-31.
2) Graham R.D. Jones, Rainer Haeckel, Tze Ping Loh, Ken Sikaris, Thomas Streichert, Alex
Katayev, Julian H. Barth, Yesim Ozarda & on behalf of the IFCC Committee on Reference
Intervals and Decision Limits. Indirect methods for reference interval determination– review and recommendations. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018 Dec 19;57(1):20-29. doi:
10.1515/cclm-2018-0073.
Other articles directly related to the C-RIDL projects
1) Yesim Ozarda, Victoria Higgins and Khosrow Adeli. Verification of reference intervals inroutine clinical laboratories: practical challenges and recommendations. Opinion Paper,
Clin Chem Lab Med 2018, 57(1),doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0059.
C-STFT:
1. Yoshihara A, Noh JY, Watanabe N, Iwaku K, Kunii Y, Ohye H,
Suzuki M, Matsumoto M, Suzuki N, Sugino K, Thienpont LM, Hishinuma A, Ito K.
Seasonal Changes in Serum Thyrotropin Concentrations Observed from Big Data Obtained
During Six Consecutive Years from 2010 to 2015 at a Single Hospital in Japan. Thyroid. 2018
Apr;28(4):429-436. doi: 10.1089/thy.2017.0600. Epub 2018 Apr 2.
C- HAT:
Journal: CCLM - Authors: Evanthia Monogioudi; Ingrid Zegers; Dana P Hutu; Joanna Sheldon;
Heinz Schimmel; Pier Luigi Meroni; Title: Certified Reference Material against PR3 ANCA IgG
autoantibodies. From development to certification Accepted for publication.
43

Abstract submitted to Euromedlab Barcelona. Monogioudi Evi, Sheldon Joanna, Meroni Pier
Luigi, Zegers Ingrid. On the lookout for the best candidate material to develop a Certified
Reference Material for PR3 ANCA IgG antibodies: A commutability story
WG-SHbA2:
Paleari R, Ceriotti F, Harteveld CL, Strollo M, Bakker-Verweij G, ter Huurne J, Bisoen S, Mosca
A. Calibration by commutable control materials is able to reduce inter-method differences ofcurrent high-performance methods for HbA2. Clin Chim Acta 2018; 477:60-5.
Arsene CG, Kaiser P, Paleari R, Henrion A, Spannagl M, Mosca A, on behalf of the IFCC
Working Group on Standardisation of Hemoglobin A2 (WG-HbA2). Determination of HbA2 byquantitative bottom-up proteomics and isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Clinica Chimica
Acta 2018;487:318-24.
WG-SCDT:
International standardization of CDT measurement and interpretation improves its use as
biomarker for chronic excessive alcohol consumption
Jos Wielders eNews IFCC November-december 2017
WG-SAU:
Seegmiller JC, Miller WG, Bachmann LM. Moving towards standardization of urine albuminmeasurements. eJIFCC 2017;28:258-67.
Miller WG, Bachmann LM, Fleming JK, Delanghe JR, Parsa A, Narva AS; Laboratory Working
Group of the National Kidney Disease Education Program and the IFCC Working Group forStandardization of Albumin in Urine. Recommendations for Reporting Low and High Values
for Urine Albumin and Total Protein. Clin Chem. 2018 Nov 20. pii: clinchem.2018.297861. doi
10.1373/clinchem.2018.297861. [Epub ahead of print]
WG-TNI:The following recommendation was made in the clinical practice guidelines promulgated by the
AACC academy and IFCC TFCACB in 2018.
Recommendation 8: Commutable materials should be developed for use in harmonizing andstandardizing cTn.
This recommendation resulted was discussed in a section of the Clinical Practice Guidelines
titled ‘Harmonizing and Standardizing’, and serves to highlight the importance of our work indeveloping RM 2922.
Wu AHB, Christenson RH, Greene DN, Jaffe AS, Kavsak PA, Ordonez-Llanos J, Apple FS.
Clinical laboratory practice recommendations for the use of cardiac troponin in acute coronary
syndrome: expert opinion from the academy of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry
and the Task Force on Clinical Applications of Cardiac Bio-Markers of the International Federationof Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Clin Chem 2018;64:645-655.
WG-cMSP:Clinical Mass spectrometry proteomics (cMSP) for medical laboratory: what could be the future?
By Sylvain Lehmann, Cato Brede, Pierre Lescuyer, José A Cocho, Jérôme Vialaret, Pauline
Bros, Vincent Delatour, Christophe Hirtz and the IFFCC WG-cMSP is currently submitted for
publication in CCA (Editor P Gillery).
WG-PTH:
Members and supporters of the IFCC PTH Working Group were asked to provide the Chair withdetails of any publications and/or presentations highlighting activities of the Working Groupduring 2018 for inclusion in this Annual Report but no information has as yet been received.

44

WG-C:
W. Greg Miller, Heinz Schimmel, Robert Rej, Neil Greenberg, Ferruccio Ceriotti, Chris Burns,
Jeffrey R. Budd, Cas Weykamp, Vincent Delatour, Goran Nilsson, Finlay MacKenzie, Mauro
Panteghini, Thomas Keller, Johanna E. Camara, Ingrid Zegers, Hubert W. Vesper, for the
IFCC Working Group on Commutability. IFCC working group recommendations for assessing
commutability part 1: general experimental design. Clin Chem 2018;64: 447-54.
Goran Nilsson, Jeffrey R. Budd, Neil Greenberg, Vincent Delatour, Robert Rej, Mauro Panteghini,
Ferruccio Ceriotti, Heinz Schimmel, Cas Weykamp, Thomas Keller, Johanna E. Camara, Chris
Burns, Hubert W. Vesper, Finlay MacKenzie, W. Greg Miller, for the IFCC Working Group on
Commutability. IFCC working group recommendations for assessing commutability part 2:
using the difference in bias between a reference material and clinical samples. Clin Chem
2018;64:455-64. This paper includes a worked example as supplemental information.
Jeffrey R. Budd, Cas Weykamp, Robert Rej, Finlay MacKenzie, Ferruccio Ceriotti, Neil Greenberg,
Johanna E. Camara, Heinz Schimmel, Hubert W. Vesper, Thomas Keller, Vincent Delatour, Mauro
Panteghini, Chris Burns, W. Greg Miller, for the IFCC Working Group on Commutability. IFCC
working group recommendations for assessing commutability part 3: based on the calibration
effectiveness of a reference material. Clin Chem 2018;64:465-74. This paper includes additional
example data and statistical tools as supplemental information.
WG-APO MS:
The WG is working on the outline of its independent publication strategy.
Several publications were prepared with contributions of WG members:
1. Bodde MC, Hermans MPJ, Jukema JW, et al. Apolipoproteins A1, B, and apoB/apoA1
ratio are associated with first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction but not withrecurrent events during long-term follow-up. Clin Res Cardiol 2018 2018/10/10. DOI:
10.1007/s00392-018-1381-5.
2. Delatour V, Clouet-Foraison N, Gaie-Levrel F, et al. Comparability of Lipoprotein Particle
Number Concentrations Across ES-DMA, NMR, LC-MS/MS, Immunonephelometry, and
VAP: In Search of a Candidate Reference Measurement Procedure for apoB and nonHDL-P Standardization. Clin Chem 2018; 64: 1485-1495. 2018/08/09. DOI: 10.1373/
clinchem.2018.288746.
3. Ruhaak LR, Smit NPM, Suchiman HED, et al. MS-based proteomics: a metrological soundand robust alternative for apolipoprotein E phenotyping in a multiplexed test. Clinicalchemistry and laboratory medicine: CCLM / FESCC 2018 2018/09/22. DOI: 10.1515/
cclm-2018-0782.
4. Ruhaak LR, Smit NPM, Romijn F, et al. Robust and Accurate 2-Year Performanceof a Quantitative Mass Spectrometry-Based Apolipoprotein Test in a Clinical
Chemistry Laboratory. Clin Chem 2018; 64: 747-749. 2018/01/31. DOI: 10.1373/
clinchem.2017.285098.
5. Dittrich J, Adam M, Maas H, et al. Targeted On-line SPE-LC-MS/MS Assay for the
Quantitation of 12 Apolipoproteins from Human Blood. Proteomics 2018; 18 2017/12/28.
DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201700279.
WG-PE:
Deprez L, Toussaint B, Zegers I, Schimmel H, Grote-Koska D, Klauke R, Gella FJ, Orth M,
Lessinger JM, Trenti T, Nilsson G, Ceriotti F. (2018). Commutability Assessment of Candidate
Reference Materials for Pancreatic α-Amylase, Clin. Chem. 64: 1193-1202.
This was not positioned in IFCC-WG-PE, however, F. Ceriotti, J. Gella and D. Grote-Koska from
WG-PE were involved in this EC-JRC publication.
Philippe Gillery, SD Chair and Joseph Passarelli, SD Secretary

45

EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EMD)
Prof Nader Rifai was appointed to the EMD EC vacancy for a first three year term in January
2018. Prof Nader was also appointed the Chair of the IFCC-Abbott VLP in 2018. Prof Vanessa
Steenkamp was appointed to the EMD EC vacancy for a first term beginning in July 2018 until
the end of December 2020.
The EMD EC met on 18 and 19 January 2018 in Milan to plan the strategic direction of the
EMD for the three year period 2018 till 2020, and this has been accepted by all Chairs of EMD
committees, working groups and special projects with discussion and amendments.
In January 2018, four Task Forces (Chronic Kidney Disease, Clinical Applications of Cardiac
Biomarkers, Point of Care Testing and Proficiency Testing) previously under the IFCC EB
became committees of the Education and Management Division. A new EMD committee,
Value Proposition for Laboratory Medicine, was established on 1 January 2018. The Committee
for Distance Learning under the EMD and the Committee for Internet and eLearning under
the Communications and Publications Division were merged to form a new committee called
Committee for Internet and Distance Learning (C-IDL) on 1 January 2018 with two Co-Chairs,
one from the EMD and the other from CPD. The Mentoring Programme (a Special Project)became a Working Group for Personal Support on 1 January 2018.
Clinical Molecular Biology Curriculum (C-CMBC); Chair: Evi Lianidou (GR)
1. The 2018 C-CMBC course took place in Martin, Slovakia from 18 to 24 Feb 2018.
Dr. Katarina Baluchova, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Division of Oncology, Biomedical
Center Martin (BioMed), in Martin, Slovakia, was assigned as a trainee by the Slovakian
Society of Laboratory Medicine and underwent training at Mannheim at the beginning ofJanuary 2018.
2. Responding to a request from the Chair of the EMD Committee on Proficiency Testing(C-PT) and with the technical support of ESEAP (the non-profit EQA scheme of the Greek
Society of Clinical Chemistry-Clinical Biochemistry) an EQA programme for the detectionof EGFR mutations in human plasma liquid biopsy was implemented.
3. Publication: Ntzifa A, Kroupis C, Haliassos A, Lianidou E. A pilot plasma-ctDNA ring trial,
for the Cobas® EGFR Mutation Test in clinical diagnostic laboratories. Clin Chem Lab
Med. 2018, Sep 29. pii:/j/cclm.ahead-of-print/cclm-2018-0676/cclm-2018-0676.xml.
doi:10.1515/cclm-2018-0676. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30267626.
Analytical Quality (C-AQ), Chair: Annette Thomas (UK)
1. The Resource table for EQA database was updated in 2018. This database is now a live
document.
2. Presentations on Principles of EQA, Principles of IQC and EQA Planning already exist on
the C-AQ website. It is planned to improve the existing presentations on line with the IFCC
eAcademy and develop additional presentations on IQC Planning and Risk Management.
A large number of presentations have been reviewed by the Committee and approvalhas been obtained from the authors. The Committee is working with Dr Langman and
Eduardo Feggiaro to finalise the three presentations already forwarded to them. Further
topics are to be mapped to the quality ladder concept.
3. Annette Thomas conducted two workshops in Malawi between 26 Feb and 1 March2018 in collaboration with the DQCML Committee. A one and a half day workshop wasorganised in Kathmandu, Nepal between 28 and 31 May 2018, again in collaboration with
the DQCML Committee.
4. Development of a Quality Ladder:a) Based on the feedback from the workshop held in South Africa in February 2017 on
Quality and Markers for Diabetes for Developing Countries it was identified that existing
resources on quality available on the IFCC website such as Quality of Management46

and Quality of Analysis were not used by the attendees. It was identified that “bite size”
educational material such as the EQA checklist and quality outline presented at themeeting would be more suitable.
b) The plan for 2018 was to develop a series of monographs covering the basic conceptsof quality that can be used by developing countries. A scoping document has beendeveloped, topics agreed and content/authors have been identified. It was agreed to
stratify the topic areas into Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
5. The Committee agreed to support a Moving Averages project proposed by Tony Badrick.
An initial meeting of this project group was held on 25th October 2018. The aim of thegroup is to support laboratories‘ implementation of patient-based real time quality control(PBRTQC) with simple understandable help tools, engage with middleware suppliers toassist development of simple, harmonised software and to develop network/collaboration
between users/societies/suppliers to investigate newer data approaches.
Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine (C-EBLM), Chair: Annalise Zemlin (ZA)
1. Continuation of Guidelines reviews using AGREE II instrument. These and previous
findings will be used for publication in eJIFCC in 2019.
2. A workshop on EBLM was conducted at the CSCC meeting in Ottawa in June 2018 by A.
Don Wauchope and K. Rodriguez Capote.
3. Talks on EBLM and audits were presented under auspices of C-EBLM at quality workshops
in Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia by A Zemlin in 2018.
4. Talks by A Don Wauchope, K Rodriguez-Capote and A Zemlin are being finalised forsubmission to the IFCC e-Academy:
5. Publication: Nuria Gimenez was first author on a manuscript on PSA.published in Spanish.
Gimenez N, Filella X, Gavagnach M, Allue JA, Pedrazas D, Ferrer F. Cribado del cancer
de prostata mediante antigeno prostatico especifico: perspectiva del medico en atencion
primaria y en el laboratorio clinic. Medicinia de Familia, Semergen 2018; 44(6): 409-419.
IFCC C-EBLM is stated in the affiliation.
Clinical Laboratory Management (C-CLM), Chair: Sedef Yenice (TR)
1. The first draft of a monograph entitled “Basic Problem Solving Tools” or “Basic Tools for
Quality Improvement” was ready in August 2018. This will be completed by April 2019
2. Aye Aye Khine communicated with corresponding members requesting assistancewith pilot questions regarding various learning tools. This task was conducted throughthe webpage of C-CLM on 1 March 2018 to 31 August 2018. http://www.ifcc.org/ifcceducation-division/emd-committees/c-clm/6-c-clm-clinical-laboratory-managementtoolbox/
3. Development of a Laboratory Leadership Training Certificate Programme led by Ed
Randell: C-CLM issued a survey questionnaire to all National Societies to circulate totheir members regarding learning needs assessment to aid in developing the programme.
Responses were analysed and submitted for publication in the IFCC eNews on 28
September 2018. The primary assignments for the Laboratory Leadership Programme
were allocated on 11 February 2018. The work on content development will continue
through 2018 and 2019. The final programme content will consist of reading materials,
live/recorded workshop presentations, and a quiz covering session content. C-CLM plans
to issue a certificate of accomplishment to programme participants who complete all of
the learning objectives and course content.
4. An online survey (using SurveyMonkey) to determine interest and knowledge gaps
on selected topics to be discussed in the Laboratory Leadership Training Certificate
Programme was conducted by Ed Randell in early February 2018. The survey comprised
24 questions (mainly multiple choice questions) and was completed on 28 February 2018.
5. A Training Manual on Leadership Basics for Clinical Laboratory Professionals was47completed and sent to the IFCC office on 22 December 2018. This manual is now on the
IFCC website. A Joint Monograph with C-AQ is being prepared and will be completed in2019.
6. The C-CLM Clinical Laboratory Management Toolbox was created and the case scenarios
were uploaded under the subsection of “Interactive Case Scenarios - Approach toCommon Problems in the Medical Laboratory”.
http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/emd-committees/c-clm/6-c-clm-clinicallaboratory-management-toolbox/
7. C-CLM conducted the following workshops in 2018:a) Pre-Congress Satellite Educational Workshop on “Leadership Essentials for Laboratory
Professionals”
Date: 16 August 2018
Venue: PATHCAPE 2018, Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 180 min
Speakers: Sedef Yenice, Matthias Orth, Aye Aye Khineb) Interactive workshop on “What is the Role of Innovation and Leadership for the ClinicalLaboratory?” at the IFCC General Conference in Budapest on 11th November 2018
conducted by Sedef Yenice and Ed Randell.
c) Pre-Congress Satellite Educational Workshop
Duration: 25 – 26 October 2018
Venue: National Annual Congress of Turkish Biochemical Society, Bodrum, Turkey
Title or workshop: Westgard Rules, QC and Six Sigma
Speakers: Sten Westgard, Sedef Yenice
8. Sedef Yenice delivered a talk on “Policies for Standardization of Clinical Laboratory
Management in Mediterranean countries: differences from EU Members” on July 3rd, 2’18
at the 1st IFCC-EFLM-AFCB Conference on Laboratory Medicine, Rome, Italy.
9. Symposia conducted by C-CLM:a) Date: 17 August 2018
Venue: PATHCAPE 2018, Cape Town, South Africa
Title of symposium: Accreditation and Quality Management
Speakers: Sedef Yenice, Matthias Orthb) Date: 27 October 2018
Venue: National Annual Congress of Turkish Biochemical Society, Bodrum, Turkey
Title of symposium: Verification of Laboratory Test Results in the Core Lab: Exploring
effectiveness from the ground up?
Speakers: Sedef Yenice, Matthias Orth, Ed Randell
10. Publications:a) Ed Randell and Sedef Yenice. Delta Checks in the Clinical Laboratory, Critical Reviewsin Clinical Laboratory Sciences, published online on 11 Jan 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408363.2018.1540536b) Two short articles were published in the October issue of the IFCC eNews The titles ofthese articles are as follows:• C-CLM Educational workshop on leadership and management in the PathCape 2018
• C-CLM Survey Results on Laboratory Leadership
Internet and Distance Learning (C-IDL); Co-Chair: Loralie Langman (US)
1. Topics outlined in the curricula that do not have presentations already in the eAcademy havebeen identified.
2. Potential speakers or source content for these topics are being identified. A call has been
sent to IFCC member societies asking for volunteers and a positive response has beenobtained from many societies.
3. eAcademy Coordinators have been recruited: Paul Hamilton, David Armbruster, Frank Quinn,
48

and Rojeet Shrestha.
4. Knovio account to facilitate recordings for the eAcademy has been established.
5. The eAcademy has 70 webinars and 51 linked presentations. There are, in addition, 5 broken
AACB links which need to be fixed. There are 5 Vietnamese presentations pending English
versions and 15 ICPLM presentations uploaded but have not been finalised. Hence, there
are a total of 20 webinars pending. On the occasion of the IFCC General Conference heldin Madrid, IFCC obtained permission from Prof. Gronowski to insert links to three AACC
webinars:
http://eacademy.ifcc.org/events/aacc-pearls-of-laboratory-medicine/
Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes (C-EUBD), Chair: Garry John (UK)
1. The committee is working with WHO to finalise the Diabetes Laboratory Handbook. Following
recent discussions with collaborators at WHO, this document is undergoing a final write up.
There will need to be a meeting with collaborators at WHO to finalise the wording and format.
2. Following the very successful HbA1c European EQA study the next phase is being planned
which will include laboratories in Korea with the potential to include laboratories in Indonesia.
3. The committee is continuing to work with colleagues from the IDF on a project looking
at the diagnostic cut points for T2DM. Data gathering has been completed and is in theprocess of being reviewed. The project has been expanded to include additional laboratory
measurements.
4. The committee is working with the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) to develop a joint IFCCCDS committee to look at diabetes services within China. Dr Emma English and Prof GarryJohn were invited to give presentations at the Annual Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS)
meeting, 29 November till 2 December 2018.
5. The committee is continuing to provide a scientific/clinical steer to the IFCC HbA1c Reference
Laboratory Network. The IFCC HbA1c Reference Laboratory Network report was presented
to the C-EUBD during its annual meeting in Chicago during AACC 2018. The Network
continues to perform to a high scientific and clinical standard.
6. A lecture was delivered by Prof Garry John on HbA1c standardisation at the 5th EFLM-UEMS
European Joint Congress, 10-13 October 2018 in Antalya, Turkey.
7. Following a C-EUBD presentation at the NGSP–IFCC-Manufacturer Forum there has beena tremendous response from manufacturers offering support for educational events andinvitations to help them develop their own educational agenda (e.g. webinars). Representatives
from these companies will be contacted and initiatives followed up.
8. Rolf Hinzmann proposed during the C-EUBD meeting in Chicago during AACC 2018 that thecommittee investigates Traceability of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM). Garry John will
write a proposal to go to EMD and SD for consideration.
9. During the AACC 2018 meeting in Chicago, the C-EUBD participated in:
NGSP Steering Committee, 29 July 2018NGSP IFCC Manufacturer Forum, 30 July 2018
IFCC HbA1c Network Meeting, 31 July 2018
10.Publications:a) English E, Weykamp C, Ji L, Siebelder C, Shan Z, Wang Y, Li H, John WG. The global
impact of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine,
Education and Management Division: engaging stakeholders and assessing HbA1c
quality in a multicentre study across China. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018, Jul 25. pii: /j/cclm.
ahead-of-print/cclm-2018-0434/cclm-2018-0434.xml. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0434.
[Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30044761.
b) EurA1c Trial Group. EurA1c: The European HbA1c Trial to Investigate the Performance of
HbA1c Assays in 2166 Laboratories across 17 Countries and 24 Manufacturers by Useof the IFCC Model for Quality Targets. Clin Chem. 2018; 64(8): 1183-1192. doi: 10.1373/
clinchem.2018.288795. Epub on 19 June 2018. PubMed PMID: 29921723.
49c) English E, Lenters-Westra E. HbA1c method performance: The great successstory of global standardization. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2018; 55(6): 408-419. doi:
10.1080/10408363.2018.1480591. Epub 12 July 2018. PubMed PMID: 30001673.
d) Lenters-Westra E, English E. Evaluation of Four HbA1c Point-of-Care Devices Using
International Quality Targets: Are They Fit for the Purpose? J Diabetes Sci Technol.
2018;;12(4): 762-770. doi: 10.1177/1932296818785612. Epub 19 June 2018. PubMed
PMID: 29921132; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6134306.
Cardiac Biomarkers (C-CB), Chair: Fred Apple (US)
1. The committee has developed educational materials for a) high-sensitivity, contemporary
and point of care cardiac troponin assays and b) natriuretic peptide assays used in clinicalpractice and will continue to distribute educational posters and mouse-pads, as well as
pocket-cards, addressing high sensitivity cardiac troponin and natriuretic peptide assays at
IFCC (laboratory medicine) and clinical society meetings.
a) Approximately 1300 educational posters based on high sensitivity cardiac troponin assays
were distributed by the IFCC booth at the 2018 Chicago AACC meeting.
b) An educational poster and pocket card guide are in development for natriuretic peptide
assays, with the goal for distribution at the May 2019 Barcelona EUROMEDLAB meeting.
Educational topic videos are being discussed.
2. A joint educational workshop of the ‘C-CB’ and ‘Academy of the AACC’ was held at the2018 AACC meeting in Chicago (1 August 2018) that was co-sponsored by numerous
industries supporting of the C-CB: Title: Clinical Laboratory Practice Recommendations for the
Use of Cardiac Troponin in Acute Coronary Syndrome: Expert Opinion from the Academy of theAmerican Association for Clinical Chemistry and the Task Force on Clinical Applications of Cardiac
Bio-Markers of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. It was agreat success with over 400 participants.
3. The C-CB determined at their last committee meeting that the website for both cardiac
troponin and natriuretic peptide assays will be updated quarterly, in partnership with
manufacturers. The latest update occurred on 23 September 2018 and new updated tables
are being submitted on 28 January 2019.
4. Development of a searchable App that will be the educational tool for cardiac biomarker assays
used in clinical practice by clinicians and laboratorians is still in the developmental stage andwill be the primary focus of the C-CB to finalise in 2019. This will require collaborative workwith App developer, IFCC office, and industry/corporate members. This activity was brainstormed for 3 hours at the 1 December 2018 C-CB meeting in Boston; with two writing/content sessions addressing both hs-cTn and NP assays, focusing on educational laboratory
medicine content and influence on clinical use. Apple and Ortisi, et. al., hope to meet with
IFCC IT contact in Milan in February 2019.
5. Development of a study model to define a ‘clinical scorecard’ for high sensitivity cardiac
troponin assays. After one year of careful planning, this activity [official title and acronym are:‘Clinical Scorecard Based on Comparison Of High-Sensitivity (hs) Cardiac Troponin (cTn) I
and T Assays for Ruling Out AcutE MyocarDial Infarction’ (SCORED)] is on track to start in
February 2019. Contracts and invoices with 7 companies are in the final stages. Specimens
are in place for analysis, with the goal to complete measurements of specimens by theend of April 2019, with statistical analysis completed in May 2019. The corporate funding
awarded to IFCC to support this study is USD 184,800.
6. Corporate members have initiated a second round of education contributions to C-CB throughthe IFCC office to assist in workshop planning, App development, and full day committee
meetings.
7. Publications:a) Wu AHB, Christenson RH, Greene DN, Jaffe AS, Kavsak PA, Ordonez-Llanos J, Apple FS.
Clinical Laboratory Practice Recommendations for the Use of Cardiac Troponin in Acute50

Coronary Syndrome: Expert Opinion from the Academy of the American Association for
Clinical Chemistry and the Task Force on Clinical Applications of Cardiac Bio-Markers of
the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Clin Chem
2018; 64: 545-655.
b) Amy K. Saenger, Allan S. Jaffe, Richard Body, Paul O. Collinson, Peter A. Kavsak, Carolyn
S. P. Lam, Guillaume Lefèvre, Tobjørn Omland, Jordi Ordóñez-Llanos, Kari Pulkki, Fred S.
Apple. Cardiac Troponin and Natriuretic Peptide Analytical Interferences from Hemolysis
and Biotin: Educational Aids From the IFCC Committee on Cardiac Biomarkers (IFCC
C-CB), Clin Chem Lab Med (In Press, posted online). https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-20180905.
c) Paul O.Collinson, Amy K.Saenger and Fred S. Apple, on behalf of the IFCC C-CB. Highsensitivity contemporary and point-of-care cardiac troponin assays: educational aids
developed by the IFCC Committee on Clinical Application of Cardiac Bio-Markers, Clin
Chem Lab Med (In Press, posted online). https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2018-).
d) An IFCC eNews article was published in 2018 describing C-CB activities.
e) An educational document based on natriuretic peptide assays and their clinical implicationsin practice (primary authors: Drs Lam and Kavsak) was finalised at the 1 December 2018
C-CB full day meeting in Boston, and will be submitted to Clinical Biochemistry for
publication.
Chronic Kidney Disease (C-CKD), Chair: Flavio Alcantara (BR)
1. The objectives of the C-CKD were discussed during the IFCC General Conference in Budapest
and members agreed to the suggestion of the EMD Executive Committee to encompass“Acute Kidney Disease” along with chronic kidney disease.
2. Portuguese and Croatian members have undertaken surveys on CKD practices in their homecountries. A survey on CKD assays in different countries using a standardised format iscurrently underway.
3. A review on uses of CKD assays for risk stratification of cardiovascular diseases inhypertensive patients is being prepared.
Point of Care Testing (C-POCT), Chair: Rosy Tirimacco (AU)
1. GMECC WG presented their blood gas document both at the AACC 2018 annual meeting
and at CPOCT meeting in September 2018. The document is a high calibre education toolciting many useful references. This document is being reviewed by a third party before final
formatting and release.
2. The committee plans to present blood gas education as a webcast in consultation with CPD.
The completed document will be placed on the IFCC website.
3. Publications:a) In preparation: Bowman C., Cunningham S., Slingerland IER, Mesotten D., Karon BS,
Nichols J. on behalf of the IFCC Working Group. How should glucose meters be evaluatedin critical care?
b) How should glucose meters be evaluated for critical care? (by WG-GMECC) Article
published in IFCC eNews, April 2018
Proficiency Testing (C-PT), Chair: Alexander Haliassos
1. In order to develop and implement the Analytes section of the Proficiency Testing Database(PTDB) a document was produced describing all the fields required for the creation of an
Analyte record and documenting the procedure for creating the analyte section of the database. The committee members started with biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases.
This document describing the neopterin was finalised during the IFCC General Conference(Budapest, November 2018).
2. The revision of all changes on the webpage of C-PT reflecting the change from TF-PT to51

C-PT has been completed.
3. All the changes to the PTDB have been documented in order to comply with the change fromTF-PT to C-PT, and these changes are implemented by InSoft, the IT provider of IFCC anddeveloper of the PT DataBase.
4. In cooperation with C-AQ, the webpage of C-AQ has been updated to point to the PTDB.
5. The Chair of C-PT participated in the EQALM EB meeting (Zagreb, October 18th & 19th, 2018),
where the next steps of the participation and the contribution of the EQALM members for the
implementation, updating and maintenance of the C-PT database were discussed, as wellas the planning of a symposium to be held at the EuroMedLab Congress in Barcelona 2019.
6. Responding to a request from the Chair of the EMD Committee on Clinical Molecular Biology Curriculum (C-CMBC) and with the technical support of ESEAP (the non-profit EQA-PT
scheme of the Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry - Clinical Biochemistry) the committee
members designed and implemented an EQA programme for the detection of EGFR mutations in human plasma liquid biopsy. This scheme validates the companion diagnostics testof detection of EGFR mutations. This test is a prerequisite for the administration of innovative, personalised, anti-cancer therapy. In February 2018, after a very successful pilot run
ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation was applied for. The final inspection visit of the accreditationbody was in early October 2018 and there were no non-conformances. The certificate for
ISO 17043 is awaited.
7. Invited talks by the Chair of C-PT:a) “Inter-laboratory comparisons and EQA in the Mediterranean area” at the first IFCC, EFLM,AFCB Conference, “Laboratory Medicine: Meeting the needs of Mediterranean Nations”
on 2 - 4 July 2018, Rome, Italy. The Chair presented the work of the committee, including
the PTDB online database and web app.
b) “Creation of an external quality assessment scheme for companion diagnostics” at the2018 Moroccan Congress of Clinical Chemistry, Casablanca, 27 – 29 September 2018.
The Chair delivered this lecture in French and presented the combined work of C-CMBC
and C-PT.
8. Publications:a) Ntzifa A, Kroupis C, Haliassos A, Lianidou E. A pilot plasma-ctDNA ring trial, for the Cobas® EGFR Mutation Test in clinical diagnostic laboratories. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018,
Sep 29. pii:/j/cclm.ahead-of-print/cclm-2018-0676/cclm-2018-0676.xml. doi:10.1515/
cclm-2018-0676. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30267626.
b) Haliassos A. Inter-laboratory comparisons and EQA in the Mediterranean area. eJIFCC
2018; 29 (4): 253-258.
http://www.ifcc.org/media/477614/ejifcc2018vol29no4pp253-258.pdfa
Value Proposition for Laboratory Medicine (C-VPLM), Chair: Andrew St. John (AU)
1. There are 4 separate planned papers in various stages of preparation. In their order ofprogress:a) A description of the value proposition for the effective application of point-of-care testing.
The authors are Chris Price and Andrew St Johnb) A description of the value proposition for the application of advanced molecular diagnostics
in cancer and transplantation. Michael Oellerich is leading this initiative.
c) A general review of the technique of economic modelling and its application to laboratory
medicine. Paul Julicher is leading this initiative.
d) A comparison of how tests are evaluated and adopted in different countries, the barriers
that exist which prevent effective adoption and whether these are addressed by the Value
Proposition framework. Andrew St John is leading this initiative.
2. Two workshops are in the planning stages:a) In the UK, the committee is working with two organisations - KTN (Knowledge Transfer
Network) and Innovate UK - to organise a workshop involving a range of stakeholders that52

would examine (i) process change and (ii) investment/disinvestment decisions in relation
to the introduction of new tests. Chris Price is leading this initiative and it will involve
Maurice O’Kane.
b) A workshop is being planned by the committee that will review the clinical pathway fora specific test or tests. The participants will include all the stakeholders that contributeto the pathway including clinicians and other healthcare professionals. The workshop
will highlight the key elements that contribute to and hinder the demonstration of value
for that specific test. Likely tests to be considered include HbA1c and CRP by POCT.
Discussions have commenced with funding agencies in the Federal Government. Andrew
St John and Tony Badrick are leading this initiative.
Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety (WG-LEPS), Chair: Laura Sciacovelli (IT)
1. Laboratories’ quality indicator results are collected monthly through the dedicated website(www.ifcc-mqi.com) and their evaluation is in progress.
2. Identification of Performance Specifications for each Quality Indicator and publication ofa scientific paper reporting the data. WG-LEPS is writing a scientific paper that reports
the updating of Performance Specifications based on the results of Quality Indicators datacollected in the last year.
3. Definition of specific plan by National Leaders of each country to promote the active use of
Quality Indicators in the national laboratories. The planning foresees that the National Leader
should (i) encourage the use of MQI; (ii) “personalise” the use of QIs in daily practice according
to national practices, requirements and regulations; (iii) co-operate with the members of the
WG-LEPS by providing valuable suggestions to improve the project
The WG-LEPS is collaborating with the:a) Beijing Center for Clinical Laboratory (Prof. Wang Qingtao, BCCL Director, and Dr. Zhou
Rui, CCL manager). Their involvement in the management and dissemination of quality
indicators for the monitoring of activities concerning some specific molecular diagnosticsof the intra-analytical phase that will be proposed to laboratories all over the world has
been finalised;b) Quebec Society of Clinical Biology (Société Québécoise de Biologie Clinique) has alreadylaunched a programme for quality indicators comparison in Québec province with up to
60 laboratories participating. The Society will launch its programme for the rest of Canada
at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemistry in order to promote
quality in their laboratories and is completely free of charge. The collaboration is basedon the sharing of the Model of Quality Indicators proposed by WG-LEPS and a common
management of the quality indicator results. Moreover, joint initiatives will be realised inorder to promote the use of quality indicators in all laboratories all over the world.
4. Involving national scientific societies, accreditation bodies and EQA/PT providers in different
countries as a means of disseminating the MQI project and promoting participation oflaboratories is continuing. The Chair participated in the Annual Meeting of the QuebecSociety of Clinical Biology on 25th October 2018 by delivering a talk in order to promote thecollaboration on the Quality Indicator project.
Harmonisation of Interpretive Comments External Quality Assurance (WG-ICQA), Chair:
Samuel Vasikaran (AU)
1. The working group is supporting the development of locally led patient report comment EQAprogramme in Africa:
2. Submission for the inclusion of EQA for interpretative commenting in the revised ISO 15189
is concluded. The outcome is still awaited.
3. Collaboration with EFLM Working Group on Post-analytical Phase (WG-POST) is being
discussed.

53Personal Support (WG-PS), Chair: Graham Beastall (UK)
1. Positive publicity material for WG-PS explaining the roles of Expert and Mentor and how toreach them has been prepared.
2. The databases for Expert and Mentor have been rationalised so that they are accessible
through a common portal.
3. All those listed on the Register of Experts have been contacted and asked if they wish tocontinue to be listed as an Expert and/or as a potential Mentor.
4. All IFCC Members have been contacted in order to increase awareness of WG-PS and toseek new nominations as Experts and Mentors.
5. An active campaign is being launched to promote the opportunities afforded by WG-PS. The
campaign is being launched through IFCC Members, TF-YS and ‘Lab-Surfing’ and via social
networking. The aim is to identify individuals who would benefit from being connected toExpert or Mentor.
6. Discussion with the IFCC Office regarding modifications to IFCC website to deliver Common
Portal.
7. Publications:
Articles are being prepared for IFCC e-News and Diagnóstico In Vitro for publication in early2019. An interview with El Microscopio was recorded and broadcasted in December 2018.
Visiting Lecturer Programme (IFCC-VLP), Chair: Nader Rifai (US)In 2018, VLP applications from 12 member societies, involving 25 Visiting Lecturers, wereapproved. The Visiting Lecturer Programme is generously supported by Abbott Laboratories.
Working Group on Flow Cytometry (WG-FC), Chair: Ulrich Sack (DE)
1. A winter school was held in St-Etienne, France from 5 – 9 March 2018.
2. A course was conducted in Istanbul, Turkey from 20 – 22 June 2018, sponsored by Beckman.
3. A course was conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 28 – 30 August 2018, sponsored by
Beckman.
4. A course was conducted in Astana, Kazakhstan from 19 – 21 September 2018, sponsoredby Beckman and supported by the local university and scientific community.
5. A course on Flow Cytometry was conducted in Munich, Germany from 24 – 28 September 2018.
6. For each course, 30 to 36 participants attended the practical exercises. Lectures were also
open to interested scientists and technicians. Local support was always excellent. Beckman
Coulter supported the organisation, financing, and provided technical equipment andconsumables. Local specialists were essential for practical work.
7. Publication: A manuscript on validation in cytometry has been submitted to Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine and is under revision.
Developing Quality Competence in Medical Laboratories (DQCML), Chair: Egon Amann(DE)
1. An Open DQCML Session (“Drop in session”) with National Representatives who may wish
to seek support was offered during the IFCC General Conference on 9 November 2018.
2. Workshops conducted:a) Two workshops on IQC and EQA were conducted in Malawi (in the cities of Blantyre and
Lilongwe) on 26 February and 1 March 2018. Lecturers were Graham Beastall, Annette
Thomas and Egon Amann. These workshops supported the ambitions of Malawi todevelop a programme of Quality Competence.
b) A workshop on IQC and EQA was conducted in Nepal from 28 – 30 May 2018. The twonational societies, NACC and NAMLS, jointly applied for this programme. Lecturers wereRenze Bais, Annette Thomas and Egon Amann. The visit was also a way to initiate an
RCPA-sponsored transfer of EQA materials to Nepal’s clinical laboratories. 20 labs haveenrolled initially.
54

3. Reports on the Malawi and Nepal workshops were published in the IFCC eNews. All
presentation materials from these workshops are available from the Chair and could beshared under the eAcademy web site.
4. The experience gained in the EQA Zambia Project that was led by Dr. Renze Bais in theprovision of control and standard materials, logistics and support is being utilised for theworkshop and ongoing material supply in Nepal.
Leslie Lai, Chair EMD

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DIVISION (CPD)
In 2018, the following members served on the CPD Executive Committee: Khosrow Adeli (CA,
Chair), Edgard Delvin (CA, Vice Chair/Public Relations Coordinator), Eduardo Freggiaro (AR,Publications/Distance Learning Coordinator), Tahir Pillay (ZA, News Editor), J. Kappelmayer(HU, Editor eJIFCC), and Tricia Ravalico (US, Corporate Representative). Janine Grant (AU,
Website Editor), Maria del Carmen Pasquel (EQ, WG- IANT Chair), Anthony Newman (NL,
Publications consultant) were invited to attend the CPD meeting in Budapest, on occasion of
the IFCC General Conference 2018.
The following is a summary list of the key CPD activities in 2018:• Three face-to-face committee meetings were held in 2018: Buenos Aires, (AR) in March,
Mannheim (DE) in June, and Budapest (HU) in November, on occasion of the IFCC General
Conference;• Informal CPD meeting in Chicago (US) on occasion of AACC Lab Expo 2018;• CPD Chair, Prof. Khosrow Adeli (CA), completed his second term;• C-Pr Chair, Prof Edgard Delvin (CA) and WG eNews Chair, Prof Tahir Pillay (CA), completed
their second term this year;• WG eJIFCC Chair, and eJIFCC editor, Prof János Kappelmayer (HU), began his first termin January 2018;• Calls for nominations were sent out for EC Corporate Representative for term 2018-2020,
WG eNews Chair and C-PR Chair for term 2019-2021. Other calls for nominations werealso sent for CPD functional unit member vacancies;• CPD Corporate member, Mrs Tricia Ravalico (US), began her first term in June 2018;• Actions to implement the IFCC Strategic plan in support of our IFCC Membership:a) Maintaining support materials and web-based tools to demonstrate the benefits of IFCC
membership to all countries with: - focus on improvement of internal communications
within IFCC and its Member Societies; - major improvements for both the IFCC
eNewsletter and the eJournal. Publication formats as well as news/scientific content
have been enhanced considerably over the past year;b) Use and evaluate effectiveness of new support materials:- successful increase in eNews
frequency from bimonthly (6 issues/year) to monthly (ten issues/year) in 2018; - eJIFCC
began exploration of professional submission tools:; -- DiV (RIA Spanish Magazine)
continues to ensure communication with Spanish-speaking professionals; - IFCC
social presence (FB, LinkedIn, Twitter) is lively and well managed; an IFCC Instagram
account was open in 2018 and plans for YouTube presence are progressing; - - instantpolling system selected and recommended for use at IFCC General Conference;c) Delivering the e-academy as the platform to support IFCC educational materials:- increased communication with the Spanish speaking countries with AMARA
collaboration initiative; -- Phase 2 preparation for release in 2019; - 4 eAcademy
Coordinators nominated to coordinate the activities and further development;d) Develop and present a series of webinars to meet the needs of Members: Promotionof Distance Learning Opportunities for Member Societies & their Membership via
eAcademy;55e) Survey the membership to better understand needs, requests and proposals.
• Enhancement of IFCC Public Relations/Visibility;• IFCC App continues to be updated with IFCC initiatives and activities. There are plans torelease an improved and more interactive version in 2019/2020;• New initiatives to promote the image of the IFCC to its individual members, to thebiomedical industry and to the worldwide health care community at large;• Contribution to IFCC congresses with organization of CPD Sessions & Symposia in 2018;• Completion of Electronic Journal of IFCC (eJIFCC) renumbering and ordering of allarchived issues for indexing by MEDLINE/PUBMED;• Completion of indexing of all eJIFCC archived issues in PMC;
• Acceptance by Scopus to select the eJIFCC for coverage by Elsevier in November 2018;• Communications to list eJIFCC into Google Scholar, Thomson Reuters, and Web of
Sciences, continue;
The following symposia were organised by the CPD in 2018:• “SPECIAL CPD SYMPOSIUM IN CLINICAL CHEMISTRY”, held on 2 March 2018 at theFacultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica – UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina:
o Welcome and Introductory remarks - E. Freggiaro, AR; Global Initiatives in Pediatric
Reference Intervals for Laboratory Biomarkers of Health and Disease - K. Adeli, CA;
Developing New Diagnostic Probes for Immunoassays Based on Nanobodies and Next
Generation Technology – T. Pillay, ZA; Management of bulk test results and special lab
reports in a core laboratory – J. Kappelmayer, HU
o Round table – Allo Closing remarks: Khosrow Adeli, CA and Eduardo Freggiaro, AR• CALILAB congress (24-27 October - Buenos Aires, Argentina)
o IFCC eCommunication Tools and Strategy: Mobile App, eAcademy, eNews, andeJournal” - K. Adeli, CA
o The IFCC ibero-american corner: strategies for the professional training and thelaboratory quality (El rincón iberoamericano de la IFCC: estrategias para la capacitación
profesional y la calidad del laboratorio)- María del Carmen Pasquel, ECo Real continuous biochemical education in a virtual environment (Educación bioquímica
continua real en un entorno virtual ) - E. Freggiaro, AR• IFCC General Conference, 9-11 November 2019 Budapest, Hungary
o Future Communication Strategy for IFCC - Khosrow Adeli, Chair; IFCC eApp andePublications - Tahir Pillay; Communication Strategy in Education and Dissemination- János Kappelmayer; A new award programme to inspire Healthcare Excellence Patricia RavalicoCommittee on Public Relations (C-PR), Chair: •Edgard Delvin (CA)A Committee Meeting was held in Budapest which was attended by most members.
ACTIONS: The C-PR held a conference call on 26 April 2018 during which the developmentof promotional material targeting the lay public and means of promoting IFCC educational
material (e-Academy and others) were discussed. These will further be discussed during the
C-PR meeting in Budapest.
The Spring 2018 survey directed toward the individual members of the National Societies
and Regional Federations resulted in a poor response rate. Hence it was proposed to havea second round and send the survey either through the IFCC mailing list or the National
Representatives. However before proceeding some editing was suggested. Tricia Ravalico,Corporate representative, offered to review the questions and provide suggestions in termsof “marketing”; the questions concerning the IFCC website, e-Newsletter, the e-NewsFlash,
the e-JIFCC, the IFCC e-Academy and the IFCC App remaining central. The revision has been
completed and the survey was sent to the National Representatives on 15 October 2018.
56

We have started developing a presentation inspired by the brochure and PowerPoint
presentation “Understanding Laboratory Medicine” in the form of a series of slides targeting thelay audience. Each is planned as a self-contained story that can be broken down into a seriesof steps with different clinical subjects. They will be adapted to the local needs/policies, printed
by National Societies or displayed on TV screens as revolving stills/ video at strategic points(hospital hallways, administrators’ meetings, clinics) and used during different events such as
the laboratory week.
An invitation has been sent to the IFCC SD & EMD Chairpersons to explore with the respective
Chairs of their different Committees and working groups the possibility of writing timely articles
on the value of laboratory medicine (promoting the role and value of laboratories in improving
healthcare and patient safety targeting lay audiences) to be published in local newspapers,
magazines & electronic media.
A new set of display posters were developed and shown during the GC in Budapest. They
received excellent feedback and will be updated for future events.
The C-PR is developing new brochures, in order to reflect the new IFCC pay-off.
The C-PR re-wrote its terms of reference in order to broaden its reach.
Committee on Internet and e-Learning (C-IeL), Co-Chair: Eduardo Freggiaro (AR)A Committee Meeting was held in Athens, along with a C-IeL and C-DL joint meeting.
This committee started to work effectively in February 2018 when the two members from EMD
were appointed.
During the General Conference in Budapest the committee had its first face-to-face meetingand this meeting improved the team performance and cohesiveness.
These are the main activities done during the last 10 months:• Corresponding members from the two previous committees were invited to continue their
participation in the new C-IDL. IFCC office sent emails to confirm their membership under
the new committee. Most of the members confirmed their participation. Our aim is toincrease the linkage with corresponding members;• C-IDL agreed to use as official communication platform the Project Management Software(PMS) provided by InSoft. However, during the past period this tool has become lessuseful and most of the communication were conducted by email;• Both co-Chairs rewrote the terms of reference for the new committee and they are
published on the website.
• The IFCC Curriculum final version was published in the eAcademy. The link point to theofficial document was published in the eJIFCC (April 2018). This document is one of themost downloaded files from the IFCC website;• An invitation to prepare educational materials for eAcademy was sent to all the National
Societies and was well received. Four NS replied and we are working on their proposals.
IFCC e-Academy
Number of new items published
In 2018 the eAcademy reached the number of 117 resources published, 67 webinars and 51
external links; 24 webinars are completed with LO and MCQs ready to be uploaded and comply
with eAcademy phase 2 features.
21 further webinars taken during conferences were reviewed in 2018 to fix synchronization
errors.
Funding: Siemens will continue providing funds for the project in general.
Content production tool: A new tool for video presentations recordings was selected: Knovio.
We opened a Gold account and in 2018 this tool was successfully used by Speakers.
Platform update: the plan is to move the eAcademy website under the same installation as IFCC
website.
57

Phase 2 deployment: C-IDL provided feedback to the questions asked by InSoft regardingsome relevant issues. At the moment, all the features are ready to be deployed (user’s profile,quizzes and certificates). The new features will be launched before the end of year 2019.
eAcademy Coordinators: after the position was advertised, 4 coordinators were selected: Rojeet
Shrestha, Paul Hamilton, David Armbruster and Frank Quinn.
C-IDL wrote a standard operating procedure for module creation and encouraged coordinator
to identify new potential Speakers scanning congresses programs and the IFCC database ofexperts.
IFCC Website
Key website development and maintenance activities over the past 12 months have been as
follows:
Publication of News items:
MonthNumber of items publishedJan 182
Feb 185
Mar 185
Apr 181
May 186
June 18
3
July 185
Aug 182
Sept 18
4
Nov 185
Dec 18
6
The following website developments completed in 2018:• Currency of web platform. The IFCC website was migrated from the Umbraco v4 platform
to the current v7. Future updates will occur automatically as part of the support andservice agreement with InSoft, during the monthly service window;• Update of interactive membership map.;• Addition of a new IFCC Division requiring an update to Blue link banner and slight wideningof pages. This required an update to the Website Policy and Procedures;• On-going updates to various media files, links and pages as required;• New method for tracking downloads introduced from Feb 2018;• Updates relating to GDPR compliance: addition of cookies notification for first visit andhomepage link to privacy and policies page;• eAcademy: Ongoing publication of content as approved by C-DL. Total items published
to date: Phase 2 developments pending.
Social Media
Facebook IFCC official page is the most influential compared to other social sites with 23,369
followers at October 2018. In terms of number of followers, IFCC Facebook page is at second
position in the similar page with 1st being Clinical Chemistry. Amongst the professional societiesof clinical chemistry, IFCC Facebook page can be considered as number 1. Up to October
2018, IFCC posts have been displayed in 197,387 screens.
IFCC Twitter has 1226 followers and 301 tweets as of October 2018.
LinkedIn group has 3556 members and is being used to discuss various issues. Our LinkedIn
page contains approximately 5000 followers but it seems like the page has been auto generated
with unknown admin status. In 2018 a new page has been created and plans are to use it as
official page. All the post are also being regularly posted in this page.
Instagram: starting in Feb 2018, we have extended our social media presence to Instagram. It
has 81 followers.
58

Databases. The NPU, Register of Experts, and Publications databases are the only active
databases currently on the website. An eAcademy database will be developed with theeAcademy phase 2 implementation.
Working Group on Electronic Journal of the IFCC (WG-ejIFCC), Chair: János Kappelmayer(HU)
Major Accomplishments:
All archived issues of eJIFCC, published online by PubMed since October 2016, have been fully
reorganized and converted in accepted format for indexing in PMC. Full eJIFCC archive is now
published in PMC.
Scopus accepted eJIFCC for listing; next step will be application to WoS.
The eJIFCC collection is available at: http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-communications-publicationsdivision-cpd/ifcc-publications/ejifcc-journal/e-journal-volumes/:eJIFCC Volume 29 no 1, the first edited by Prof. János Kappelmayer, director of a large clinicallaboratory at the University of Debrecen, Hungary, was published in April 2018. The issue
contains 5 manuscripts (+foreword), 1 letter, the IFCC curriculum and a book review
1. Foreword from the new editor-in-chief
János Kappelmayer
2. Next-generation sequencing approach for the diagnosis of human diseases: open
challenges and new opportunities
Chiara Di Resta, Silvia Galbiati, Paola Carrera, Maurizio Ferrari
3. Integration of multigene panels for the diagnosis of hereditary retinal disorders using Next
Generation Sequencing and bioinformatics approaches
Chiara Di Resta, Ivana Spiga, Silvia Presi, Stefania Merella, Giovanni Battista Pipitone,
Maria Pia Manitto, Giuseppe
Querques, Maurizio Battaglia Parodi, Maurizio Ferrari, Paola Carrera
4. Influence of serum leptin levels and Q223R leptin receptor polymorphism on clinicalcharacteristic of patients with rheumatoid arthritis from Western Mexico
Luis I. Angel-Chávez, Elizabeth Ruelas-Cinco, Jorge Hernández-Bello, Elena Castro,
Mirna Vázquez-Villamar, Isela
Parra-Rojas, L. Michele Brennan-Bourdon, Salvador Muñoz-Barrios, Celia GuerreroVelázquez, José Francisco, Muñoz-Valle
5. Anemia and thrombocytopenia in the cohort of HIV-infected adults in northwest Ethiopia:
a facility-based cross-sectional study
Tekalign Deressa, Debasu Damtie, Meseret Workineh, Meaza Genetu, Mulugeta Melku
6. Reference intervals for a complete blood count on an automated haematology analyser
Sysmex XN in healthy adults from the southern metropolitan area of Barcelona
Ariadna Arbiol-Roca, Claudia Elizabeth Imperiali, Magdalena Macià Montserrat, Ana
Sancho Cerro, Anna Cortés Boschde Basea, Lourdes Sánchez Navarro, Dolors Dot-Bach, José Valero Politi
7. The IFCC Curriculum - phase 1
IFCC Committee for Distance Learning – Ronda F. Greaves, Janet M. Smith, Graham
Beastall, Chris Florkowski,
Loralie Langman, Joanna Sheldon, Elvar Theodorsson
8. Letter: Serum ferritin as a biomarker of polycythemia vera?
Stephen E. Langabeer
9. Book review: “Neonatology and Laboratory Medicine”
Joseph B. Lopez
eJIFCC Volume 29 no 2 was published in July 2018
The issue contains 8 manuscripts, 5 of them guest-edited by Dr Harjit Pal Bhattoa (HU), on:
59

“Laboratory investigation of vitamin D and bone metabolism markers”.
1. Laboratory investigation of vitamin D metabolites and bone metabolism markers
Guest Editor: Harjit Pal Bhattoa
2. Vitamin D and its metabolites: from now and beyond
Etienne Cavalier, Jean-Claude Souberbielle
3. Vitamin D and endocrine disorders: routine laboratory diagnostic implications
Giovanna Muscogiuri, Harjit Pal Bhattoa
4. Laboratory aspects and clinical utility of bone turnover markers
Harjit Pal Bhattoa
5. Practical guide for identifying unmet clinical needs for biomarkers
Phillip J. Monaghan, Sarah Robinson, Daniel Rajdl, Patrick M.M. Bossuyt, Sverre
Sandberg, Andrew St John,
Maurice O’Kane, Lieselotte Lennartz, Ralf Röddiger, Sarah J. Lord, Christa M. Cobbaert,
Andrea R. Horvath
6. Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children in Ethiopia: a protocol forsystematic review and meta-analysis
Zegeye Abebe, Wubet Worku Takele, Degefaye Zelalem Anlay, Daniale Tekelia
Ekubagewargies, Zegeye
Getaneh, Molla Abebe, Mulugeta Melku
7. Acute myeloid leukemia with severe coagulation disorder and central nervous system
bleeding - a clinical diagnostic case report
S. Hatzl, B. Uhl, M. Hinterramskogler, S. Leber, F. Eisner, M. Haring, P. Jud
8. Vitamin B12 immunoassay interference in a patient with Multiple Myeloma - troubleshooting
in a two step reagent kit based on enhanced chemiluminescence testing
V. Pant, A. Tumbapo, B. Kumar Yadav
eJIFCC Volume 29 no 3 was published in November 2018
The issue contains 12 manuscripts (+ 1 foreword), guest-edited by Prof. Sergio Bernardini (IT),on “Laboratory medicine – meeting the needs of Mediterranean nations (Part 1)”, along with 3
letters
1. Foreword of the editor-in-chief
János Kappelmayer
2. Laboratory medicine: meeting the needs of Mediterranean nations
Guest Editors: Sergio Bernardini, Bernard Gouget
Transmissible diseases in the Mediterranean area
3. Communicable diseases in the Mediterranean region
Ghassan Shannan
4. Are medical laboratories ready for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases?
Ahmet Özbilgin
5. Travel, migration and emerging infectious diseases
Nicolas Vignier, Olivier Bouchaud
Training and education in laboratory medicine
6. Is the profession of laboratory medicine uniform across the North Mediterranean countries?
Konstantinos Makris
7. EFLM project “Exchange of practical knowledge and skills in Laboratory Medicine” –EFLMLabX
Evgenija Homšak
Improving health with emerging technologies
8. Economic evaluation as a tool in emerging technology assessment
Nataša Bogavac-Stanojević
9. Who or what is SHERLOCK?
Ann M. Gronowski
6010. Advancement in POCT molecular testing: the multiplex PCR POCT devices for infectious
diseases
Alpaslan Alp
11. New solutions for the sample transport and results delivery: a digital lab
Damien Gruson
12. Next generation sequencing: from research area to clinical practice
Chiara Di Resta, Maurizio Ferrari
13. miRNA and other non-coding RNAs as promising diagnostic markers
Dorota Trzybulska, Eleni Vergadi, Christos Tsatsanis
Letters
14. Letter: NGS for metabolic disease diagnosis
Dèlia Yubero, Rafael Artuch
15. Letter: Reflections on the mentor-mentee relationship as a symbiosis
Josep Miquel Bauça
16. Letter: Inter-laboratory exchange of knowledge and technology around our Sea
Guilaine Boursier
eJIFCC Volume 29 no 4 was published in December 2018
The issue contains 12 manuscripts (+ 1 foreword), guest-edited by Prof. Sergio Bernardini (IT),on “Laboratory medicine – meeting the needs of Mediterranean nations (Part 2)”
1. Foreword from the editor-in-chief
János Kappelmayer
Improving efficiency in laboratory medicine
2. Traceability in laboratory medicine: what is it and why is it important for patients?
Graham H. Beastall
3. Laboratory medicine in Palestine
Rania Abu Seir, Osama Najjar
4. Inter-laboratory comparisons and EQA in the Mediterranean area
Alexander Haliassos
5. An evidence-based laboratory medicine approach to evaluate new laboratory tests
Tommaso Trenti
6. Which skills are needed and how they should be gained by laboratory medicine
professionals for successful ISO 15189 accreditation
Diler Aslan
Perinatal and pregnancy laboratory medicine
7. Prenatal screening for chromosomal abnormalities: where do we stand today inMediterranean countries?
Demetrios Rizos
8. The role of laboratory medicine for health during pregnancy
Adnan Alkhatib
Mediterranean diet and the area’s specific diseases
9. Alcohol abuse
Tomáš Zima
10. Urinary proteomics in biomarker discovery of kidney-related disorders: diabetic
nephropathy and drug-induced nephrotoxicity in chronic headache
Elisa Bellei, Emanuela Monari, Stefania Bergamini, Luigi Alberto Pini, Aldo Tomasi, Tomris
Ozben
11. Standardization of the HbA2 assay
Renata Paleari, Andrea Mosca
12. Surrogate biomarkers for monitoring healthcare quality for chronic diseases such as
diabetes care
Diler Aslan
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13. The role of laboratory medicine in addressing migrant health problems
Adekunle Bashiru Okesina, Ademola Adelekan
In 2019 the plan is to distribute the eJIFCC volumes more equally throughout the year, i.e.:
February, May, August and November.
Working Group on IFCC News (WG-eNews), Chair: Tahir Pillay (ZA)
The WG membership consists of representatives from Spain, Serbia, Morocco, Nigeria, South
Africa, Greece, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Poland, Slovenia,
Tunisia, Uruguay & Vietnam. Additionally, there are National Society liaisons from Australasia,
Chile, Serbia, UK, USA, Paraguay, Spain, Taiwan, Pakistan, Latvia & Vietnam.
In 2018 the rate of publication has reached the monthly frequency as the IFCC board has requested
a shorter and more frequent newsletter. Therefore we now publish 10 issues of the newsletter
annually and these appear every month, with the exception of January and August. The eNewsflash
is used to highlight important IFCC news items especially time‐sensitive and urgent items.
Requests for articles are sent to all eNewsletter WG members, National Societies liaisonsand National Representatives (through the IFCC Office) with a reminder of the deadlines. The
reports of the IFCC Young Scientists task force and the PSEP reports from awardees tend tofeature prominently. This helps to highlight the contribution of the IFCC to international clinicalchemistry across the world and also ensures that contributions from members continue tocome to the newsletter. The eNews continue to coordinate with Social Media editor to post
most popular articles on IFCC Social accounts.
The eNews collection is available at: http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-communications-publicationsdivision-cpd/ifcc-publications/enewsletter/enews-volumes/
The eNews Flash collection is available at: http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-communicationspublications-division-cpd/ifcc-publications/enewsletter/enews-flash-archive/
Relationship with LabMedica International
LMI prints a selection of the articles. The eNews editor is on the editorial board of LabMedica
Working Group – Spanish (Ibero-American) Nomenclature and Translations (WG-IANT),
Chair: Maria del Carmen Pasquel (EC)
Membership: new members representing all Ibero American IFCC countries are participating in
the WG activities. The RIA section of IFCC website is continuously updated.
There are new programs and initiatives planned and these are mainly focused on updating the
RIA section of the website.
DiV, Diagnóstico in Vitro, continues to be a major product of the WG-IANT activity. Three issues
have been published in 2018. DiV main sections are: Editorial, News and Updates, Scientific
Articles, Letters to the Editor, Young Scientists corner, Radio Interview El Microscopio. The DiV
collection is available at: http://www.ifcc.org/div/.
El Microscopio
Programmes are regularly broadcasted and some of them are in English, for a broader circulation.
This successful initiative is in search of additional funding and tools for promotional purposes.
Corporate Member activities, Tricia Ravalico (US)Tricia Ravalico (Abbott) was appointed in June 2018 in replacement of Peter Bialk (Roche
Diagnostics) who resigned.
Tricia has provided great support for IFCC public relations. Her recent activities included
supporting the C-PR for the IFCC brochures revision, supporting the IFCC, along with otherpartners, for the launch of the UNIVANTS of HCE (Healthcare Excellence Programme).
Khosrow Adeli, CPD Chair, Tahir Pillay Incoming Chair
62

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION (ETD)The Emerging Technologies Division (ETD) has been approved by the Executive Board (EB), as
new IFCC functional Unit, in Athens, June 9th 2017. The ETD Executive Committee has been
approved by the EB in Durban, October 20th, 2017: Members: Ronda Graves, Damien Gruson,
Paolo Fortina; Corporate Members: Peng Yin (Abbott), Markus Roessler (Roche); Consultants:
Maurizio Ferrari, Larry Kricka, Jason Park.
The ETD is an IFCC functional unit responsible for identifying and assessing emerging
technologies and for translating the emerging and disruptive diagnostic and data analysis
procedures from academic laboratories to clinical laboratories and from clinical laboratories tomarket.
The ETD Responsibilities are: defining for each ET the clinical needs and criteria for education of
specialists in Laboratory Medicine and caregivers; defining for ET the appropriate infrastructure
and laboratory organization; defining for each ET pre-analytical, analytical and post-analyticalprocesses necessary for clinical laboratory applications; defining for each ET quality programs
and certifications required to meet criteria for accreditation up to ISO151811 standard; assess
the clinical value of each test with regard to addressing unmet clinical need.
The ETD Executive Committee met three times during 2018: March 11th in Rome; August 1st in
Chicago and November 9th in Budapest.
Three Committees have been approved to date by the EB in Budapest in November 2018:
Committee Emerging Technologies in Pediatrics, Chair Tim Lang (UK); Committee Omics
Translation, Chair Gregory J Tsongalis (US); Mobile Health and Bioengineering in Laboratory
Medicine, Chair Bernard Gouget (FR).
Five WGs are still under EB evaluation: WG-Volatolomics, Chair Larry Kricka (US); WG- Guidance
for the implementation of custom-made genomic panels, Chair Jennifer Morrisette (US); WG on
Open Innovation, Chair Damien Gruson (BE); WG Functional Genomics in Laboratory Medicine,
Chair Ronda Graves (AU); Neonatal Laboratory Medicine, Chair Vijay L. Grey (CA).
The ETD Officers to date are 50 from 20 Countries.
During 2018, ETD organized Symposia at the following Congresses: AFCB Ramallah, PalestineApril;
STBC Tunis, Tunisia-May; ESC e-Cardiology Conference, Moscow-October; 15° Symposiumfor Balkan Region, April-Belgrade.
Sergio Bernardini – ETD Chair63

TASK FORCES
Task Force on Ethics (TF-E)• A survey was e-mailed to all IFCC member societies regarding their current ethics
documents and future needs regarding ethics documents on COI, code of ethics &relationship with industry.
• Development of Ethics Toolkit for Member Societies. At present under development• Updated TF-Ethics website.
• TF-Ethics held a committee meeting in Budapest during the General Conference 2018.
Plans for 2019:• Complete and update the Ethics “toolkit” for Member Societies.
• Create an E-learning course on professional ethics for IFCC volunteers.
• Update of TF-Ethics website and include a section on “Highlights of recent events in
Bioethics”• Create a table of documents collected so far stratified by organization. Committee
members will approach organizations in their region to solicit more documents.
• Compare Code of ethics documents creating a document that outlines similar sections.
Nilda Fink (Chair)
Task Force for Young Scientists (TF-YS)
Education and Training:
TF-YS educational sessions conducted:• YS session at the 1st IFCC, EFLM, AFCB Conference “Laboratory Medicine: Meeting theneeds of Mediterranean Nations” 2-4 July, 2018 – session theme ‘Laboratory Medicine
Sustainability around Mediterranean Sea”: YS speakers Guilaine, Miljan, Josep andPradeep; supported by Organising Committee• Functional Meeting and Talk TFYS at IFCC General Conference, 10-11 Nov 2018:
participated by all core members• IFCC-TFYS and SYCL Networking at AACC 2018, July 29-Aug 2; participated by Santiago,
Damien• TFYS session and YS Quiz at ACBICON 2018, Goa, India; participated by Pradeep,
Damien, Danni• Round table of IFCC-TFYS and online Skype participation of Pradeep at “16th Panhellenic
Congress of Clinical Chemistry”, 11-13 October, Alexandroupolis, Greece: another TFYS
speaker Anna Velts supported by Congress Organizing Committee• Online Skype participation of Pradeep at “Congress of the Italian Society Clinical Chemistry(SIBioC)”, Naples, Italy, 16-18 Oct 2018
• Online Skype participation of Pradeep, Santiago at “2nd Conference of the Italian Societyof Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (SIBioC)” - Young Scientists Working
Group (YS-WG); “2º Congresso Nazionale SIBioC GdS Young Scientists”, 3rd Dec 2018
• “CALILAB - X Congreso Argentino de Calidad en el Laboratorio Clínico y VIII Jornadas
Latinoamericanas de la Calidad en el Laboratorio Clínico”. “IFCC YS-TF projects andactivities” Santiago Fares Taie. Buenos Aires 24-27 de octubre 2018.
Planned 2019 TF-YS educational sessions and networking at:
1. Session and functional meet TFYS at APFCB 2019, Nov 17-20, Jaipur, India and ACBICON
2019: joint Leadership workshop with IFCC-CCLM is also being planned; Young Scientists
volunteer programme, travel grants by IFCC-TFYS
2. Symposium at Euromedlab 2019, May 19-23, Barcelona, Madrid: networking with Spanish
YS
3. Tunisian Society of Clinical Biology organizes its 33th National Days, 25-27 April 2019,
Hammamet-Tunisia: proposed to schedule an IFCC TF-YS session on Thursday 27 April64

2019: proposed by Chaabane Manel, TFYS corresponding member
4. Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathologists (PSCP) organising online YS session undertheme of «Research Methodology», 13th March 2019
5. TFYS session at NACCON (Nepalese Association for Clinical Chemistry) 2019 and Annual
Meeting on March 2-3, 2019 at Pokhara, Nepal
6. TFYS is planning to extend the network via regional programmes and social media further.
7. Dr Phillippe suggested TFYS to propose symposium for IFCC-WorldLab2020.
8. Prof Rajiv Erasmus assured of all help within African Federation AFCC and regions to
spread TFYS activities.
Webinar Series
We have completed 6 webinars by now and finalising for next series to conduct with L3
Healthcare.
Suggested Topics: “structuring a paper, selecting the best journal, dealing with peerreview, publishing ethics problem” for next 3 webinars to continue in 2019.
Last webinar conducted at 13th Dec 2018: Title “Essential skills to structure a paper”
Speaker: Anthony Newman, Clinical Chemistry programme, Life Sciences Dept., Elsevier,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Member YS Support
YS colleagues support to meet participation. Young Scientists volunteer programme, travel
grants by IFCC-TFYS to join APFCB 2019. Seeking support from corporate members and
APFCB committee. IFCC-EB announced travel support for EuromedLab2019, APFCB2019,
ColaBioCli 2019.
Mentorship Programme
To continue interviews; latest support from Maria Eugenia Shroeder, Uruguaya, Corresponding
member TFYS to work with Danni; Danni has also proposed to support TFYS programme after
2018.
Lab-Surfing
To continue operations on Lab surfing, we need support to meet maintenance and additions.
1. Lab surfing visibility need to enhance and register more and more YS. Also needing to attach
more YS before it go for such other tools.
2. Santiago may write short news and updates, that we can share through different social andofficial channels to join YS.
3. Personal presence of YS through discussion, need based activities can be enhanced.
4. Newsletter - even 1 page is enough to connect.
5. YS Experts directory- can be added to access for various field of experts as shown during
Guilaine ppt.
6. Updation of Labsurfing
7. Funding can be proposed for same as discussed.
TFYS Survey
Now the members have been added approx. 2000 globally to all social media channels.
Guilaine has started new extended Survey: “YS training & career”.
By the IFCC Task Force Young Scientists, this survey aims to acquire preliminary informationof young colleague’s education, training, career path, research interest, field of work andassociation with TFYS. This will enable us to share and focus our energies to find support forbase programmes that are needed.
h t t p s : / / d o c s . g o o g l e . c o m / f o r m s / d / e / 1 FA I p Q L S d C Z 6 d m B f V-Y z u L 0 f H R M c 7 3 rJABkdoJsW2YuHnqOEeUWIM-g/viewform
Guilaine has already shared details during programme and slides as well.
Social MediaWe are continuing meeting needs and networking YS through all media Facebook, Google
65

group, Linked In, Twitter, Online meetings of members.
Outgoing Core-Members
Miljan, Danni, Lara are outgoing core members, completing 2nd term with TFYS. Committed andgreat team leaders.
Call for nomination of TFYS core members process is completed through IFCC office and newmembers will be joining as core office bearers as a part of practice, for TFYS office 2019-21.
Further information will be shared and updated with all members soon.
Young Scientists Positions in IFCC task forces and sub-committees
Through years of efforts of TFYS team, we are able to convince IFCC-EB to bring YS positions
into committees starting with scientific division. Formal announcements will be coming in time.
Leadership & Management
Dr Pradeep was invited for closed meet of IFCC-CCLM where Dr Sedef, Chair CCLM invited
to collaborate and extend the leadership and management programme with TFYS. Details will
be shared by CCLM further. IFCC-CCLM and TFYS will be holding joint Leadership workshop
under the banner of APFCB2019 at India.
Pradeep Kumar Dabla (Chair)

FOUNDATION FOR EMERGING NATIONS – FEN
Introduction:
The FEN is established under Swiss law as a non-profit making charitable trust, which is devoted
to fund raising and to supporting programmes that help to improve the quality and delivery oflaboratory medicine services, particularly in emerging nations.
Board of Directors:
There are five members of the FEN Board of Directors• Dr Graham H Beastall (UK) Chair• Dr Michelle Rossier (CH)• Prof Thomas Brinkmann (DE)• Ms Lucia Monaco (IT)• Prof Tomris Ozben (TR)
Biographies of the Board of Directors are available from www.ifccfoundation.org
Board Meetings:
During 2018 the Board met (by Skype) on four occasions (April, July, October and December).
There was a high level of participation by Directors. Confirmed and signed Minutes of thosemeetings are available on request.
Achievements:
During 2018 the FEN achieved the following:• Compliance with the Handelsregister des Kantons Schwyz and the Swiss Foundation
Supervisory Authority• Publication of the annual report for 2017
• Approval of audited accounts for 2017
• Operation of the FEN website www.ifccfoundation.org• Publication of two newsletters• Promotion of the FEN through various IFCC media outlets
66

• Fundraising initiatives• Support for and monitoring of one funded project
Completed Projects:‘Africa LabMed Radio’:
The FEN supported the purchase of specialist equipment to enable an internet radio station
to be established for all countries in Africa. Young scientists have been recruited as reporters
and the equipment has been used in several interviews, which were made available throughYouTube and Facebook. Support from the African Federation of Clinical Chemistry and otherpartners is required to deliver the final component of the project – regular radio broadcasts
across Africa.
Ongoing Projects:
Proficiency of malaria microscopists in Ethiopia:
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute has an ambitious programme to eliminate malaria fromareas of the country. The proficiency of the microscopists who make the diagnosis requires
improvement if this is to be achieved. The FEN provided an award for partnership working
with EPHI to develop training support for microscopists. A survey of the competence, training
status and further requirements of microscopists has been completed and is being preparedfor publication
Fundraising and Finances:
The greatest challenge faced by the FEN during 2018 was raising funds to support the ongoingwork of the Foundation. During the year it was thought that the FEN may have to close becauseof a lack of funds. The FEN Board agreed that it should focus on its ‘Support a Professional’
programme. Funds to support this programme were obtained from SNIBE Diagnostics andthe scholarship has been advertised in Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Society ofChemical Pathologists.
Audited accounts for the year to 31st December 2018 are in preparation and will be available
on request. In summary:
Income:Starting balance at 1 January 201810.488 CHF
Funds added during year
8.884 CHF
Total
19.372 CHF
Expenditure:
Operating costs
Project support
Total

5.122 CHF
2.415 CHF
7.537 CHF

Closing balance at 31 December 201811.835 CHF

Acknowledgement:
The FEN acknowledges expert administrative support from Ms Paola Bramati of IFCC.
Graham Beastall (Chair)

67

FEDERATIONSAFCBArab Federation of Clinical Biology

INTRODUCTION
The AFCB is a regional federation of associations, societies and syndicates of clinical biology
and laboratory medicine (12) created in 1974 with the Principal Objective: The Development of
the clinical Biology and laboratory medicine in the Arabic countries.
The AFCB organized 15 Arab congresses in 2018, the first held in Cairo (EG) in 1974 and thelast held in Palestine.
SOCIETIES’ ACTIVITIESThe main 2018 activities of the Arab Societies were the following:
ALGERIA - two associations ALAM and SABC
• ALAM
1. Training day on automated spermogramme.
2. The 2th Congress of practical Biology and the 7th French Speaking Day of Biology
November 27-28, 2017.
3. Continuing the formation of Algerian private biologists 2018.
• SABC
1. Continuing formation.
2. 7th Congress of Medical Biology and Laboratory Medicine May-6-7, 2018.
EGYPT
1. ESCC November-1-2, 2018.
2. Workshop: Laboratory Quality Management and Accreditation.
3. Symposiums:- Newborn Screening- Markers of Autoimmune Disease- Serum Biomarkers Panel in the Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer- Point-of- Care Testing in the Emergency Department- Metabolomics and its Use in Studying and Treating Diabetes- Liquid Biopsy as an Emergency Non-invasive Clinical Tool for Cancer PatientManagement- Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Aging – Associated Diseases- Antiangiogenisis Therapy: A new Strategy for Cancer Treatment
LEBANON - SNBL
1. Partnership Agreement between SBL and Association FCBM (Toulouse France):
e-Medicine Image (Haematology-Parasitology-Bacteriology).
2. Organization of EQC in Biochemistry, Haematology, Hormonology for all Lebanon
laboratories .
3. Organization of continuous education session (2018).
LYBIA - LSCL
1. Celebrate world blood donor day.
2. Training was carried out in many hospitals related to all aspects of professional quality
laboratory activities.
3. Antimicrobial Resistance.
68

4. Biosafety and bio-security: 3 workshops.
MOROCCO - SMCC
1. Workshop 2018.
2. 18th Moroccan Meeting of Clinical Biology, September 27-29,2018.
3. EB/AFCB and FIFBCML meeting.
PALESTINE - PMTA
1. 10th International Palestinian Conference for Laboratory Medicine and the 15th Arab
Conference of Clinical Biology (18-21 April 2018).
2. Implementation of the Project “What Physicians didn’t know about the Lab”.
3. Training Course in Lab. Accreditation for Labs in the Private Sector.
4. Training Course in Medical Lab. Institution, Supplies, Kits and Consumables Marketing.
5. Establishment of the Continuing Education Center.
6. Establishment of the Clinical Research Center.
7. Establishment of the Lab Medicine Club.
8. Host the 11th International Palestinian Conference of Laboratory Medicine in 2020.
SAUDI ARABIA
1. 4th Annual meeting for the SSCC Jeddah, December 5-6, 2018.
2. The Best of AACC in Middle East, Dubai.
3. Support of IFCC/SSCC Travel Scholarship (young scientists from Zambia).
SYRIA - SCLA
1. Continuing formation 2018
TUNISIA - STBC
1. Biological viral markers of hepatitis B and C and HIV, Tunis, February 9, 2018.
2. Thyroid exploration: the need for a clinical-biological dialogue, Sousse, February 23, 2018.
3. Ultra-sensitive Troponin, Tunis, March 16, 2018.
4. Automated spermogramme analysis, Tunis, April 6, 2018. K. Ben Abdallah.
5. Hemogram validation, Zaghouan, April 20, 2018.
6. XXXIIth National Meeting of Clinical Biology, Hammamet, May 7-12, 2018.
7. 10th course in molecular biology “Hemoglobinopathies : Molecular aspects. Tunis, May,
7th and 8th, 2018 with IFCC collaboration.
8. Anaemia in the new-born: A diagnostic approach, Sfax, September 7, 2018.
9. Biological risk management, Tunis, October 5, 2018.
10. Antifungigrams Tunis, October 26, /2018.
11. Kebili Clinical Biology Day, Kebili, November 17, 2018.
12. Irregular antibody screening: Clinical case studies, Sousse, November 30, 2018.
13. Djerba Clinical Biology Day, Djerba, December 14, 2018.
AFCB ACTIVITIES (2018)
The AFCB adopted a new approach and collaborations with the IFCC and Regional Federations.
The AFCB has participated in three successful meeting in Athens, Durban, Roma, Palestine,
Tunisia and Morocco (IFCC, EFLM, FIFBCML and AFCC).
I - Euro Mediterranean Meeting Rome IFCC/EFLM/AFCB/FIFBCML 2 - 4 July, 2018.
1. Round table: “The Role of Laboratory Medicine to Address Migrant Health Issues”
2. Session n. 1: Improving Efficiency in Laboratory Medicine
3. Session n. 2: Transmissible Diseases in the Mediterranean Area
4. Session n. 3: Perinatal and Pregnancy Laboratory Medicine
5. Round Table: “Benchmarking the organization of Medical Biology in Euro MediterraneanCountries”
II -Next EFLM /AFCB/IFCC Meeting 2020
AFCB Participated in Alexandropoulis, Greece and Budapest at the Steering committee
meeting for elaboration of the draft guidelines for the organization of the IFCC /EFLM/AFCB (2020).
69

- EFLM: Michael Neumanier, Sverre Sandberg and Alexander Haliassos- AFCB: Osama Najjar , Abderrazek Hedhil and Christian Hadad- IFCC: Adekunle Bashiru Okesina
III - 15th Arab Conference of Clinical Biology April-18-21, 2018
IFCC support :• IFCC Symposium I: Laboratory Innovations
1. Prof. Bernard Gouget: E-Health tools for the Medical Lab for better outcomes
2. Dr. Alexander Haliassos: Digital tools for researchers in Laboratory Medicine
3. Prof. Sergio Bernardini: The clinical significance of circulating miRNAs as biologicaland prognostic markers• IFCC Symposium II: Health and Environment
1. Dr. M. Nelson: Mycotoxins in food commodities
2. Pr. J.C. Alvarez: Intoxications and deaths involving pesticides
3. Pr. A. Hedhili: Drug abuse role of toxicological Laboratory and Arab situation
4. Dr. J. Langrand: Organization of poison control centers in France.
• VLP (3)
1. Prof. P. Fortina: Interpreting the genome through next generation sequencing
2. Prof. P. Fortina: Implementing cancer molecular profiling
3. Prof. P. Fortina: Technologies for personalized medicine (Workshop)
4. Prof. M. Ferrari: How to imagine the future of Laboratory Medicine
5. Prof. M. Ferrari: Non-Invasive prenatal diagnosis by circulating nucleic acid analysis
6. Prof. M. Ferrari: Molecular diagnostic methods and quality assurance (Workshop)
7. Prof. B. Gouget: Big data in Lab Medicine• Election of the EB/AFCB
1. Honorary President: Pr. Mohamed Shaarawy, Egypt
2. Past President: Dr. Kamel Mohamed Hassen, Sudan
3. President: Osama Najjar, Palestine
4. Vice President: Hedhili Abderrazek, Tunisia
5. Secretary General: Christian Haddad, Lebanon
6. Treasurer: Mohamed Touimi Ben Jeloun, Morocco
Members:
7. Dr. Youssef Bilto, Jordan
8. Dr. Aboud Ayed, Libya
9. Dr. Charbeji Samir, Yemen
10. Dr Abdelhamid Chachou, Algeria
11. Dr Adnan el Khatib, Syria
12. Saudi Arabia
13. Prof. Hedhili A., Tunisia President of the Scientific Committee• EB AFCB Meeting: Recommendations
1. Obligation of the AFCB and the all Arab societies to submit their annual Scientificactivity reports to the IFCC EB.
2. All the Arab societies must pay their annual IFCC fees.
3. Support by the IFCC EB the candidate of One Arab Society to the organizationof the next general conference and The 2st IFCC, EFLM, AFCB Conference on“Laboratory Medicine: Meeting the needs of Mediterranean Nations”.
4. Encouragement of the participation of the majority of the Arab societies at the next
general conference in Budapest.
5. Unaffordable high cost of Congress (registration fees, travel and hotel
accommodation): Reduction of registration fees for Developing countries.
6. The AFCB encourages the support of the candidates of the Arab biologists to the
IFCC committees.
IV - Casablanca Morocco September 27-29 ,2018 Meeting of AFCB EB Recommendations70

1. Revision of the AFCB status.
2. Encouragement of the collaboration between the AFCB and the other federations(EFLM, AFCC ...) of the organization of a joint meeting and congress (Marrakech,
September – 2019, Tunisia 2020).
3. Collaboration between IFCC/AFCB (Young Scientists, VLP, IFCC Annual Assistanceto AFCB).
4. Encouragement of the organizing of the EFLM/IFCC/AFCB Meeting by the TunisianSociety of Clinical Biology (STBC) in 2020.
5. The AFCB have participated in Athens, October 10-14, 2018 meeting and Budapest(General conference) (discussion about the status of collaboration).
6. Creation of the AFCB Awards (Every 3 years during Arab Congress).
7. Contribution of AFCB in the organization of a young scientist meeting during all
Arabic societies Congress by contribution of 2,000 - 2,500 dollars by meeting.
V- Next Arab Congresses and Societies’ meeting
I- Arab Congresses
1. Organization of the African Congress by SMCC Morocco 2019
2. 16th Lebanon 2021
3. 17th Morocco 2024
4. AFCC/AFCB meeting Marrakech September, 2019
5. EFLM/AFCB/IFCC 2020
II- Societies’ meetings
1. Algeria FIFBCML and Algerian Congress 2019
2. SNDBL Bayreuth March 2019
3. STBC Hammamet April 24-27, 2019
4. FIFBCML/ALAM Congress October, 2019
Abderrazek Hedhili, AFCB Representative

AFCC
African Federation of Clinical Chemistry
Our members in AFCC have continued to participate actively in IFCC working group and task
forces. We shall continue to encourage and educate our members to be more proactive innominating members for these task forces whenever the positions are declared open. This will
improve our participation in IFCC activities.
MANAGEMENT COURSES AND CONTINUOUS EDUCATION.
We have done well in this regard with details as follows although there is always need for
improvement:(a) MOU was signed between IFCC, AFCC and ASLM on 17th March, 2018, in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. Prof Morris, IFCC president, Prof R Erasmus, AFCC president were present. The
meeting was facilitated and arranged by AFCC President, Prof R Erasmus. Past president,
Prof Okesina was unable to attend due to logistical reasons. This meeting featured in the
April issue of the IFCC News Bulletin(b) AFCC Workshop on Quality and Laboratory Management was given in collaboration
with Ethiopian Medical Laboratory Association (EMLA) in Bahar Dar on 15th March, 2018.
The workshop was organized by AFCC President, Prof Erasmus. IFCC EBLM Chair, ProfA Zemlin participated in the one day workshop. Response was excellent. About 60 younglaboratory scientists and technologists from various universities and hospitals attended
the workshop.An excellent oral feedback was received from participants71

(c) Prof Morris, Prof Zemlin and Prof Erasmus also gave talks in the EMLA Congressorganized by EMLA on 16th March, 2018(d) In April 13th to 17th 2018 Professor Okesina was invited as a speaker at the Egyptian
Society of Laboratory Medicine (ESLM) Conference in Cairo, Egypt. One of thepapers delivered was on “impact of IFCC in Africa”. Similarly, In February 2018, Professor
Erasmus on invitation attended a Quality Control Workshop in Alexandria, Egypt (Prof
Egon participated in similar workshop previous year). These interactions had stimulated
interest of these associations in IFCC and they have applied for affiliate membership of
IFCC.
(e) A Quality and Leadership Workshop was delivered on 30th June 2018 and took place
Nairobi, Kenya to members of the Kenyan Association of Clinical Chemists and academic
staff from the University of Nairobi, Maseno University and Aga Khan University. The
meeting was organized and facilitated by AFCC President, Prof Erasmus. AFCC Secretary,
Mr Hilary Lumano and Prof Zemlin, IFCC EBLM Chair also participated in this meeting. The
meeting was restricted to 40 participants, including speakers and it was fully subscribedby 20th June.
(f) A similar workshop to that of Kenya was also organized in Lusaka, Zambia on 28th of July
2018, although originally planned for about 50 junior and senior laboratory scientists morethan 130 participants attended. The large turnout was because the Ministry of Health ofZambia, facilitated and supported participants across the country. Professors Erasmus,
Zemlin and Okesina spoke at this workshop. Also, six local senior scientists served as
speakers from Zambia at the workshop. The workshop was jointly organized between the
AFCC and Biochemical Society of Zambia. As a result of the successful outcome of thisconference, the BSZ has requested for a similar workshop to be hosted from 25th to 27th
April, 2019 in Livingstone, Zambia(g) From July 2nd to 5th 2018, Prof Okesina and other AFCC members including young scientists
participated in the Mediterranean Conference which took place in Rome.
(h) Radio Africa: Prof Hilda Matarira, Director of this program gave 2 reports on the outputsof Radio Africa.
(i) In October 15th to 20th 2018 Association of Clinical Chemistry of Nigeria (ACCN)
successfully held their biennial Conference with full support and participation of AFCC at
Awka in Anambra State (South Eastern Nigeria). This meeting provided the opportunity
for AFCC to hold face to face executive board meeting on the 18th of October 2018. Twoworkshop were mounted by AFCC and these were supported by Roche and BD. There
was preconference workshop on Point Of Care Testing and post conference workshop on
Leadership and Quality Management. AFCC was able to sponsor many international andlocal speakers to this conference which was attended by participants from various partsof Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia. Also a good number of young scientists werealso sponsored to the conference. On behalf of ACCN and AFCC I want to express our
gratitude to Prof Graham Beastall (past President of IFCC) who sent a key note address
through a Webnar. The participants benefited a lot from his thought provoking lecture
on traceability in Laboratory Medicine. AFCC also sponsored 2 speakers from Kenya, Dr
G Omuse and Dr D Maina. Roche sponsored the Point of Care Workshop as well as aspeaker, Mrs Janette Wassung of Quality First Business Solutions from South Africa.
(j) On 4th and 5th of December, Prof Okesina represented the IFCC president Prof Howard
Morris at the Saudian Society of Clinical Chemistry meeting in Riyadh where hedelivered the key note lecture on behalf of the President.
(k) Specific policies on funding of scientists to attend workshops and conferences has beendeveloped and adopted by the AFCC Board(l) Efforts were made by AFCC President to seek sponsorships by industry to fund speakers
to the various AFCC Workshops. There has been some success with Roche, Alere, Abbott
and BD72

(m) AFCC Website will be revamped shortly(n) AFCC is trying to recruit new country members. Currently we are focusing Tanzania,
Uganda and Namibia. Our target is to increase membership by 10% in 2020
Rajiv Erasmus, President
Hilary Lumano, Secretary
Adekunle Bashiru Okesina, Representative at Executive Board

APFCB
Asia-Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry
and Laboratory Medicine
Education and Laboratory Management Committee Report
The Education and Laboratory Management Committee (C-ELM) consists of the following:
Environmental – Lia Gardenia Partakusuma (Indonesia); Website development/Interpretative
Comments – Tze Ping Loh (Singapore); Vietnam Course – Ronda Greaves (Australia); MACB
Course – Elina Raja (Malaysia); Needs Survey of members – July Kumalawati (Indonesia);
Phlebotomy audit – Endang Hoyaranda (Indonesia); Lean Vietnam – Jozi Habijanic (Roche
Corporate); Quality Control/Sigma training - Amit Manjure (Siemens Corporate).
A brief summary of the major outcomes of the C-ELM follows:
1. APFCB Travelling Lecturer
The APFCB Visiting Lecturer for 2018/19 is Dr. Raja Elina Raja Aziddin
The first engagement was at the College of Chemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka Annual
Academic Meeting in Columbo in March The Travelling Lecturer has presented at thefollowing meetings;
July – Indonesian Association of Clinical Chemistry - Bali
August – Vietnamese Association of Clinical Chemistry – Da Nang
September - Philippine Council for Quality Assurance in Clinical Laboratories (PCQACL) –Manila.
March 2019 – Singapore Association (SACB) and Nepalese Association for Clinical Chemistry(NACC)
2. APFCB Chemical Pathology Course – Vietnam
This annual event took place in June with approximately 250 participants in Hanoi and 350 in
HCMC. The program contains a mixture of invited and local speakers presenting on routinechemical pathology topics. The popularity of the program continues to grow.
3. APFCB VACB Lean Project
The Lean project continues with the support of Roche in Vietnam. At this time there have been
31 trainers trained in 11 Lean ‘train the trainer’ workshops. These trainers have in turn trained
230 laboratory staff from 101 laboratories in Vietnam. The project will continue with support
for the trainers being provide by Roche. The emphasis of the training has been standardisationof techniques and a just in time approach to using a suite of Lean tools. Small laboratory
improvement projects are favoured so that trainees learn from the application of the tools.
4. MACB Chemical Pathology Course
Planning is underway for the third component of the three-year Course designed to complementa local professional qualification process. It is expected that two external speakers will be involved
with the three-day course but that 70% of the material will be delivered by local speakers. Part ofthe process is to have the course entirely run by the local Association. The MACB fully support
this course and it also fits with Malaysian government policy of certifying medical scientists.
73

5. APFCB Becton Dickinson Pre-Analytical Improvement Project
The BD phlebotomy audit program has been successful at reducing pre-analytical error in a
number of APAC countries. The aim of this project is to produce an APFCB training course
for phlebotomy auditors that could be used throughout the Region. An MoU with BD wassigned in January and the project is underway. To pilot the program two countries have been
identified, the Philippines and Singapore. Key outcomes from the project will include thefollowing:
1. A Self - Assessment Check list
2. Development of a Best Practice Guideline for Phlebotomy
3. A Pre-Analytical Workshop will be presented at the Philippine Association of Medical
Technologists meeting in November.
6. APFCB-AACB Scholarships
Two scholarships were awarded for two young investigators (Sri Lanka and India) to attend
and present their posters at the AACB Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney September 2018.
7. APFCB-AACC Workshops
The APFCB has been collaborating with the AACC with their Global Lab Quality Initiative(GLQI) as part of the Asia Pacific Working Group (APWG). This year there have been three
two-day workshops held in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Nepal in conjunction with the local
APFCB member Society. The APFCB and the AACC will continue to work on this project toassist in the development of educational programs. There will also be a workshop in Jaipur.
8. Symposia
The C-ELM will organise a Symposium on Pre-analytical error for the Jaipur meeting.
There will be an APFCB Symposium at the 2019 AACC meeting with a clinical endocrine
diseases theme. The APFCB have been invited to present at the EFLM/CELME meeting in
Prague, in October 2019, with a focus on innovation.
Scientific Committee Report
9. Mass Spectrometry Harmonisation WG- Publication: Current state and recommendations for harmonization of serum/plasma
17-hydroxyprogesterone mass spectrometry methods. Greaves RF, Ho CS, Loh TP,
Chai JH, Jolly L, Graham P, Hartmann MF, de Rijke YB, Wudy SA; Working Group 3“Harmonisation of Laboratory Assessment” European Cooperation in Science andTechnology (COST) Action BM1303 “DSDnet”. Clin Chem Lab Med 2018;56(10):1685-97.
- A protocol for the study of the influence of internal standard on the analysis of 17OHP
by LCMSMS is being developed in association with RCPAQAP – AACB and IFCC ETD
Pediatric Hormonics Working Group.
- The Chair of the WG, Ronda Greaves, is involved with the AACB proposal to hold aWorkshop on chromatography-mass spectrometry at the APFCB Congress 2019 in
Jaipur, India.
10. APFCB-WASPaLM TF-CKD
Following on from the visit to Sri Lanka by Graham Jones, Chair of APFCB-WASPaLM TFCKD and discussions with Chemical Pathologists earlier in the year, ACB-SL is currently
considering the feasibility of standardising creatinine assays and reporting practices
throughout the country. Assistance will be sought from APFCB-WASPaLM TF-CKD as andwhen required.
11. Diabetes Mellitus in APFCB region
A survey of current status of laboratory testing for diabetes in India is currently under way
spearheaded by Dr Col Mithu Banerjee, with a view to assessing the potential role of APFCB
in improving the quality of laboratory practice in the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes
mellitus.
12. 15th APFCB Congress
The 15th APFCB Congress will be held in Jaipur, India, 17-20 November 2019. Planning of74

all aspects of the conference is well under way and looking towards a successful meetingat the end of the year.
Sunil Sethi, President

COLABIOCLI
Latin-American Confederation of Clinical
Biochemistry
FULL MEMBER SOCIETIES:ARGENTINA
BOLIVIA
BRAZILCHILE
COLOMBIADOMINICAN REPUBLICECUADOREL SALVADORSPAINGUATEMALAHONDURASMEXICOPANAMÁ
PARAGUAYURUGUAY(VENEZUELA)The Uruguayan Association of Clinical Biochemistry (ABU) was reelected at the 2017 General
Assembly for a two years term 2018-2019.
COLABIOCLI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2018-2019

President: Dr. QF Stella Raymondo (Uruguay)
Vice-President: Dr. Álvaro Justiniano (Bolivia)
Secretary: Dra. QF BC Ana María Lena (Uruguay)
Treasurer: BC Natalia Amor (Uruguay)
Member I: Technician Méd. Lizbeth Campilla (Panama)
Member II: Dr. Bioq. Micr. Juana Ortellado (Paraguay)
Member III: Lic. Antonia Suriel* (Dominican Republic)
Past President Graciela Queiruga
COLABIOCLI Regional Representative in IFCC: Dra. Rosa Isabel Sierra-Amor.
* In December 2018, Lic. Antonia Suriel joined the Board of Directors of COLABIOCLI as President of the Dominican
Republic society instead of Lourdes Cruz.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIESa) Creatinine standardization course. (Accomplished)
A satisfaction survey was conducted at the end of the course, which was answered by
61 participants; 16 of them declared interest in standardization, they were from Mexico,
Colombia, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and Uruguay. We
are trying to achieve this stage using a donation of sera from CAP through the IFCC CKDCommittee.
b) Neonatal Research Course (Accomplished)
A survey was conducted in 2018 among the participants who did the course to find if a new
course required to be improved.
c) Course on Quality Management and Good Practices of a TB Laboratory. Coordinated by Dr.
Juan Pablo Grammático within the framework of activities of OPS-COLABIOCLI (2018)d) Course on “Advances in Diabetes. Clinical, Genetic and Biochemical aspects “ (Proposed)
Coordinated by CECC (Uruguay). Sponsored by ABU. (Proposed and postponed due to low
enrollment by March 2019)e) Course of Biomarkers of Toxicological interest (Proposed for 2019)
It will be coordinated from Venezuela. Advertising pending given the situation of the country.
75f) Bioethics course. (Proposed) as COLABIOCLI course, coordinated by Dr. Nilda Fink. With
experts from different countries in the region. Advertising starts on May 2019. Course date:
2nd semester 2019.
g) Latin American Training Program. The content is under revision to offer it to the countries.

NATIONAL WORKSHOP

1

1

1
1

3

1

2

5

CONTINUING EDUCATION

2

PRE-CONGRESS1INTRA-CONGRESS

2

2

1

1

1

4
2

7

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM

3

1

1

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

1DIPLOMAT PROGRAM

1

2

2

1

2

NATIONAL TRAINING DAYS

7

3

2

FORUM
NATIONAL CONGRESS

3

6

CONFERENCEURUGUAY

19REGIONAL WORKSHOPEDUCATIONAL COMMITTEES

15

PARAGUAY*

3

GUATEMALAECUADORCOLOMBIA

1

PANAMA1SPAIN

COURSES ON-LINE

EL SALVADOR

12

CHILE

BOLIVIA*

COURSESMEXICOCOURSESARGENTINENATIONAL AND REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY THE LATIN
AMERICAN COUNTRIES MEMBERS OF COLABIOCLI.

2
1

2

1

REGIONAL CONGRESS

1

1

1

1

2

NATIONAL MEETINGS

10REGIONAL TRAINING DAYS2REGIONAL MEETINGS

7

2

1

1
11

1

1

1

1
2

SYMPOSIA

2

1

3

1

1
1

1

1
1

1

1

1

SCHOLARSHIP RECEIVEDSCHOLARSHIP GRANTEDINTERNATIONAL MEETINGS

1
4

SEMINARS
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

1

1

7

1

2

In extend at the COLABIOCLI website.
* Bolivia: a) Agreement between Argentine Foundation of Biochemistry (2018-2020) and76

Bolivarian Program of Continuous Training (PROBOECO 2018-2020). b) Agreement with theArgentine Foundation of Biochemistry to develop the Laboratory Accreditation Program in
Bolivia. (PROBOACRELAB 2018 – 2020)*Paraguay: It has a Continuing Education Program attended by numerous national andinternational professors
LEGAL ASPECTS
Legal Entity (COLABIOCLI)
Justification:
PAHO urgently requires legalizing the documental situation of COLABIOCLI granting deadlines.
It has been legalized in Uruguay through the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) basedon a foundation act signed for such purposes in the XXIII Latin American Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The national entities have collaborated presenting all
the documentation that has been requested, legalized in their countries.
In October, the books of the institution were already stamped and signed by the MEC, but the
Personeria Juridica (Legal Status) is still in process. The MEC has submitted observations thathave been corrected without affecting the institutional structure but the process continues up
to today at the MEC´s offices. The countries that could not be present at the Punta del Este´sFounding Act during the General Assembly , will be able to be reintegrated without problem
presenting their Statutes apostilled or legalized in their country. PAHO is aware of all stages ofthe legalization process.
PARAGUAY
Law 5.986 / 2017 of Biochemists
It expresses the objective, scope, nature and professional identity of the biochemist, a teameffort chaired by the President of ABP, Raquel Cáceres and Treasurer, Mercedes Álvarez, didcontinue with several activities. Although the date of the enactment of the Biochemist Law was
December 14, 2017, it was decided in the Extraordinary Assembly of October 6, 2018 of the
ABP, that the “Paraguayan Biochemist’s Day” be commemorated on the date of the enactmentof the law. On December 10 a Gala Party was held at the Gran Hotel Paraguay, to celebrate
the enactment of the Biochemist Law, where homage was paid to the previous Presidents andfounding partners who acquired the status of life partners.
URUGUAY
Guild Activities
As a result of an agreement signed last year, all Clinical Biochemists that perform activities in theState Health Services Administration (ASSE) received a salary adjustment and were classified in
grade II. The activity in the sector was continued for the designation of grades III and V in orderto achieve a functional career of the ASSE professional. The agreement also has a scope forthose Pharmaceutical Chemists who work in the field of Clinical Analysis
COLABIOCLI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
1) In-person from April 5 to 8, 2018 in Montevideo
The mission, vision and objectives of COLABIOCLI were declared, and a SWOT study was also
carried out, and the Strategic Plan for management was drafted. The projects proposed by
Uruguay for its re-election were the central axis, notwithstanding the incorporation of others dueto their relevance and / or urgent attention. It was attended by the IFCC Regional Representative.
2) COLABIOCLI Executive Committee meetings:
Approximately once a month, via Skype.

77

COLABIOCLI WORKING GROUPSCOMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND MANAGEMENT
Dr. Carlos Navarro: Chair
Dr. Iratxe López Pelayo- Spain
Dra. Magaly Magariños Egüez- Bolivia
Dr. Manuel Arca- Argentina
Dra. Graciela Borthagaray- Uruguay
Dra. Alba Marina Valdés de García- Guatemala
Dr. Daniel Razo Morales- Mexico
Lic. Eduardo Antonio Rodríguez Vega- Panamá
Lic. Rosanna Clotilde Elías Peña- Dominican Republic
PRE-ANANALYTICAL WG (*)
Dr. Gabriel Oliveira Lima (Brasil) Chair
BC Beatriz Varela (Uruguay) Secretary.
Dr. Eduardo Aranda (Chile),, Member.
Dr. Patricia Ochoa (Argentina) Member
Dr. Ma. Elena Arredondo (Chile) Member
Dr. Lorena Michele Brennan-Bourdon (Mexico) Member 2018It is a very active group. They presented abstracts in AACC Chicago in July 2018 and publishedin CCLM in June 2018, they are doing a project in Chile.
COLABIOCLI CONGRESSESPANAMA 2019
The maximum integration with the Organizing Committee of the Congress has been achieved
through the MS Lizbeth Campillo Member of COLABIOCLI.
The IFCC Congresses and Conferences Committee (C-CC) has offered four courses proposalsof which two were accepted by the COLABIOCLI Congress Organizing Committee:
1) Hemoglobin A1c to measure that continues to evolve2) Qualitative considerations in Molecular Diagnosis
Additional, AEFA and SEQC will be organizing symposia and conferences.
Panama International awardee will give a plenary lecture.
XXIV LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY COLABIOCLI-PANAMÁ
2019
COLABIOCLI AUTHORITIESPresident: Dr. QF Stella Raymondo (Uruguay)
Vice-President: Dr. Álvaro Justiniano (Bolivia)
Secretary: Dr. QF BC Ana María Lena (Uruguay)
Treasurer: BC Natalia Amor (Uruguay)
1st Member: MT. Lizbeth Campilla (Panama)
2nd Member: Dr. Bioq. Micr. Juana Ortellado (Paraguay)
3rd. Member: Lic. Antonia Suriel (Dominican Republic)
Regional Representative of COLABIOCLI to IFCC: Dr. Rosa Isabel Sierra Amor.
NATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (CONALAC)
Lcda. Jovanna Borace President
Mgter. Inés Reyes General Secretary
Mgter. Lizbeth Campillo Representing COLABIOCLI Executive Committee, President of
CONALAC78

NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (CONALAC)
Lcda. Jovanna Borace, Mgter. Ariel Vásquez, Mgter. Evelyn Navarro, Licdo. Bertrand Palma,
Mgter. José Moreno, Lcda. Michelle Facey, Mgter. Javier Torre. Lcdo. Abdiel Bonilla, Mgter.
Maura Ballesteros, Secretariat of Finances, Lcdo. José Carreiro, Secretariat of Communication
I; Licda. Roxana Lau, Secretariat of Comunicación II, Lcda. Ottma Ibargüen, Secretariat of
Logistics I, Licdo. Mario Batista, Secretariat of Logistics II.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE COLABIOCLI 2019
Dr. Cristina Servetto (Uruguay) Chair
Dr. Ana Villagra de Trejo (Argentina)
Dr. Beatriz Mina Guerrero (Bolivia)
Dr. Marcos Kneip Fleury (Brazil)
Dr. Eduardo Aranda (Chile)
Dr. Sonia Rojas López (Colombia)
Lcda. Miguelina Rosario (Dominican)
Dr. María Álvarez Herrera (Ecuador)
Dr. Rafael Calafell (Spain)
Licdo. Rodolfo C. Aquino (El Salvador)
Dr. Karin Herrera (Guatemala)Dr. Maritza Canales (Honduras)
ME QFB. Jezabel Vite (Mexico)
Lic. Ariel Vásquez. (Panamá)
Dr. María Azcurra (Paraguay)
Dr. QF Graciela Queiruga (Uruguay)
Representative of COLABIOCLI Executive Committee at the International Scientific Committee
Dr. Rosa Isabel Sierra Amor (Mexico, COLABIOCLI Regional Representative at the IFCC andAdviser to the International Scientific Committee
Dr. Graciela Borthagaray (Uruguay)
Economic Adviser. Congressional
Distinguished guest. Dr. Howard Morris, President IFCC, accepted the invitation to participate
in the Panama Congress
Congress Skype meetings have been held by the President of the National Scientific Committeewith the EC Representative of COLABIOCLI and the President of the International ScientificCommittee to exchange ideas, be aware of the progress and clarify doubts.
COLABIOCLI Congress Mexico 2021: The Mexican Association of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
proposed the city of Leon, Guanajuato (Mexico) to host the XXV Latin American Congress ofClinical Biochemistry.
PROJECTS

a. Latin American Laboratory Census: For this, a survey was sent as a joint COLABIOCLI- OPS
activityb. POCT survey: the 2017 survey was sent again to different countries seeking to increase thenumber of responses.
c. Pilot project which objective was to know the state of the art of the countries, their degreeof harmonization, methodologies and instruments. Another COLABIOCLI-OPS joint activity.
This information would be gathered through two external control surveys.
SCHOLARSHIPS-A new procedure to regulate scholarship applications was drafted and approved at the Assembly79that took place in Buenos Aires Argentina during the CALILAB 2018. Applications were received
from 5 colleagues from Panama, 2 from Paraguay and 2 from Uruguay, with the following results:
COUNTRIESARGENTINEBRAZIL
BOLIVIA
COLOMBIAECUADORSPAIN
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALAHONDURASPANAMANAME“X Calilab Congress (FBA)”. BBAA
“45º Brazilian Congress of Clinical Analysis SBAC”
Río de Janeiro“II International Journeys of the Bolivian Societyof Clinical Biochemistry” La Paz
18° Internacional Congress of the CNB- Colombia“XIII Ecuatorian Congress and IX International of
Biochemistry” Ríobamba“XII National Congress of Clinical Laboratory
Bilbao”“V Update Latin American Congress in Laboratory
Medicine and Transnational and I Congreso
Salvadoran congress of Clinical Laboratory.”“Iberoamerican Symposium of Clinical Chemistry
and Expolab, 2018-”“II International Congress of Microbiology.Actual
tendencies and applications” Tegucigalpa“National Congress of Students and Medical
Technology. University of Panama”“National Congress of students of Medical
Technology – Latin University-– Veraguas”

DATE (2018)
October 24 to 27
June 17 to 20
November 27 to
December 01
November 9 to 12
October 17 to 20
October 24 to 26
November 6 to 8
June 28 to-29
November 16 - 17
March 14th
October 5 to 9

November 1st to
2ndThere are countries that have not reported Congresses because they usually do it every two
years and they are organizing it by 2019
“Congress of Pathology”

1. Lcda Melissa Delgado (Panama): an online and blended Master of Molecular BiologyUniversity of La Coruña, Spain. 2018-2019 with 3000 USD
2. PhD in Biochemistry for Rosa Guillen (Paraguay): a practical theoretical course of Infrared
Spectroscopy of Molecules. Fac. Sciences University of the Republic. Montevideo. Uruguay
with 2000 USD.
3. Dr. In Biochemistry Mercedes Álvarez (Paraguay): Training on Serological and Bacteriologicaltests for the referential diagnosis of Brucellosis. Instituto Malbrán, Bs. As. Argentina with 1500
USD
4. BC Natalia Pereira (Uruguay) for the completion of an Internship by the Endocrinological
Biochemistry Area of ​​the Durand Hospital, Bs. As. Argentina with 2000 USD
5. QF Irene Benaderet (Uruguay) for an Internship at FUNDALEU Bs. As. Argentina with 1500
USD
REGIONAL CONGRESSESAUSPICESCOLABIOCLI auspices were given to 9 activities carried out by the following countries:
1) Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
2) Colombia (Barranquilla),3) Argentina 3.1) CUBRA XIV Córdoba, 3.2) CALILAB 2018 BBAA -CALILAB,
4) Ecuador (Riobamba, Quito) 5), Bolivia (La Paz).

80

PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION

1. PAHO Invitation to the President of COLABIOCLI to attend a meeting in Washington inJune 19 to 21st.
2. Documentation was initiated to renew the COLABIOCLI PAHO contract that ended in
September 28, 2018, which were strictly dependent on the efforts made to have recognition
as a legal entity.
IFCC

General Conference in Budapest: On that occasion, the presentation of activities was presented,
as well as the needs of the laboratories in the region to meet the daily demand. Knowing theseshortcomings, IFCC could complement helping to meet those needs based on the survey
recently sent by IFCC to the COLABIOCLI countries that integrate it the final results.
COLABIOCLI AFFILIATED MEMBER SOCIETIES.

All member countries of COLABIOCLI were asked to report their activities
DOCUMENTATION APPROVED BY THE ASSEMBLY IN OCTOBER 2018

1. Modification to the COLABIOCLI Scholarship Regulation, and the Latin American Training
Program,
2. Regulation and Congress Guidelines.
3. Review of the current COLABIOCLI-IFCC Agreement.
4. Guide for the organization of the COLABIOCLI Congress.
OTHER MATTERS:

Italian Society proposal. The Italian Society SIBIOC expressed its wish to collaborate with
COLABIOCLI. Their affiliation as collaborator was presented at the COLABIOCLI General
Assembly in October 2018, with the unanimous resolution to accept SIBIOC as a collaboratorof COLABIOCLI.
COLABIOCLI Symposium at the APFCB Congress in Jaipur India by an invitation of the APFCB
2019 Organizing Committee.

Stella Raymondo, President
Ana María Lena Secretary

EFLM
European Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine
GENERAL MEETING
Michael Neumaier, EFLM President, greeted the audience and welcomed delegates to the General
Meeting (GM) in Mannheim and presented the agenda. No matters emerged from the minutes ofthe last GM in Athens, June 2017 and minutes were otherwise approved. In the following part ofthe meeting the majority of the national societies voted in favour of LABAC to join the EFLM as
Affiliate Member. The majority of the national societies also voted in favour of Kazakhstan Public
Association «Federation of Laboratory Medicine» to join the EFLM as Affiliate Member.
The EFLM President then provided an overview on the current EFLM organization (Executive
Board [EB], functional units), recent EFLM activities since the last GM in Athens (including
recent official publications, meetings, bursary programs, EFLMLabX, participation of EFLM EB
members to national societies’ meetings, agreement with Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory81Medicine, EFLM EB meeting with IVD representatives, EuroLabNews), and also gave a brief
overview on the ongoing and future projects within the EFLM. Past President Sverre Sandberg
provided an overview on the new IFCC statute which encompasses the presence of one EFLM
representative in the IFCC board and briefly explained how the representative is elected by
the EFLM and gave an overview of the current composition of IFCC Regional Federation
Representatives. EFLM Treasurer Huib Storm gave a report on 2017 financial audit and balance
sheet, and 2018 internal budget. The GM approved all accounts unanimously.
The EFLM President, then emphasized that achieving better health and healthcare throughLaboratory Medicine would only be possible with involvement of EFLM National Society
Members. This is the reason why during September 2017 they were asked to participate in
the survey concerning the level of satisfaction towards EFLM. The main aim of the survey
was to assess collaboration, specifically by understanding the needs of our National Societies,
checking how National Societies see the relationships with EFLM and receiving suggestions on
how to improve the relationship with EFLM. Starting from these results and from the ongoing
items of the previous plan, the EB based the preliminary study to prepare the draft for the EFLM
Strategic Plan 2018-2019. Compared to previous editions, it was considered important to havea Strategic Plan made for a 5-10 year horizon while maintaining shorter term 2-year actionplans. A SWOT analysis was used by the EB to identify the main goals (7) where to concentrate
the strategic plan and the 2-year related actions (18).
Erik Kilpatrick, Science Committee Chair, reported about the past and ongoing activities within
the EFLM functional units. Gilbert Wieringa, Profession Committee Chair, reported about the pastand ongoing activities within the EFLM functional units. Wim Huisman, Quality & Regulations
Committee Chair, reported about the past and ongoing activities within the EFLM functional units.
Daria Pasalic, Education & Training Committee Chair, reported about the past and ongoing activities
within the EFLM functional units. Finally, Maria Stella Graziani, Communication Committee Chair,reported about the past and ongoing activities within the EFLM functional units. All Power point
presentations with the reports can be viewed and downloaded from EFLM website.
At the end of the meeting the EFLM President warmly thanked the audience and reminded thatthe next GM will take place in Barcelona, in concomitance with EuroMedLab 2019.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Some of the leading activities planned and developed during 2018 are listed below:• Initiative “invite an EB representative at your National Congress”• Initiative “EFLM Postgraduate Courses on scientific writing and biostatistics”• Involvement of EFLM in EC Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG)• Possible organization of an EFLM-APFCB Preanalytical Conference in Asia
• EFLM participation to the APFCB Congress in Jaipur• APFCB participation to the CELME Symposium in Prague• Establishment of an EFLM Task Force on Disruptive Technologies• Approval of the new release of the EFLM Procedure Manual (PM)COMMITTEES
Committee – Communication (C-C)
The C-C activity in 2018 focused mainly in consolidating the objectives of the Committee: todevelop EFLM visibility, increase the collaboration with its member Societies (NSs) and to promote
the profession increasing awareness of the importance of clinical laboratories in health care. We
have been engaged in issuing the Federation Newsletter on a regular basis and have obtained an
encouraging feedback from the member Societies: most of them read regularly the bulletin with amain interest in the Hot Topic section, where news and information about topics of recent interestand development in Laboratory medicine are exposed. Furthermore, the National Societies havebeen encouraged to send news about their own activities to be published in the Newsletter. In
2018 a regular section has been added to the bulletin, where to host news from IFCC.
82

The website update receives also great attention; the website statistics tell us that it is visitedby around 2000 visitor per month. The most visited pages are the ones of the most active EFLM
Working groups: the Biological Variation and the Pre-analytical phase WGs.
The promotion of the field of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine to the lay public
has received new impulse from the collaboration with the Patient Focused Lab Med WG that
resulted in publishing a report from the President of the UK National Association for Patient
Participation in the December issue of the NewsLetter.
The visibility of EFLM has also been promoted through the use of the social media: we arepresent in Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube (the last one to post the educational material
produced by the C-ET). EFLM presence is slowly but continuously increasing in popularity andgenerates an important traffic back to our website. We consider the presence of the Federationin the social media rather relevant for its visibility.
Committee – Education and Training (C-ET)
EFLMLabX Project was launched by WG-CPE in January 2018 by an invitation sent to all
EFLM NS representatives to join and to IVD for support. At the web page of the project morethan hundred users and 15 laboratories are registered. WG-CPE also prepared a proposal forcooperation with IVD for supporting the bursaries for exchange program. For promoting the
program, the WG published a paper on e-JIFCC and prepares the manuscript for CCLM.
WG-CPE also made the proposal of announcement for the new type of low-budget postgraduate
courses PGC. In 2019, under the supervision of EFLM and WG-CPE, two types of courses
will be organized: “Biostatistics in Laboratory Medicine” and “How to write a good scientificand professional article”. EFLM WG-CPE organized a two–member teams and according NS
requirements and availability of the teams, in 2019 these courses will be organized in 6 different
NS. Travel costs for lecturers for 2 NS will be economically supported by EFLM. WG-CPE also
prepared the results of MedTech European Code survey initiated by WG-CPE, are which arebeing arranged for publishing.
In 2018, WG-DE launched and upgraded the e-learning platform Moodle 3.5 and release,processed and published 8 webinars and issued 219 certificates of attendance. This WG also
recorded lectures from the 2nd Strategic Conference, hold in Mannheim in June 2018. WG-DE
also updated and followed the materials on the social media Facebook and YouTube and noted
an increase of followers.
In the middle of 2018, the WG on Laboratory Medicine Credit Points was (WG-LMCP) established.
This group will be responsible to establish and run the EFLM system to allocate credit points foreducational events. TG on EFLM Syllabus Course prepared a plan for courses in cooperation
with WG-DE. Courses should be recorded in 2019 and 2020, to deliver and maintain the EFLM
Syllabus Courses recorded by e-learning platform. Chair of the TG-Syl Ralf Lichtinghagen is amember of the Congress Organizing Committee for the 23rd EuroMedLab in Barcelona.
Committee – Profession (C-P)
The start of 2018 saw auto-registration to the EFLM Register of Specialists in Laboratory
Medicine further extended and now includes the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Croatia.
Registrant numbers have grown from 1036 in 2017 to 1199 at end 2018. As we go into 2019a further increase is expected with Slovenia being welcomed to the auto-registration ranks.
Following approval from the EFLM General Assembly in June eligibility to join the register was
extended from the 28 European Union countries with a national society affiliated to EFLM to all
40 European countries with a national society affiliated to EFLM. Further auto- and individual
registration is anticipated.
A survey of EU affiliated national societies highlighted that 14 countries can meet EFLM’s
Equivalence of Standards and would therefore be eligible to be amongst the minimum 10 countries
required to present Laboratory Medicine’s Common Training Framework under EU Directive
2013/55/EC (The recognition of professional qualifications). In this regard representatives from83France, Spain, Ireland and Croatia were congratulated on their engagement at government levelto present the case for recognition of specialist practice.
With the cultivation of new links at EFLM Executive Board level to the EU Commission’s officeleading on implementation of the Directive the decision was taken to cease our reliance on an
external agency to present Laboratory Medicine’s case for recognition of specialists. The direct
links that have been established are anticipated to prove valuable in aligning future strategy with
EU Commission guidance.
Committee – Quality and Regulations (C-QR)
The WG published an article on traceability requirements according to ISO15189 and is working
on different papers concerning retention time of documents, POCT and validation/verificationof analytical methods. All members of the different countries contribute actively to make thesewidely acceptable. The Committee chair is active in ISOTC212 WG1, especially in relation with
the new standard on risk management and the guideline for users of POCT equipment. Within
ISO the work on the new edition of ISO15189 has started and the EFLM WG is focused oncontributing to this most important standard for quality management in medical laboratories,
as it did with the former editions. The paper by Thelen and Huisman on Harmonization ofaccreditation to IS15189 can be considered as a specific view on this process. The chair of
the WG QR is active in the EA Health Care Working Group to contribute to harmonizationof accreditation according to ISO15189 in the European countries. The WG is focused on
influencing the development and interpretation of ISO and CEN standards and in particular
the implementation of the new EU IVD Regulation. This is reflected in the updated Terms ofReference for both Committee and Working Group.
Committee – Science (C-S)
The eight Working Groups (WGs) under this Committee (Biological Variation, Guidelines,
Harmonisation of the Total Testing Process, Patient Focused Laboratory Medicine, Personalised
Laboratory Medicine, Postanalytical Phase, Preanalytical Phase and Test Evaluation), two Task
Groups (TGs) (Biological variation Database and Performance Specifications Based on Outcome
Studies) and one Task and Finish Group (TFG) (Standardisation of the Colour Coding for Blood
Collection Closures) have in the last year been joined by the introduction of three TG/TFGs,
namely the TG-Cardiac Markers, TFG Urinalysis and TFG Autoimmunity Testing. All groups remain
highly active in focusing on topics which are of direct relevance in improving the effectivenessof laboratory medicine to patients. Particular highlights from 2018 include publications such as
the EFLM recommendations on venous blood sampling (in collaboration with our Latin Americancolleagues), practical recommendations for handling hemolysed samples and serum indices aswell as papers bringing more certainty to the assessment of uncertainty. There has also been thecontinued development of the biological variation database to help support its use in deriving
analytical performance specifications and a biomarker workshop in Sydney, Australia.
Special note should be made of the contributions members of the Science Committee WGs
have made to meeting activities, including at the 5th Joint EFLM-UEMS Conference in Antalya,
Turkey, and the 2nd EFLM Strategic Conference in Mannheim, Germany.
The Science Committee cannot function in isolation, and depends on the continued support ofthe constituent National Societies as well as the collaboration with companion organisations
such as the IFCC Scientific and Emerging Technologies Divisions.
MEETINGSEFLM has organized two meetings during 2018:
1. The end of laboratory medicine as we know it? [2nd EFLM Strategic Conference].
Mannheim, 18-19 June 2018.
2. 5th Joint EFLM-UEMS Congress. Antalya, 10-13 October 2018.

84

WEBINARSEFLM has organized six Webinars during 2018:• Pre-analytical mysteries• Catheter Blood Collection Practices: Can A High Quality Sample for Laboratory Diagnostics
Be Obtained?
• The order of draw
• The role of EQA in the verification of in vitro medical diagnostics• How to perform tube validation?
• M-protein diagnostics of Multiple Myeloma patients treated with biologics
PUBLICATIONS
1. Thelen M, Vanstapel F, Brguljan PM, Gouget B, Boursier G, Barrett E, Kroupis C, LohmanderM, Šprongl L, Vodnik T, Bernabeu-Andreu F, Vukasović I, Sönmez Ç, Linko S, Brugnoni D,
Vaubourdolle M, Huisman W, Panteghini M; European Federation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group Accreditation and ISO/CEN standards (WG-A/
ISO). Documenting metrological traceability as intended by ISO 15189:2012: A consensus
statement about the practice of the implementation and auditing of this norm element. Clin
Chem Lab Med. 2018 Dec 4. pii: /j/cclm.ahead-of-print/cclm-2018-1212/cclm-2018-1212.
xml. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-1212. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Simundic AM, Bölenius K, Cadamuro J, Church S, Cornes MP, van Dongen-Lases EC, Eker
P, Erdeljanovic T, Grankvist K, Guimaraes JT, Hoke R, Ibarz M, Ivanov H, Kovalevskaya S,
Kristensen GBB, Lima-Oliveira G, Lippi G, von Meyer A, Nybo M, De la Salle B, Seipelt C,
Sumarac Z, Vermeersch P; Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE), of the European
Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) and Latin American
Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE-LATAM) of the Latin America Confederationof Clinical Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI). Joint EFLM-COLABIOCLI Recommendation forvenous blood sampling. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018 Nov 27;56(12):2015-2038. doi: 10.1515/
cclm-2018-0602.
3. Prodan Žitnik I, Černe D, Mancini I, Simi L, Pazzagli M, Di Resta C, Podgornik H, Repič
Lampret B, Trebušak Podkrajšek K, Sipeky C, van Schaik R, Brandslund I, Vermeersch
P, Schwab M, Marc J; behalf of EFLM/ESPT working group of Personalised Laboratory
Medicine on. Personalized laboratory medicine: a patient-centered future approach. Clin
Chem Lab Med. 2018 Nov 27;56(12):1981-1991. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0181.
4. Kilpatrick ES, Sandberg S. An overview of EFLM harmonization activities in Europe. Clin
Chem Lab Med. 2018 Sep 25;56(10):1591-1597. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0098.
5. Jassam N, Lake J, Dabrowska M, Queralto J, Rizos D, Lichtinghagen R, Baum H, Ceriotti
F, O’Mullane J, Homšak E, Charilaou C, Ohlson M, Rako I, Vitkus D, Kovac G, Verschuure
P, Racek J, Chifiriuc MC, Wieringa G. The European Federation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine syllabus for postgraduate education and training for Specialists inLaboratory Medicine: version 5 - 2018. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018 Oct 25;56(11):1846-1863.
doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0344.
6. Langlois MR, Chapman MJ, Cobbaert C, Mora S, Remaley AT, Ros E, Watts GF, Borén J,
Baum H, Bruckert E, Catapano A, Descamps OS, von Eckardstein A, Kamstrup PR, Kolovou
G, Kronenberg F, Langsted A, Pulkki K, Rifai N, Sypniewska G, Wiklund O, Nordestgaard BG;
European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) and the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Joint Consensus Initiative. Quantifying Atherogenic
Lipoproteins: Current and Future Challenges in the Era of Personalized Medicine and Very
Low Concentrations of LDL Cholesterol. A Consensus Statement from EAS and EFLM. Clin
Chem. 2018 Jul;64(7):1006-1033. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2018.287037. Epub 2018 May 14.
7. von Meyer A, Cadamuro J, Lippi G, Simundic AM. Call for more transparency in manufacturers
declarations on serum indices: On behalf of the Working Group for Preanalytical Phase(WG-PRE), European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM).
85

Clin Chim Acta. 2018 Sep;484:328-332. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2018.03.043. Epub 2018 Apr 2.
8. Coşkun A, Carobene A, Kilercik M, Serteser M, Sandberg S, Aarsand AK, Fernandez-Calle
P, Jonker N, Bartlett WA, Díaz-Garzón J, Huet S, Kızıltaş C, Dalgakıran I, Ugur E, Unsal I;
European Biological Variation Study of the EFLM Working Group on Biological Variation.
Within-subject and between-subject biological variation estimates of 21 hematologicalparameters in 30 healthy subjects. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018 Jul 26;56(8):1309-1318. doi:
10.1515/cclm-2017-1155.
9. Aarsand AK, Røraas T, Bartlett WA, Coşkun A, Carobene A, Fernandez-Calle P, Jonker
N, Díaz-Garzón J, Braga F, Sandberg S; European Federation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group on Biological Variation. Harmonization initiatives
in the generation, reporting and application of biological variation data. Clin Chem Lab Med.
2018 Sep 25;56(10):1629-1636. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0058.
10. Lippi G, Cadamuro J, von Meyer A, Simundic AM; European Federation of Clinical Chemistry;
Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group; for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE). Local
quality assurance of serum or plasma (HIL) indices. Clin Biochem. 2018 Apr;54:112-118.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2018.02.018. Epub 2018 Mar 3.
11. Lippi G, Cadamuro J, von Meyer A, Simundic AM; European Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE). Practical
recommendations for managing hemolyzed samples in clinical chemistry testing. Clin Chem
Lab Med. 2018 Apr 25;56(5):718-727. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2017-1104.
12. Lippi G, Simundic AM; European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE). The EFLM strategy for
harmonization of the preanalytical phase. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018 Sep 25;56(10):16601666. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2017-0277.
Michael Neumaier, EFLM President
Giuseppe Lippi, EFLM Executive Board Secretary

NAFCC
North American Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine
Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC)
Societé Canadienne de Clinico-Chimistes• 2018 CSCC Annual meeting, was held in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Educational activities included the Travelling Lectureship Series, CSCC Webinar
Lectureship on Critical Care Medicine, Webinar series entitled “Educational Roundtable”,
special interest working groups, Leadership in Quality Management Certificate program,
CACB Professional development program.
• CSCC paid the IFCC membership dues of the Cuban Society.
• CSCC had a number of interactions with other Canadian pathology and lab medicinegroups including:• Canadian Leadership Council on Laboratory Medicine & Laboratory Utilization SubCommittee• Participation in ‘Choosing Wisely Canada’ http://www.choosingwiselycanada.org/• Participation in ‘Lab Tests Online’ with AACC https://labtestsonline.org/• CSCC supports LabCanDx (formerly MEDEC), the national association for the Canadian
medical technology industry, in their efforts to promote the value of laboratory medicine.
• CSCC supports participation in ToxLRN which is an initiative by Health Canada to createa network of toxicology laboratories in Canada.
• CSCC provides support and professional encouragement for Trainees and Young86Scientists, such as a special reception at the annual conference.
• CSCC holds an annual charity run at its annual conference and proceeds are donated toa local charity.
• CSCC publishes a bi-monthly newsletter and periodic electronic newsletters.
American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC)• 2018 AACC 70th Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Chicago, IL, drew nearly 20,000
delegates and a record 817 exhibitors.
• Inaugural AACC Middle East drew 700 participants and 25 sponsors to Abu Dhabi in
March.
• The Lab Tests Online new design and upgraded system (US platform) was honored withsix 2018 design/content awards. Italy, Spain, and Hungary migrated to the US platform
and saw a collective 28% increase in traffic. LTO has had more than 40 million users in2018 and 367 million users across all sites from inception to date.
• There were 14 online continuing education certificate programs, 24 webinars, 3 additional
national conferences and 2 international conferences.
• AACC launched its Point-of-Care Testing Professional Certification program in the US• There was 1 Global Lab Quality Initiative workshop in Latin America and 3 in the AsiaPacific region on method verification and quality control, as well as a newborn screening
workshop in India that connected experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders to
discuss the global position of newborn screening, clinical successes, and technical andpractical aspects required for setting up a successful laboratory for newborn screening.
• Clinical Chemistry reached an all-time high impact factor of 6.636.
• The US Advocacy Program advanced AACC’s advocacy priorities in Children’s Health(newborn screening and pediatric reference intervals), Harmonization, LaboratoryDeveloped Tests, and Reimbursement and the Changing Healthcare Environment.
Ann M Gronowski, NAFCC Representative

87

Full Member Societies

ARGENTINACONFEDERACIÓN UNIFICADA BIOQUÍMICA DE LAREPÚBLICA ARGENTINA (CUBRA)NATIONAL MEETINGS• Meetings of the Permanent Technical Commission of the Unique Biochemical Nomenclatorof C.U.B.R.A. (CTP-NBU -CUBRA) 24th April; 23th, May; 24th, May; 27th September; 25th
October; 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Meeting of the Permanent Scientific Committee of C.U.B.R.A. (CCP-CUBRA), 06th Dec,
2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Meetings of the Executive Committee of the Commission of National Biochemical
Certification (COCERBIN); 09th May; 19th Nov, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Meeting of the Quality Commission of C.U.B.R.A. (C3-CUBRA) 26th October, 2018 in
Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Meeting of the Ethic Commission of C.U.B.R.A. CODEICU 12th April, 2018 in Buenos Aires– Argentina.
• Meeting of the Coordinating Entity of Academic Units of Pharmacy and Biochemistry(ECUAFyB), 19th September, 2018 in Córdoba – Argentina.
• Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Argentine Biochemical Foundation (FBA) 26th
October, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Meetings of the Commission of Academic Affairs, 15th February; 06th December, 2018 in
Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Meeting of the IFCC Division of Communications and Publications, on the Pharmaceutical& Biochemical University of Buenos Aires, 02th March, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
EDUCATION• Member of the Executive Committee of the Commission of National Biochemical
Certification (COCERBIN).
• Member of the “Advisory Commission for the Evaluation and Updating of the Unique
Biochemical Nomenclature”, within the Superintendence of Health Services.
REGIONAL MEETINGS• Assemblies of the Confederal Council of C.U.B.R.A. 11th May; 10th August; 07th
December, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Acto de Asunción de Autoridades; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica de la
Universidad de Buenos Aires 06th March, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Junta de Gobierno CGP 22th March, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• “V Jornadas Bioquímicas de Cuyo” 26th to 28th April, 2018 in Mendoza – Argentina.
• Aporte Organización Congreso COREBIO; “IX Congreso Nacional de Residentes
Bioquímicos” 10th May, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Reunión CGP 15th June, 2018 in Córdoba – Argentina.
• Reunión Autoridades CUBRA – COFA 04th July, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Reunión Comisión Especial del Consejo de Universidades (COSUN) Ministerio de
Educación 12th July, 02th Agost 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.

88• Aniversario de la Creación del Centro de Bioquímicos del IX Distrito (FABA) 18th
Agost 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• “XXIII Jornadas Bioquímicas del NOA” 04th to 06th October, 2018 in Termas de Río
Hondo- Santiago del Estero – Argentina.
• “X Congreso CALILAB (FBA)” 24th to 27th October, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Asamblea Extraordinaria COLABIOCLI 25th October, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Taller CUBRA en el marco de CALILAB: Rol de las Entidades – Perfil Profesional
Bioquímico – Actividades Reservadas 26th October, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
• Reunión de Consenso Multidisciplinario sobre Diagnóstico Precoz de la Enfermedad
Renal Crónica 12th December, 2018 in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
REGIONAL RELATIONS
Colegio Bioquímico de Catamarca
Colegio Bioquímico del Chaco
Colegio Bioquímico de La Pampa
Colegio Bioquímico de La Rioja
Colegio Bioquímico de San Juan
Colegio Bioquímico de Santiago del EsteroColegio Bioquímico de TucumánColegio de Bioquímicos de la Provincia de Río Negro
Colegio de Bioquímicos de Corrientes
Colegio de Bioquímicos de Neuquén
Colegio de Bioquímicos de Entre Ríos
Colegio de Bioquímicos de Formosa
Colegio de Bioquímicos de Jujuy
Sección 1ª de Bioquímica del Colegio Oficial de Farm. y Bioq. de Capital Federal
Colegio de Farm. y Bioquímicos de la Provincia de Santa Cruz
Bioquímicos del Interior A.C. Salta
Círculo Bioquímico de la Provincia de Misiones
Asociación Bioquímica de Salta
Asociación Bioquímica de Mendoza
Asociación Bioquímica del Este
Asociación Bioquímica de San Luis
Asociación Bioquímica de Villa Mercedes
Asociación Bioquímica de San RafaelFederación de Bioquímicos de la Provincia de Córdoba
Federación Bioquímica de la Provincia de Buenos Aires
Federación Bioquímica de la Provincia de Chubut
Federación Bioquímica de la Provincia de Santa Fe.
ABA - Asociación Bioquímica Argentina
FBA - Fundación Bioquímica Argentina
COORDINADORA de Colegios de Bioquímicos de Ley de la República Argentina
CGP - Confederación General de Profesionales
IRAM - Instituto Argentino de Normalización y Certificación
ECUAFyB - Ente Coordinador de Unidades Académicas de Farmacia y Bioquímica
Agrupación Bioquímica de Cuyo
FEBIPA - Federación Bioquímica Patagónica.
FOBINEA - Foro de Bioquímicos del Noreste Argentino.
FEBINOA - Federación Bioquímica del Noroeste Argentino

89

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSIFCC International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
COLABIOCLI Confederación Latinoamericana de Bioquímica Clínica.
CLAPU Confederación Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Asociaciones de Profesionales
Universitarios.

AUSTRALASIAAUSTRALASIAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL
BIOCHEMISTS (AACB)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Harmonisation Workshop

10-11 May 2018

Various Harmonisation topics including lipid
reporting (recommendations published).

AACB AIMS 2018 Combined
Scientific Meeting

3-5 September 2018

Diagnosis to cure.

Satellite Meeting & Workshop post
AACB Annual Conference

6-7 September 2108

Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Point of Care Testing Scientific
Education Meeting

18-19 October 2018

Managing Chronic and Complex Conditions inPrimary CareEDUCATION
RCPA AACB Chemical Pathology Course – Adelaide 12-16 February 2018 – covered exam
curriculum topics for both the AACB and RCPA.
EFLM-AACB Course - Assessing the Value of Biomarkers, Sydney 29 Feb- 1 March.
39 State Branch based monthly scientific meetings
Roman Lectures – Dr John Coakley- “Lipids in Children and links to adult vascular disease”
REGIONAL RELATIONSAsia Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine
Secretary Dr Helen Martin
AACB members on a number of APFCB committees both in chair and member roles:
Education and Laboratory Management Committee Tony Badrick – Chair, Graham Jones –Corresponding member
Scientific Committee Dr Samuel Vasikaran-Chair, Ronda Greaves – Member Graham Jones –MemberCommunication Committee Sandra Klingberg– Corresponding member
Congress and Conferences Committee Peter Graham – Secretary
AACB has opened a new discounted membership for members of APFCB affiliate societies,
including on-line subscription to Clinical Biochemist Reviews and access to all member only
educational material.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSAACB members contributing to IFCC in 2018:
Executive Board 2018-2020:
Prof Howard Morris - President

90Committees and Working groups
Executive:
C-CC, Helen Martin- Corresponding member
Scientific division:
C-TLM, L Mackay - Member
C-RIDL, Ken Sikaris – Member, Graham Jones – Corresponding member
C-STFT, Paul Williams – Corresponding member
C-HAT, Louise Wienholt – Member
WG-CDT, Dorothy Kouzious- Corresponding member
WG-SAU, Graham Jones
WG-PAPP A, Greg Ward – Corresponding member
WG-SIA, Paul Glendenning – Corresponding member
WG-FIT, E Symonds
WG-Vit-D, Andy Liu
Education and management division:
C-CMBC, D Kunde – Corresponding member
C-EBLM, Chris Florkowski – Consultant
C-DL, Ronda Greaves – Member, Janine Grant – Web editor
C-POCT, Rosy Tirimacco – Chair, Samarina Mussad – Corresponding member
C-VPLM, Andrew St John – Chair, Tony Badrick – Corresponding member
WG-FC, E Spittler
WG-ICQA, Sam Vasikaran – Chair, Tony Badrick, Ken Sikaris,
DQCML, Ronda Greaves – Corresponding member
Communications and Publications division:
C-IDL, Janine Grant – Web editor, Ronda Greaves - Consultant
WG-eJIFCC, Ronda Greaves, Rita Horvath, Jill Tate, Peter Vervaart
Emerging Technologies Division
Executive
Ronda Graves – Secretary

AUSTRIA

AUSTRIAN SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINE AND
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (ÖGLMKC)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Symposium Labormedizin
Seggauberg bei Graz

Mi. 13.11.- Fr. 15.11.2019

Personalized medicine – facts versus
vision91

BELGIUMROYAL BELGIAN SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINE(RBSLM)NATIONAL MEETINGS
Joint Annual Congress of the Royal
Belgian Society of Laboratory
Medicine and the Belgian Thyroid
Club

16 November 2018

- Joint Symposium with the Belgian
Thyroid Club
- Burning points in laboratory
medicine

EDUCATIONRBSLM is one of the owners of the journal “Acta Clinica Belgica”

BOLIVIA

SOCIEDAD BOLIVIANA DE BIOQUÍMICA CLÍNICANATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic
Report of the National Executive
Council of the Bolivian Society ofBiochemistry

II National Consultative of the
Bolivian Society of Clinical
Biochemistry

Tarija 19 January

Presentation plan of activities byfilial management 2018
PROBOECO Report 2017
Development of the PROBOECO
Activity schedule 2018

Meeting with the Ministry of
Health and Sports - CONALAB –Presidency of the Senate National
Health Commission

La Paz 31 August

Implementation of the External
Quality Evaluation Program by
the Bolivian Society of Clinical
Biochemistry National Diagnostic
Agency and Implementation of theLaboratory Accreditation program

EDUCATION
Agreement with the Bioquímica Argentina Foundation 2018 – 2020 to develop training activitiesof the biochemical professionals in common interpretation areas through the Bolivian continuous
training program (PROBECO)
Agreement with the Bioquímica Argentina Foundation 2018 – 2020 to develop training activitiesof the biochemical laboratories in Bolivia through the program of accreditation of laboratories og
the Bioquímica Argentina Foundation (PAL) and the Bolivian program of laboratory accreditation(PROBOACRELAB)
Immersion course in hematology ”La Paz joiny class organization - DIAMEDIC- CEN
SOBOBIOCLI”- La PAZ 19-21 March 2018.
Course ”XXXVIII Latin America Course of update in antimicrobials” Dr. Carlos Malbran
Courses at the distance from PROECO of the Bioquímica Argentina Foundation 2018
PROBOECO of the Bolivian Society of Clinical Biochemistry92

Continuing education activities of the Bolivian Continuing Education Program (PROBOECO)
Name of the meeting

Date

TopicsSANTA CRUZ - BENIPLANNING OF BIOSECURITY.
COMPREHENSIVE WASTE
MANAGEMENT IN HEALTHESTABLISHMENTS

10 - 15 APRILDRA. ANA MARÍAAMBROSIOCOCHABAMBA - TARIJA

BASIC LABORATORY OF
MYCOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS

8 - 13 MAY

DRA. MARÍA VICTORIAZULIANIBENI - SANTA CRUZ

LIQUIDS FROM SPILLS OFSERIOUS CAVITIES.

19 - 24 JUNE

DR. LUIS ALBERTOPALAOROLA PAZ- SUCREUPDATES IN THE HIV-AIDS
LABORATORY.

24 - 29 JULY

DRA. ISABEL RIMOLDILA PAZ - ORUROVALIDATION / VERIFICATIONOF QUANTITATIVE ANALYTICALPROCEDURES - ADVANCEDCOURSE

7 - 12 AUGUST

DR. RAUL GIRARDITARIJA - COCHABAMBA

WORKSHOP ON
DOCUMENTATION OF THE
QUALITY SYSTEM-MODULE 1.

7 - 12 AUGUSTDR. CARLOSPERUZZETTOLA PAZ - ORURO

WORKSHOP ON
DOCUMENTATION OF THE
QUALITY SYSTEM-MODULE 1.

11 - 16
SEPTEMBER

DRA. SANDRAEVANGELINA FILIPPINISUCRE- POTOSIHEMATOLOGIA ACTULIZACIONSTUDY OF ERYTHROCYTES AND
PLATELETS

11 - 16 DE
SEPTEMBER

DRA. MARIANAGONZALEZSANTA CRUZ - SUCREUPDATE ON ANTIMICROBIALS

9 - 14 OCTOBER

DRA. MARCELA NASTROTARIJA - COCHABAMBA

WORKSHOP ON
DOCUMENTATION OF THE
QUALITY SYSTEM- MODULE 2.

9 - 14 OCTOBER

DR. CARLOSPERUZETTOLA PAZ - ORURO

PARASITOLOGY. INTESTINAL
PARASITOSIS PRODUCEDBY HELMINTOS. LARVARYMIGRATION SYNDROME.

11 - 16
DICEMBER

DRA. LEONORA
KOZUBSKYANTIMICROBIALS IN THE MOSTFREQUENT INFECTIONS

11 - 16
DECEMBER

DRA. ANGELA MARÍAROSA FAMIGLIETTISANTA CRUZ - BENIREGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meeting
Strategic plan COLABIOCLI

Extraordinary Assembly of the Latin
American Confederation of Clinical
Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI)

Buenos Aires – Argentina, 24-27
October 2018

Correspondence Radio “El
Microscopio”

According to programming

Support for development in the planof activities management 2018

La Paz 27 November – 01
December 2018

Presentation pf the Annual Reportof the Bolivian Program of thecontinuing education (PROBOECO)– Approval of Scholarships
regulations, regulations congresses
regulation of recognitions

Extraordinary National Congress
II International Conferences of
the Bolivian Society of Clinical
Biochemistry

Legal personnel
Plans and Programs COLABIOCLIREGIONAL RELATIONSPermanent realization with the Latin American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry(COLABIOCLI) and the National Representations of Latin America
93Permament Sociedad Brasilera de Analisis Clinicos (SBAC) ad Naitonal Quality Control Program(PNCQ)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSParticipation in the extraordinary assembly of Latin American Confederation of Clinical
Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI) held in Buenos Aires, Argentina – October 24-27, 2018- CALILAB
2018 Congress
Participaiton of the Bolivian Society of Clinical Biochemistry at the IFCC Budapest General
Conference, 9-11 November 2018
Meeting with the Working Group on Molecular Biology (IFCC-Clinical Molecular Biology
Curriculum C-CMBC) Course to confirm the conduct of the course of molecular biology in thecity of La Paz, in the month of November 2019.
Meeting of Latin American Representatives at the IFCC General Conference, Budapest Hungary 2018.
Permanent realization with the International Federation of Clinical Chemstry (IFCC), Spanish
Society of Clinical Chemistry (SEQC), Latin American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry(COLABIOCLI)ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Presentation of the Journal of the Bolivian Society of Clinical Biochemistry by the Sucre
Subsidiary who will become the organ of diffusion of the Scientific activity of our entity in Bolivia.

BULGARIA

BULGARIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL LABORATORYNATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

TopicsXII National Conference of BSCL

27-29/09/2018

Accreditation and lab management
External Quality Assurance
Molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases
Cardiac markers
Laboratory endocrinology
Tumor and bone markers
Immunology
TDM
Point of care testing

BSCL-Sofia branch professional meeting I

February 2018

Thrombosis and haemostasis

BSCL-Sofia branch professional meeting II

March 2018

Markers of acute renal failure

EDUCATION
Basic postgraduate course for physicians, specialising clinical laboratory- part I-April 2018
Basic postgraduate course for physicians, specialising clinical laboratory- part II-July 2018
Basic postgraduate course for physicians, specialising clinical laboratory- part III-October 201894

REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meeting

XXVI BCLF Meeting, Skoplje,
Macedonia

October 3-5, 2018

Macedonian society of biochemistry
and laboratory medicine(MSMBLM)REGIONAL RELATIONSBCLFINTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
IFCC
EFLM
BCLF

CANADACANADIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTS (CSCC)SOCIÉTÉ CANADIENNE DES CLINICO-CHIMISTESNATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting
Canadian Society of Clinical
Chemists Annual Conference
Upcoming meeting in 2019:
CSCC Annual Conference

Date
June 3-6 2018
June 2-5 2019

Topic
CSCC Annual Meeting
Ottawa, Ontario
CSCC Annual Meeting
Saint John, New Brunswick

EDUCATION
2018 Travelling Lectureship Series
Speaker: Dr. Michael G. Surette, Professor and Canada Research Chair Interdisciplinary
Microbiome Research in the Department of Medicine and Department of Biochemistry andBiomedical Sciences at McMaster University
Topic: The Human Microbiome in Health and Disease: Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Surette gave presentations in Jasper, Quebec City, London, Vancouver, and Saskatoon in
the period October 11 – November 19, 2017
The lectureship is sponsored by Bio-Rad Laboratories
CSCC Webinar Lectureship on Critical Care Medicine
Speaker: Dr. Mark Downing, Head of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship Officer,
Saint Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto
Topic: Procalcitonin: Should your hospital use it?
March 22, 2018
Lectureship sponsored by Roche
2017-18 Webinar Series
14 CSCC “Education Roundtable” in webinar format were held twice a month from September
2017 to June 2018. In addition to single participants, many members formed groups at their
institution to attend the webinars. Sessions averaged about 50 phone lines and 200-250
participants.

95

Special Interest / Working Groups
CSCC has 8 special interest / working groups which are communities with an interest inadvancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members cooperate
to affect or to produce solutions within their particular field. The activities usually consist ofcommunication between conferences and informal sessions within the CSCC conference.
These groups also develop position statements and guidelines.
Leadership In Quality Management Certificate Program
The purpose of this Program is to bring Clinical Biochemists, as laboratory leaders, to a level
required to provide competent leadership and oversight to the quality management systems(QMS) in their laboratory. The certificate Program is presented as an on-line course in quality
management. CSCC trainee members are offered the option to register in the program at nocharge. This event is an accredited group learning activity as defined by the CACB/CSCC
Professional Development Program.
Participants have two years to complete the program.
CACB Professional Development Program
The Maintenance of Competence Committee oversees the continuing professional development(PD) program designed by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry to encourage andsupport the lifelong learning needs of its Fellows and other healthcare professionals who arein the practice of clinical chemistry. The program uses accreditation of continuing professional
development events, establishes an ongoing PD program for continuing education credits, andconducts audits of PD credit submissions as a means ng this goal.
REGIONAL RELATIONSCSCC has 7 Provincial Sections – British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario,
New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Each Section holds its own meetings and small conferences.
The Sections report annually to the Society Council. A Provincial Grant is available for eachsection to help fund teir activities.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSCSCC paid the IFCC membership dues of the Cuban Society.
CSCC, with AACC, is a member of the North American Federation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine (NAFCC of IFCC. The NAFCC was represented at the IFCC Executive
Board meetings in 2018.
Dr. David Kinniburgh, Past-President of CSCC, is the current Secretary of IFCC.
There are several Canadian members on IFCC committees and each of these members is
asked to provide a report to each CSCC Council meeting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCSCC had a number of interactions with other Canadian pathology and lab medicine groups
including:• Canadian Leadership Council on Laboratory Medicine & Laboratory Utilization SubCommittee• Participation in ‘Choosing Wisely Canada’ http://www.choosingwiselycanada.org/• Participation in ‘Lab Tests Online’ with AACC https://labtestsonline.org/

96

CSCC supports LabCanDx (formerly MEDEC), the national association for the Canadian medical
technology industry, in their efforts to promote the value of laboratory medicine.
CSCC supports participation in ToxLRN which is an initiative by Health Canada to create a
network of toxicology laboratories in Canada.
CSCC provides support and professional encouragement for Trainees and Young Scientists,such as a special reception at the annual conference.
CSCC holds an annual charity run at its annual conference and proceeds are donated to a local
charity.
CSCC publishes a bi-monthly newsletter and periodic electronic newsletters.

CHILE

SOCIEDAD CHILENA DE QUÍMICA CLÍNICA (SCHQC)
EDUCATION
SCHQC invited by the Ministry of Health of Chile was active in the preparation of Operational
Technical Standards (NTO) for the Certification of professional specialty of biochemicals andpharmaceutical chemists. Member: Eduardo ARANDA and Milena MONARI.
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meeting

3th Latin American and Caribbean
Regional Workshop ”Interpretationof critical requirements of ISO
15189 (Livestream)

26 to 28 September 2018, Quito,
Ecuador

SCHQC sponsorship,
Speakers: Roberto CARBONI andLeonardo AGUIRRE

Simposio Iberoamericano deQuimica Clinicay Expolab

28-29 June 2018, Ciudad deGuatemala, Guatemala

Active participation meeting WGIANT IFCC and speaker: member
Eduardo ARANDA.

13 Congreso Ecuatoriano y
19 Congreso Internacional de
Bioquimica Clinica

18-20 October, 2018, Riobamba,
EcuadorSpeaker: Eduardo ARANDA

20 Congreso Argentino de la
Calidaddel Laboratorio Clinico
CALILAB

24-27 October 2018, Buenos Aires,
Argentina

Active participation Rene GOMEZ in
the Assambly of COLABIOCLI

20 Congreso Argentino de la
Calidaddel Laboratorio Clinico
CALILAB

24-27 October 2018, Buenos Aires,
Argentina

Speakers: Claudio LOBOS, Jaime
SASSO, Eduardo ARANDAREGIONAL RELATIONSSChQC has collaboration with several regional associations of medical laboratory.
• COLABIOCLI (Confederacion Latinoamericana de Bioquimica Clinica) as a full member.
• IAAC (Inter American Accreditation Cooperation) as a stakeholder member.
• APTM (Asociacion Panamericana de Tecnologos Medicos)• SOCITEM (Sociedad Cientifica de Laboratorio Clinico de Tecnologos Medicos de Chile)• INN (Instituto de Standarizacion Naciona); Chile97

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSParticipation in the International Scientific Advisory of World Lab Durban 2017
• SChQC is a Liaison member to the IFCC eNewsletter• IFCC CDP WG. Ibero-American Nomeclature and Translations (WG-IANT) Member E.
ARANDA• National representative IFCC: Eduardo ARANDA• National representative IAAC: Milena MONARIADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe SCHQC has been active in organizing the 20th National Conference will be held 23-25
October, Santiago, Chile

CHINA (CN)PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) - BEIJING
CHINESE SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINE (CSLM)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting
The 14 National Conference on
Laboratory Medicine
th

Date

Topic

September 5th – 8th, 2018.

A total of 19 topics were conducted during
the conference, including multidisciplinary
discussion of intractable cases, microfluidic
technology, and its clinical application,
laboratory developed tests, etc.

EDUCATION
The CLSM now offers the monthly “on-air” class with internet+ remote network teaching
technology through high definition broadcast streaming and Wechat. The Society will invite
the laboratory and clinical experts to come online. They will use their years of rich clinicalexperience and expertise to answer the questions from online students in real time. The 12
sessions in 2018 has yield over 5,000 times of streaming per month.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSCSLM, together with AACC , organized the Mass Spectrometry Technology and Clinical Summit
Forum in the 14th National Conference on Laboratory Medicine. Professor Steven Wong from
Wake Forest University and Professor Victoria Zhang from the University of Rochester conduct
the sub-forum on the clinical transformation of mass spectrometry. Professor Yusheng Zhu
from the University of Pennsylvania presented the conference report on the clinical applicationand quality control of mass spectrometry. Professor Chengbin Wang, the president of CSLM,
signed a memorandum of cooperation between the CSLM and AACC, which provided a newopportunity for further expansion of foreign exchanges.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONName of the meeting

Date

The 14 National Conference on
Laboratory Medicine

September 5 – 8 ,
2018.

th

98

Topic
th

th

A total of 19 topics were conducted during
the conference, including multidisciplinary
discussion of intractable cases, microfluidic
technology, and its clinical application,
laboratory developed tests, etc.

CROATIA

CROATIAN SOCIETY OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND
LABORATORY MEDICINENATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

9th Congress of the Croatian Societyof Medical Biochemistry andlaboratory medicine (CSMBLM) with 9.-12.5.2018
International Participation; Zagreb,
Croatia

Pre-congress symposium: Presentation ofguidelines published by CSMBLM
Symposium 1: Laboratory diagnostics of
Haemostasis
Symposium 2: Laboratory diagnostic of chronic
diseases
Symposium 3: New trends in moleculardiagnostics
Symposium 4: New diagnostics approach inlaboratory medicine
Symposium 5: Laboratory management
Symposium 6: Analysis of urine and otherspecimens

9th CSMBLM Symposium; Zagreb,
Croatia29.9.2018

Laboratory analysis of extravascular fluids andbody excretions

EQALM symposium 2018; Zagreb,
Croatia

19-20 October 2018

External quality control

EDUCATION
In the 2018, Committee for the scientific and professional development performed their activities
through several working groups for the specific areas in the laboratory medicine:• WG for preanalytical phase has been working on optimization of hemolysis investigation
protocol; part of scientific experiments has been done and is expected to be concluded
in 2019.
• WG for blood gas testing has been working on implementation and promotion of their
National recommendation• WG of CSMBLM and CCMB for uncertainty of measurement has published Croatiantranslation of Minimum requirements for the estimation of measurement uncertainty:
Recommendations of the joint Working group for uncertainty of measurement of the
CSMBLM and CCMB. Document has been distributed to all members of CSMBLM• WG of CSMBLM and CCMB for chronic renal disease has been evaluating degree of
implementation of the National recommendation for chronic renal disease. Results havebeen presented at Croatian national congress: Radišić Biljak V, Honović L, Matica J,
Krešić B, Šimić Vojak S. How well do Croatian laboratories adhere to CSMBLM-CCMB
recommendations for laboratory diagnostics of chronic kidney disease. Biochem Med
2018;28(Suppl 1): S122-S123.
• WG for laboratory diagnosis of autoimmune diseases has finished drafting National
recommendations for antinuclear antibodies.
• WG for extravascular body samples has submitted two documents for publication: National
recommendations for serous fluids and National recommendations for synovial fluid• WG for coagulation testing finished National recommendations for coagulation testing
which are currently being revised in the public discussion by the members of the CSMBLM.
• WG for molecular diagnostics has published two congress abstracts of the nation-wide
survey on practices in molecular diagnostics. The results are presented at Croatiannational congress.
• WG for postanalytical phase has finished National recommendations for postanalyticalphase. The manuscript has been submitted in Biochemia Medica journal.
99

• WG for standardization of sweat testing preformed a survey on procedures for sweat
testing in Croatian laboratories and is currently working on National recommendations• New WG for method validation and verification is formed. They have been preparing asurvey on verification and validation procedures in Croatian laboratories.
• New WG for haematology is formed.
In 2018, CSMBLM Committee for education provided free webinars available to all CSMBLM
members. Participants of e-seminars earned credits granted by the Croatian chamber of
medical biochemists (CCMB).
E-seminars in 2018:• Flow Cytometry in Clinical Application - where we are today• Allergic reaction - from clinical to laboratory findings• Preanalytic factors in the determination of tumour markers• Laboratory Diagnosis of Thrombophilia• Galektin-3 - a new marker of acute and chronic heart failure• Verification of the 12 Most Commonly Used Urine Tracks in the Republic of Croatia:
comparability, reproducibility and accuracy• The consistency of the distribution of the categories at different concentrations of urinary
band parameters in the Republic of Croatia
Grants:CSMBLM provided• 22 grants for its members for the 9th Congress of the Croatian Society of Medical
Biochemistry and laboratory medicine (CSMBLM) with International Participation, 9.12.5.2018, Zagreb, Croatia
2 grants for the 5th EFLM-UEMS European Joint Congress in Laboratory Medicine, October
2018, Antalya, Turkey
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In 2018 Committee for information and public relations has regularly informed themembership about IFCC and EFLM activities by preparing newsletters and notifications in
Croatian and English language. They forwarded all the calls for nominations in EFLM and IFCC
working groups and committees. Committee for information and public relations gave supportand helped with promotion of 9th National CSMBLM Congress (Zagreb 2018) in different local
media services.
Croatian Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine (CROQALM), memberof EQALM (CSMBLM representative in EQALM: Jasna Lenicek Krleza, PhD, Specialist inLaboratory Medicine). In 2018. CROQALM performed three cycles of external quality control(March, June, September). In December 2018, annual report for each participant was sent toCroatian Chamber of Medical Biochemists and applications for EQA in 2019 was opened.
Active participation at the 9th Congress of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry andLaboratory Medicine (section Ask the Experts: CROQALM and poster presentations). In October
2018, CROQALM

100

CUBA

CUBAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGISTSNATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Central Provinces Meeting of the CSCP

June 21-22, 2018

General topics on Laboratory Medicine.

Eastern Provinces Meeting of the CSCP

September 5-6, 2018

Thrombophilia, Quality Control and otherselected topics on Laboratory Medicine.

Western Provinces Meeting of the CSCP

November 22-23, 2018

Flow Citometry and other selected topics
on Laboratory Medicine.

ECUADORSOCIEDAD ECUATORIANA DE BIOQUÍMICA CLÍNICA(SEBIOCLI)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Course- Update Workshop in ClinicalMicrobiology

Quito, april 17th – 22th 2017

Bacteriology

Course- Update Workshop in ClinicalMicrobiology

Quito, may 2th – 6th 2017

Virology

Course- Update Workshop in ClinicalMicrobiology

Quito, june 26th – 30th 2017

Parasitology

Course- Update Workshop in ClinicalMicrobiology

Quito, october 17th – 21th 2017

Mycology

Course- Update Workshop in ClinicalMicrobiology

Quito, may 17th – 19th 2018

Veterinary microbiology

Quito, january 29th 2019

Bacteriology

Quito, february 20th 2019

Hematology
Bacteriology

Woman: body, mind and spirit

Cuenca, march 22th 2017

Endocrinology

Accreditation under ISO15189

Cuenca, july 1st 2017

Quality

Cuenca, october 26th 2017

Bacterial resistance, quality control

VII continued education course
Module I

Cuenca, april 26th – 28th 2018

Endocrinology

VII continued education course
Module II

Cuenca, july 12th – 14th 2018

Immunology
Autoimmunity

Update in System of Quality in theClinical Laboratory

Guayaquil, november 10th – 12th2017

ISO 15189:2012

Why identify yeasts of clinicalinterest?

Guayaquil, april 9th – 13th 2018

Mycology

Vaginitis / vaginosis: laboratory tests.
Symptomatic and asymptomatic
vaginitis in Ecuadorian women.
Interpretation of the peripheral bloodsmear.
Aerobic vaginitis

Identification and antimicrobial
susceptibility.
Methods: manual and semiquantitative. ATCC strains

101Quality assurance in microbiology
Quality control

Machala, july 13th – 15th 2017

Quality

Updating in document management
and generation of AMEF for risk
management of the laboratory
process in all three phases.
Preanalytic, analytical and post
analytical.

Machala, august 24th – 26th 2017

Quality

IV continued education course
Biochemistry Clinic and micobiology.
Module I

Machala, june 29th – 30th 2018

Bacteriology, endocrinology, tumoral
markers, quality

IV continued education course
Biochemistry Clinic and hematology
workshop. Module II

Machala, november 29th – 30th ,december 1st 2018

Hematology, bacteriology, quality

Molecular biology

Ambato, june 2017

Molecular biology

Conferences SEBIOCLI Tungurahua

Ambato, april to october 2018

Mocrobiology, quality,
endocrinology, tumoral markers.

XIII Ecuadorian Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry and IX International
Congress of Clinical Biochemistry

Riobamba, october 17th 2018

Pre congress Bacteriology

XIII Ecuadorian Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry and IX International
Congress of Clinical Biochemistry

Riobamba 18th – 20th 2018preanalytic
mycology
hematology
coagulation and hemostasis
microbiology
mycology
fertility and endocrinology
molecular epidemiology
endocrinology
biosafety

XIII Ecuadorian Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry and IX International
Congress of Clinical Biochemistry

Riobamba 18th – 20th 2018

Intra congress urinalysis
Intra congress quality

REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting
The 3rd Regional Workshop ISO
15189 for Latin America and the
Caribbean

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Quito, september 26st – 28storganization, coordination, logistics andtechnical assistance, speakers, moderators,
authorship of the article published in
IFCCeNews February 2019 (edited andtranslated by Rosa Sierra-Amor)

REGIONAL RELATIONS
For the organization and realization of the Regional Workshop Latin America and the Caribbean
Ecuador 2018: Interpretation of critical requirements of ISO 15189: 2012 participated:
Chilean Society of Clinical Biochemistry
Santiago University of Chile
REUNA (National University Network of Chile for Research and Education)
Scientific societies, metrology organizations and national accreditation bodies of several
countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
COLABIOCLI sponsorship for national and international events
Sponsorship of the Veracruz University of Xalapa- Mexico
Auspice of the State Center of Cancerology Mexico
Auspice of the Clinical Trials Coordination Center Cuba
Wiener Lab Argentina Foundation
Argentine Biochemistry Foundation
102

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Sponsorship of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine(IFCC) for national events; sponsorship and financial support of IFCC for the XIII EcuadorianCongress and IX International of Clinical Biochemistry.
Sponsorship and financial support of the German Institute of Metrology PTB (PhysikalishTechnische Bundensanstalt) and the German Cooperation (GIZ) for the Regional Workshop
Latin America and the Caribbean Ecuador 2018: Interpretation of critical requirements of ISO
15189: 2012.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
It is difficult to separate the National meetings from the education activities, so, I have detailed
all the activities within the National meetings, because all of them were training and education
activities.
SEBIOCLI renews its directory every 2 years in March. On Saturday, March 16th, we alreadychose the new board chaired by Dr. Francisco Vallejos, who will be our National Representative
until 2021.

ESTONIAESTONIAN SOCIETY FOR LABORATORY MEDICINENATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

General meeting of ESLMXIX Summer School

General meeting of ESLM

Date

Topic

April 19, 2018, Tartu

Diagnostic algorithm of HIV diagnostics, diagnostics ofClostridium difficile, laboratory diagnostics of vasculitis
and autoimmune myositis, cystatin C and Beta traceprotein, case history: haemophagocytic syndrome, casehistory: methemoglobinemia M, professional standards of
medical laboratory specialist and biomedical laboratory
scientists, approval of annual report 2017

August 30-31, 2018,
Valma

Immunological markers in diabetes, overview of 2 year
results in colorectal cancer screening programme,
diagnostic algorithms and automatic comments, guideline
for verification of methods, implementation of quality
indicators and 6 sigma in medical laboratory, applicationof professional degree for medical laboratory specialists,
clinical applications and analytical difficulties of LCMS, developments on molecular diagnostics, cyberhygene, agile software development, trace metals,
diagnostic and treatment guidelines for fungal infections,
pharmacogenetics: theory, practice and future

December 5, 2018,
KukruseTherapeutic drug monitoring, assessment of professional
qualifications of laboratory doctors and medicallaboratory specialists, new homepage, microbiology
laboratory in the future, microbiology of urinary infections,chromogenic tools in infection control, algorithm of
Candida auris diagnostics, 4 year report of the ESLM
board, election of new board

EDUCATION• Interdisciplinary seminar ”Prostate”, March 23, 2018, Tallinn• 2 lectures in Endocrinology Society meeting
103

REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting
XIV Baltic Congress in Laboratory
Medicine

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

May 10 – 12, 2018, Vilnius

ESLM participated in organisation of theCongress, together with Lithuanian (mainorganiser) and Latvian societies (BALM).
ESLM had 10 oral presentations.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSESLM is the member of the following international organisations: IFCC, EFLM, BALM, ESCMID(EUCAST)• Marika Jürna-Ellam participated in EUCAST meeting in ECCMID 2018 (April, Madrid).
• Helle Järv is a member of EUCAST subcommittee (AFST) and participated at AFST
meeting in ECCMID 2018 (April, Madrid).
• Agnes Ivanov participated as corresponding member in the IFCC Task Force “How should
Glucose Meters be Evaluated for Critical Care“ (TF-POCT). Terms of reference 1 and 2
have been submitted to IFCC in december 2017 and document confirmed in March 2018.
• Agnes Ivanov is a member in the IFCC Working Group “Laboratory Errors and Patient
Safety” (WG-LEPS)• Marge Kütt participated as corresponding member in the EFLM Working Group „Patient
Focused Laboratory Medicine“ (WG-PFLM)• Anna Velts-Lindh participated as corresponding member in the IFCC Task Force „Young
Scientists“ (TF-YS). She held 2 lectures „Succeeding as a young scientist“ on 13th Hellenic
Congress of Clinical Chemistry (Alexandroupoli, Greece) and 2nd Convegno Gds SIBioC
Young Scientists (Rome Italy).
• Galina Zemtsovskaja is a corresponding member in IFCC Committee on ClinicalApplications of Cardiac Biomarkers (C-CB). Committee Publisher an article „High
sensitivity, contemporary and point-of-care cardiac troponin assays: educational aids“.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Together with Estonian Society of Bioanalysts, ESLM published issue No 4 (2018) of the journal„Eesti Laborimeditsiin“ („Estonian Laboratory Medicine“) (in March).
There are 2 sections in ESLM:• Section of clinical microbiology• Section of laboratory physicians
There are working groups in the fields of• Laboratory terminology,• LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes),• Professional standard of Medial Laboratory Specialist,• Laboratory Quality,• Kidney Biomarkers,• Cardiac Markers,• Laboratory Hematology,• Diagnostics of Urogenital Infections• Protein electrophoresis• Flow cytometry (created in 2018)
The following guidelines were compiled:• Verification of analytes in medical laboratory (2018)104• Algorithm of HIV laboratory diagnostics (2018)• Algorithm of Candida auris infection diagnostics (2018)17 laboratories are sending out-patients’ laboratory test results electronically to the National
Digital Health Record. New forms of visual display of dynamical changes are under development
into National Digital Health Record

FINLANDFINNISH SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (SKKY)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Labquality Days

8.-9.2.2018

General clinical chemistry

Spring Meeting

19.4.2018

Preanalytics

Fall meeting

4.-5.10.2018

Clinical chemistry/Research inclinical laboratory

EDUCATION
The Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry has a member in the educational work group in
Labquality Days with a purpose to enable collaboration with the society and the company.
The topic of the spring meeting was preanalytics. The meeting was organized in collaboration
with two national societies (medical specialists in laboratory medicine and clinical biochemists).
The meeting consisted of lectures, group work and discussions about preanalytics.
The fall meeting was general clinical chemistry organized together with medical specialists,
clinical biochemists and biomedical laboratory scientists. The Finnish Society of Clinical
Chemistry organised a session about conducting scientific research in clinical laboratory andimproving academic career in a hospital.
The Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry has given several grants for the members of thesociety for both attending educational events (congresses, educational workshops etc.) and forenabling scientific work or academic studies
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

XXXVI Nordic Congress in Clinical
Biochemistry (NFKK2018)12.-15.6.2018

Organizer

NFKK Board Meeting

14.6.2018

Anna Linko-Parvinen and Eeva-Riitta
Savolainen attended

NFKK Board Meeting

28.9.2018

Eeva-Riitta Savolainen attended

REGIONAL RELATIONSThe Nordic Congress in Clinical Chemistry was organized by the Finnish Society of Clinical
Chemistry (see description below) in Helsinki, Finland. The congress demanded great effort
from the society with prof. Kari Pulkki being the chair of the scientific committee and adjunctprofessor Solveig Linko the chair of the organizing committee.
105

NFKK (Nordisk Forening for Klinisk Kemi, The Nordic Society of Clinical Chemistry) board
meetings in June (Helsinki, Finland) and September (Malmö, Sweden). President Anna LinkoParvinen and national representative Eeva-Riitta Savolainen attended the meeting in Juneand national representative Eeva-Riitta Savolainen the meeting in September. The meetings
consisted of discussions of common practices in clinical chemistry in the Nordic countries
as well as reference ranges and reference materials in the Nordic countries. Also educational
aspects (e.g. scientific courses) were discussed.
The society has been active with other societies in clinical chemistry, e.g. in organizing
educational events in Finland.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSThe National Representative Päivi Laitinen has been active in IFCC and the National
Representative Kari Pulkki in EFLM.
The following were previous members or selected in international scientific work groups(applications in 2018):
EFLM, WG-A-ISO, Solveig Linko, member (new)
EFLM, WG-BV, Outi Itkonen, member (new)
EFLM, WG-CM, Päivi Laitinen, chair, Kari Pulkki, member, Janne Suvisaari, corresponding
member
EFLM, WG-PFLM, Mikko Anttonen, corresponding member (new)
IFCC, WG-PAPPA, Saara Wittfooth, chair, Kim Pettersson, member
IFCC, WG-TNI, Aleksei Katrukha, member
IFCC, C-TLM, Saara Wittfooth, corresponding member (new)
IFCC, C-CB, Kari Pulkki, member
IFCC, C-VPLM, Päivi Laitinen, corresponding member (new)
IFCC, TF-YS, Mikko Helenius, corresponding member (new)ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry organized the 36th Nordic Congress in Clinical
Chemistry in Helsinki, Finland on 12-15 June 2018. The Nordic Congress is organized every
second year in one of the five Nordic countries by the local clinical chemistry society. A total of
455 delegates attended, from 35 different countries. The four-day congress program consistedof 16 symposia under the main theme “Information Beyond Numbers” covering recent topics
of both traditional clinical chemistry and haematology, general laboratory process and basics
of genetic and epigenetic testing. Among the lecturers were past presidents of IFCC prof.
Maurizio Ferrari and prof. Graham Beastall, who covered the future of molecular biology
in diagnostic laboratories and the future of laboratory medicine in their lectures. Keynote
speakers were Director Ravinder Singh from Mayo Clinic (recent advances in clinical mass
spectrometry) and prof. Tari Haahtela,(the effect of nature and environment on our health).
During the congress the Lorentz Eldjarn prize (he most prominent study published in the
SCJLI during 2013-2017) for Linda Hilsted (paediatric reference intervals ) and the Astrup
Prize (contemporary Nordic research work related to the field of clinical chemistry) for Stefan
Stender (adiposity amplifies the genetic risk of fatty liver disease conferred by multiple loci)were awarded. The congress was a great success in regarding the program, the atmosphereand the possibility for networking.

106

FRANCESOCIÉTÉ FRANÇAISE DE BIOLOGIE CLINIQUE (SFBC)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting
National meetings with SFBC auspices- 51th Journées de Biologie Praticienne- Journée nationale de Biologie Médicale

Date

Topic

Paris
December 7th - 8th, 2018

Hematology / Infectious diseases/ Pregnancy monitoring /Neurodegenerative diseases /Immunoassays
French Medical Biology and EU: place
and role to improve the patient healthstatus and health outcomes

Faculté de Pharmacie Paris
Descartes
October 17 - 18th, 2018

Education• Educational Committee chaired by Dr C. Augereau and Dr F. Guerber:- Continuous professional development (DPC) and continuous medical education (CME)through SFBC scientific meeting sessions• Committee on Evaluation of Professional Practices (C-EPP): chaired by Dr I. AimoneGastin (Nancy)- National Agreement SFBC as Validating Society for “EPP”- Relations with the Federation of Medical Specialities (FSM)
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

10th International Palestinian Congress
and AFBC

Ramallah (PA)
April 18th - 21st, 2018

Invited lecture

Journées nationales Société
Tunisienne de Biologie CliniqueHammamet (Tunisia)
May 7th - 12th, 2018

Invited lecture

3rd and 4th Serbian Biomarker
Symposium (SERBIS)

Belgrade (Serbia)
June 5th - 8th, 2018

Invited lecture. Session chairmanship

7th International Symposium “Critical
Care Testing and Blood Gases”

Antibes (FR)
June 20th - 2st, 2018

Invited lectures. Session chairmanship1st IFCC - EFLM - AFBC - FIFBCML
Conference on Laboratory Medicine

Roma (IT)July 2nd - 4th, 2018

Invited lectures. Session chairmanship2018 AACC Annual Meeting

Chicago (IL, USA)
July 27th - August 3rd, 2018

Meetings with AACC and IFCC

PathCape 2018 “Rejuvenating
Pathology”

Stellenbosch (ZA)
August 16th - 18th, 2018

Invited lectures18èmes Journées Marocaines deBiologie CliniqueCasablanca (MO)September 27th - 29th, 2018

Invited lecture

EFLM symposium for Balkan Region

Belgrade (Macedonia)
October 3rd - 5th, 2018

Invited lecture

Protein and Peptide Therapeutic
WorkshopChengdu (CN)
October 10th - 12th, 2018

Invited lecture

16th meeting of the Greek Society

Alexandropolis (Greece)
October 11th - 13th, 2018

Invited lecture

Colloque 2èmes JournéesFrancophones

Paris (FR)October 17th - 18th, 2018

Invited lecture

5th Congress on e-cardiology

Moscow (RU)
October 29th - 30th, 2018

Invited lectures

LMCE 2018 and KSLM
59th Annual Meeting

Seoul (South Korea)
November 1st - 3rd, 2018

Invited lecture

107

REGIONAL RELATIONSFunctional unit

Name

Surname

Position

TFC: Urinalysis

Audry

MERENS

MemberJean-Philippe

BROCHET

MemberProfession Committee (C-P)

SimoneZERAHExpert/Consultant

WG: Register

Hugo

ROUX

Member - Young Scientist

WG: LM Credit Points (WG-LMCP)

MichelPERESMember - Young Scientist

WG: Accreditation and ISO/CEN
standards (WG-A/ISO)

Guilaine

BOURSIER

Member - Young Scientist

WG: Biological Variation (WG-BV)

Nihad

MEKNACHE

Corresponding Member

WG: Accreditation and ISO/CEN
standards (WG-A/ISO)

MichelVAUBOURDOLLE

Corresponding Member

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS• SFBC Committee on International Relations:- Prof.P. Gillery- Dr B. Gouget• SFBC representatives :- IFCC : Prof. P. Gillery- EFLM : Dr M. Vaubourdolle- WASPaLM : Prof. P. Gillery, Dr G. Boursier• Participation in the International Advisory Board of IFCC/EFLM meetings:- EFLM/IFCC EuroMedLab Barcelona 2019 (Dr M. Vaubourdolle, ISAB member)- IFCC WorldLab Seoul 2020 (Pr P. Gillery, ISC Member)- EFLM/IFCC EuroMedLab Munich 2021 (Pr P. Gillery, Chair of the Scientific ProgrammeCommittee), Michel Vaubourdolle (ISAB)- IFCC Council, and chair Arabic Federation /FIFBCML session (Dr B. Gouget)• SFBC: founding member of the FIFBCML: Fédération Internationale Francophone de Biologie
Clinique et de Médecine de Laboratoire. Participation in meetings in 2017 : see “Regional
Meetings”.
• Participation of SFBC members at National meetings of IFCC full members• Participation of SFBC members in IFCC Committees and Working Groups• Scientific Division (SD)
Executive Committee
P. Gillery, Chair, 2017-2019
Committees– Nomenclature, Properties and Units (C-NPU)
F. Scherrer, Member, 2018-2020– Molecular Diagnostic ( C-MD)
K. Peoc’h, corresp. Member– Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM)
A. Vassault, corresp. Member– Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (C-STFT)
V. Raverot, corresp. Member
Working groups– Standardization of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin(WG-CDT)– Parathyroid hormone (WG-PTH)– Commutability (WG-C)		– Standardization of Troponin I (WG-TNI)– Standardisation of Hemoglobin A2 (WG-HbA2)

108

F. Schellenberg, Member
J.C. Souberbielle, Member
V. Delatour, Member
E. Romeu, Member
G. Lefèvre, corresp. Member
M. Arock, corresp. Member– Standardisation of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma
Protein (WG-PAPPA)– Standardisation of Albumin Assay in Urine (WG-SAU)– CSF Proteins (WG-CSF)		– Apolipoproteins by Mass Spectrometry (WG-Apo MS)		– Standardization of Procalcitonin assays (WG-PCT)
		
		
		

R. Garnotel, corresp. Member
E. Caussé, corresp. Member
S. Lehmann, Member
V. Delatour, Member
C. Hirtz, Member
V. Delatour, Member
V. Delatour, Chair, 2018-2020
A. Breuf, Member
H. Briand, Member
P. Hausater, Member• Education and Management Division (EMD)
Committees– Committee on Clinical Applications of Cardiac
Biomarkers (C-CB)
G. Lefèvre, Member, 2017-2019– Committee on Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine(C-EBLM)
J. Wils, Member, 2016-2018– Committee on Point of Care Testing (C-POCT)
M. Vaubourdolle, Member, 2017-2019– Committee on Proficiency testing (C-PT)
A. Perret-Liaudet, Member, 2017-2019– Committee on Chronic Kidney Disease
J.P. Cristol, corresp. Member– Committee on Analytical Quality (C-AQ)
A. Vassault, corresp. Member– Committee on Education in the Use of Biomarkers of
Diabetes (C-EUBD)
M. Fonfrède, corresp. Member
Working group– Flow Cytometry (WG-FC)• Emerging Technology Division (ETD)– Committee on Mobile Health and Bioengineeringin Laboratory Medicine (C-MHBLM)• Task Forces (TF)
– Task force for Young Scientists (TF-YS)
2019		• Nominations Committee

C. Lambert, Member

B. Gouget, Chair, 2018-2020

G. Boursier, Member, 2017-

B. Gouget, Past-Chair

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONSFBC Board

2018

2019

- President

Pr Marc DELPECHPr Vincent SAPIN- Vice-President

Pr Vincent SAPIN

Pr Sylvain LEHMANN- Past-President

Pr Joëlle GOUDABLEPr Marc DELPECH- General Secretary

Dr Véronique ANNAIX

Dr Véronique ANNAIX- Assistant General Secretary

Pr Bruno BAUDINPr Bruno BAUDIN- Treasurer

Dr Philippe CHATRONDr Philippe CHATRON

Scientific Committee:

Pr Sylvain LEHMANNDr Delphine COLLIN-CHAVAGNAC

Dr Katell PEOC’H

Dr Katell PEOC’H

Pr Jean-Louis BEAUDEUXPr Jean-Louis BEAUDEUX

Executive Board:

Editors in Chief ABC:Dr Laurence PIERONI

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Educational Committee:

International Relations:
National Relations:

Dr Christine AUGEREAU-VACHER
Dr Fabrice GUERBERDr Fabrice GUERBERDr Isabelle AIMONE-GASTIN

Dr Isabelle AIMONE-GASTIN

Pr Philippe GILLERY

Pr Philippe GILLERYDr Bernard GOUGETDr Bernard GOUGETDr Marie-Françoise GAUDEAU-Dr Marie-Françoise GAUDEAU-

TOUSSAINTTOUSSAINTDr Carole POUPON
Young Scientist:

Dr Guilaine BOURSIER

Young Biologists:

Dr Guilaine BOURSIER
Dr Kevin CASSINARIDr Constance DELABYGERMANYDEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR KLINISCHE CHEMIE UND
LABORATORIUMSMEDIZIN E. V. (DGKL)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of meeting

Date

Topic

Annual General Meeting of the
DGKL (approx. 1.000 attendees)

26 - 29 September 2018, Mannheim

Entire range of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine

Annual meeting of the Working
Group Endocrinological Diagnostics

13. April 2018, Berlin

Various topics

Annual meeting to the Working
Group Molecular Diagnostics

6 – 8 June 2018, Tutzing

Various topics

Staudinger-Symposium

17 – 19 June 2018,
Bad Staffelstein

Young investigators’ mentoring
conference

Annual meeting of the Working
Group Clinical Mass Spectrometry

22. October 2018,
Bad Staffelstein

Various topics

EDUCATION
Several Short Courses in the context of the Annual Meeting of the DGKL.
Revision course Clinical Chemistry for preparation of the board exam European Clinical Chemist
25 Nov - 1 Dec 2018, HannoverExams:
19 April 2018, Berlin
18 October 2018, Berlin
REGIONAL MEETINGS
Analytica Conference

10 – 12 April 2018, München

2 EFLM Strategic Conference “The end oflaboratory medicine as we know it? Handling
18 – 19 June 2018, Mannheim
disruption of laboratory medicine in digital
health”

Overall organisationnd

Auspices, Congress President,
several lectures

REGIONAL RELATIONS
Active participation in EFLM in several functional units.
DGKL-past president Prof. Dr. Michael Neumaier is EFLM president 2018-2019

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS••••

Active participation in IFCC including several Working Groups, Task Forces etc.
Journal of Laboratory Medicine, Official Journal of the DGKLSupporting Society of MSACL (Mass Spectrometry Application to the Clinical Laboratory)
Global RELA proficiency testing scheme organized by RfB (Referenzinstitut für
Bioanalytik,affiliate organisation of DGKL), addressing reference measurement procedures
used in traceability)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
approx. 1.100 members

HONG KONG

HONG KONG SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (HKSCC)
NATIONAL MEETINGS
Annual General Meeting

27 January 2018

Annual General Meeting

EDUCATION
Annual Scientific Meeting was held at the YMCA of Hong Kong on 27th January 2018. The
theme was New Paradigms in Molecular Diagnostics. There were two presentations by invited
local speakers: ‘Molecular Diagnostics: The Bridge to Precision Medicine for Advanced Stage
Lung Cancer’ by Professor Tony Mok, Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese Universityof Hong Kong; ‘Circulating Cell-Free DNA: New Possibilities for the Next Decade’ by Professor
Allen Chan, Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
These were followed with three presentations by industrial partners (Beckman Coulter, Roche
Diagnostics and Thermo Fisher Scientific). 145 members and guests attended the meeting.
Professor David Barry Sacks from School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington
University. Bethesda, Maryland, USA delivered a dinner lecture at the Eaton Hong Kong Hotelon 10th May 2018. The title of his talk was ‘Glycated Haemoglobin in the Diagnosis andMonitoring of Diabetes Mellitus: Advantages and Limitations.’ The lecture was well attended by
170 members and guests.
A workshop was held at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 22nd November 2018. The theme wasInternal Quality Control Implementation and Interpretation. Four quality control topics wereshared by four local speakers: ‘QC and Troubleshooting Experience in CPLC, Department of
Health’ by Mr. KC Shiu, Department of Health; ‘Implementation of Quality Control in LC-MS
Laboratory’ by Dr. Richard Kam, Prince of Wales Hospital; ‘QC Monitoring of Specialized Tests’
by Dr. Iris Chan, Prince of Wales Hospital; ‘Implementation and Monitoring of QC in POCT’ by
Mr. YC Lo, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. The event was well attended by 183
members and guests

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HUNGARYHUNGARIAN SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINE (MLDT)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of meeting

Date

Topic

QualiCont Forum

February 2, 2018, Budapest

Laboratory accreditation, external
quality control, preanalytics

Intenselab Forum

April 5-7, 2018, Budapest

National meeting for emergency
medicine, intensive therapy,
anestesiology specialists

59th Biannual Congress of the
Hungarian Society of Laboratory
Medicine

August 30-September 01, Pécs

Biannual national meeting for all
topics on laboratory medicine

12th Congress of the HungarianSociety of Human Genetics

September 6-8, 2018, Debrecen

Advances in genetics

Joint Symposium of the HungarianSociety of Immunology and the
Hungarian Society of Laboratory
Medicine

October 3, 2018, Budapest

Advances in immunology

Anestesiology Days

October 10-12, 2018, Debrecen

National meeting of laboratory andanestesiology specialists

Flow Cytometry Day

October 26. 2018, Budapest

Hematology-immunology advanced
course and conference

14th Congress of the HungarianSociety on Thrombosis andHaemostasis

October 27-29. 2018, Mátraháza

Advances in thrombosis andhemostasis

EDUCATION
Courses and Continuing Medical Education programs for laboratory professionals:
Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Diagnostics and Treatment- May 5, 2018, Budapest (Hungarian CME credit accredited course)
Qualicont Consultation Day- June 20, 2018, Budapest
Precision Diabetology- September 5, 2018, Debrecen- (Hungarian CME credit accredited
course)Diagnostics, Treatment and Prevention of Urinary Infections, September 14, 2018, Budapest-(Hungarian CME credit accredited course)
Clinical Questions-Diagnostic Answers, September 14-15, 2018, Miskolc- (Hungarian CME
credit accredited course)
Free Radicals in Medicine, October 9, 2018, Budapest
Drug Monitoring and Toxicology in the Clinical Practice, October 15-18, 2018, Szeged(Hungarian CME credit accredited course)
Flow Cytometry Day, October 26, 2018, Budapest - (Hungarian CME credit accredited course)
Medical Genetics- November 5-9, 2018. Debrecen - (Hungarian CME credit accredited course)
Sysmex Seminar-November 15, 2018, Budapest
REGIONAL RELATIONS
May 10-11, 2018, Bucharest, Romania: Romanian Association of Laboratory Medicine(RALM) congress:
The President of the Hungarian Society of Laboratory Medicine, Prof. János Kappelmayer was
an invited speaker at this congress by the President of the Congress Prof. Ioanna Brudasca.
Prof. Kappelmayer gave a talk on the laboratory monitoring of direct oral anticoagulants and he
was the chair of the Hematology-Hemostasis Session of the Meeting.
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May 17-19, 2018, Helsinki: IBFM meeting: The President of the Hungarian Society ofLaboratory Medicine participated at the working group meeting. Flow cytometry has played
an important role in the progress of extended survival of child acute lymphoid leukaemias.
At this meeting Michael Dworzak (Wien, St Anna Kinderspittal) presented the quality control
phenotype results of the last 3 years of child bone marrows sampled at the 15th day of therapy.
Three Hungarian University Laboratories were included in this survey (Semmelweis University,
Budapest, University of Pécs and University of Debrecen), and all three had good performance
results. The University of Debrecen received excellent performance results. At this workshop,
potential flaws in the analysis of regenerating bone marrow were thourougly discussed. Prof.
Kappelmayer gave a presentation where he summarized the progress and achievements of the
topic in the last years and highlighted the need for external quality controls.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
February 27-March 07, 2018. Buenos Aires, Argentina: IFCC CPD Working Group meeting
In 2018 January, Prof. János Kappelmayer, the President of the Hungarian Society of Laboratory
Medicine was appointed to be a member of the Communication and Publication Division (CPD)
working group.
At the IFCC-CPD Working Group meeting Prof. Kappelmayer gave a talk on the topic of unified
and integrated laboratory reports. As the Editor-in-Chief of the eJIFCC journal, he also gave atalk on the potential topics and themes of the journal’s 2018 volumes.
April 20-21, 2018. Teheran, Iran: The 11th International and 16th National Congress on Quality
Improvement in Clinical Laboratories. Harmonization & Standardization of Reporting
Results in Medical Laboratories
Éva Ajzner, Past President of HSLM, was invited:
1/ to participate in an advisory board discussing future trends of EQA and accreditation of the
Iranian medical laboratories;
2/ to provide an interactive 3-hour-workshop for laboratory specialists and leaders of Iranianlaboratories on “How to produce a laboratory report providing the highest clinical value for thepatient?”;
3/ to present the results of surveys organized by WG-POST of EFLM-EQALM on the conference.
May 30, 2018, Voorschoten, Netherlands: EFLM Working Group on Post-analytical Phase(WG-POST) meeting
Éva Ajzner, Past president of HSLM and WG-chair of WG-POST of EFLM-EQALM lead a
meeting for WG-POST
June 2-15, 2018, Helsinki, Finland: XXXVI Nordic Congress in Clinical Chemistry
Éva Ajzner, Past President of HSLM, was invited to present the results of the international
EFLM-EQALM survey on „How laboratories assist clinicians in utilisation of laboratory tests?”.
June 20, 2018, Mannheim, Germany: EFLM Working Group on Post-analytical Phase (WGPOST) meeting
Éva Ajzner, Past president of HSLM and WG-chair of WG-POST of EFLM-EQALM lead a
meeting for WG-POST
June 22-24, 2018, Mannheim, Germany: IFCC CPD Working Group meeting
The Working Group meets 3-4 times/year. The President of the Working Group, Prof. Khosrow
Adeli (Toronto, Canada) and the members of the Working Group gave talks on the process of
their work. Prof. Kappelmayer informed the members of the Working Group on the contents of
the upcoming volumes of the eJIFCC.

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November 8, 2018, Leiden, Netherlands: 11th ECAT participants’ meeting
Éva Ajzner, Past president of HSLM and chair of WG-POST of EFLM-EQALM was invited topresent the results of the latest survey of WG-POST of EFLM-EQALM on the conference withthe title „Can you tell me the reason of my patient’ bleeding from this sample? Study in 270
European laboratories.”
November 9-11, 2018, Budapest: IFCC XIII General Conference
Seven members of the Executive Board of the Hungarian Society of Laboratory Medicine
attended the IFCC General Conference in Budapest. On November 9, a Delegate Meeting andAward Ceremony was organized by the Hungarian Society of Laboratory Medicine where Prof.
Khosrow Adeli (The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada) received theprestigious Honorary Membership Title of The Hungarian Society of Laboratory Medicine. On
November 10, Prof. János Kappelmayer, the president of the Hungarian Society of Laboratory
Medicine gave a talk as a member of the CPD Working Group on his assigment of being Editorin-Chief of the eJIFCC journal and his future plans regarding the journal.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
January 18, 2018, Budapest: The Hungarian Society of Laboratory Medicine was involved in theestablishment of the National Medical Laboratory Accreditation Advisory Board. The role of theAdvisory Board is to provide a valuable, professional contribution regarding all areas of laboratory
accreditation, operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and to support laboratories in orderto fulfill requirements in compliance with ISO 15189 and ISO 22870.

INDIA

ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTS OF INDIA (ACBI)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of meeting

Date

Topic

45 Annual National conference of ACBI,
Kala Academy, Panjim,
24 – 27th October 2018
Goa, India.
th

EDUCATIONACBI National Conference – Goa(1) AACC - ACBI Workshop : Early diagnosis of biochemical genetic disorders saves children’s
lives: A discussion on the merits and the process to successfully implement newborn
screening.
Conducted by Dr. Michael Bennett (AACC), Dr. Carla Cuthbert (CDC), Dr Seema Kapoor(LHMC,Delhi) & Dr. D. M. Vasudevan (Kochi). More than 40 delegated registered for thisworkshop.
(2) Workshop on Flow Cytometry: conducted by Ubaldo Barboa(3) Workshop on Genome Sequencing: conducted by Dr. Sailesh Gochhait & Dr Ashish
George.
Others who delivered lectures during the Annual National Conference were,
Dr. Howard Morris, President, IFCC on “Healthcare, Laboratory Medicine and Patient care”
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on “Alcoholic Liver Disease : Pathogenesis, Biochemical Markers andTreatment”
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Dr. Subrata Sinha, on “Molecular reclassification of disease; how the laboratory can guidethe clinic
Dr. Anupama S. Borkar, on “Cancer in children”
Prof. P. Kaliraj, on “Development and evaluation of effective diagnostics prophylactics anddrug targets for neglected parasitic diseases with filariasis as model “
Dr. Leila Florento (Philipines) - creating sustainable safety culture in the clinical laboratory
Dr. Praveen Sharma on State of Major Transformations in Healthcare & Medical Laboratory
Prof. Damien Gruson (Belgium) on Innovations & Skills: Advancing New Delivery Systems
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Dabla on Laboratory Medicine & Clinical Medicine - Interface Linking
Dr.Danni Li (USA) on Education &amp; Training Programmes Opportunities – Preparing
Young Scientists
Dr. Neeta Singh on Insights into role of genomics and proteomics in cancer : the road ahead
Dr. Purvi Purohit on Micro RNAs - Novel Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus
Dr. Ravinder Jit Singh(USA) on Role of LC-MS/MS spectrometry in diagnosis of various
endocrine disorders
Prof. Michael Bennett (USA) on Pediatric Laboratory Medicine: why is it different?
Dr.HA Morris( President IFCC) on Vitamin D metabolism, requirement and biological activities
Dr.Helen Martin (Australia) on Critical Risk Result Reporting
Over 216 poster were presented by the delegates and 43 oral presentations were given during
the conference besides the invited lectures. A total of nearly 580 delegates registered for the
conference.
ACBI West Bengal Chapter: Organized a conference on “Biomarker” on January 19-20, 2018at Kalyani.
North Zone ACBICON 2018 : was held in AIIMS Jodhpur on 7th& 8th April 2018.
The ACBI west Zone: One Day Lecture Series was conducted in Tata Memorial hospital, on
Sunday, 8th July 2018.
The “Central Zone ACBICON” 2018: was held at Lucknow on 21st & 22nd July 2018.
South Zone ACBICON 2018 was held from 3 – 5th December 2018 at Manipal.
REGIONAL RELATIONS(1) At the ACBI National Meet in Goa, India, delegates from Nepal & Bangladesh actively
participated in this meet.
(2) Many members of ACBI are actively participating in the affairs of APFCB. Dr Elizabeth Frank,
Dr Praveen Sharma (Jaipur) , Dr Sucheta Dandekar (Mumbai), Dr D.M. Vasudevan (Kochi) &Dr Rajiv R. Sinha (Patna) are chairpersons/members of various divisions & sub-committees.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSThe ACBI National Meet in Goa hosted the IFCC Task Force for Young Scientists (IFCC-TF
YS) This was a collaborative effort of ACBI and IFCC to create awareness about emerging
trend in Laboratory Medicine and the current and future developments in the field of Quality
and Technology amongst young scientists. The conclave was addressed by eminent speakers
from the IFCC, APFCB & ACBI fraternity; including Dr. Howard Morris (President, IFCC), Dr
Pradeep Dabla, Chair, IFCC-TF YS, Prof. Praveen Sharma EB-ACBI, APFCB, IFCC, Prof.
Damien Gruson, EurSpeLM & Consultant IFCC-TFYS & Dr. Danni Li, IFCC-TFYS, USA.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONACBI is getting ready to welcome all international delegates to the 15th Asian-Pacific Congressof Clinical Biochemistry & Laboratory Medicine (APFCB) congress that would be held inJaipur from 17th to 20th November 2019. It will be held at the JECC, Jaipur.

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The 46th Annual National Conference of the association will be held in Jaipur in conjunction withthe 15th APFCB Congress.
The following were elected as office bearers of ACBI for the year 2019:PRESIDENT:
Dr. L. M. Srivastava,
VICE PRESIDENT:
Dr. Seema Bhargava
ADVISOR:
Prof. K.P. Sinha
SECRETARY:
Dr. Rajiv Ranjan Sinha
TREASURER:
Dr Krishna Ranjan Prasad
JOINT SECRETARY: Dr. Ram Binay Sinha
ZONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS: 		
North Zone: Dr. Dharamveer Yadav
South Zone: Dr. Kanan Vaidyanathan
East Zone:
Dr. A. N. ROY
West Zone: Dr. Sadanand Naik
Central Zone: Dr. Shivani Pandwey

ITALY

ITALIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND CLINICAL
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (SIBIOC)
NATIONAL MEETINGS
50th National Congress of the Italian Society of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology(SIBioC) 16-18 October, 2018 INNOVAZIONE NELLA MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO (Innovationin Laboratory Medicine).
EDUCATION
Organization of, or Auspices for, over 40 National, Inter-regional and Regional meetings
Permanent School of Education SIBIOC (1 course on Thrombosis and Hemostasis and 2 onLaboratory statistics);
Technological Transfer in Laboratory Medicine (INNOVA SIBioC project)Distant education:
VARIABILI PREANALITICHE IN MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO (Coordinatori: Davide Giavarina,
Graziella Bonetti)
CASI CLINICI IN MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO 1 (Coordinatore: Bruna Lo Sasso)
CASI CLINICI IN MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO 2 (Coordinatore: Bruna Lo Sasso
QUALITÀ IN MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO: I PROGRAMMI DI VEQ (Coordinatore: Massimo
Quercioli)
EMOSTASI E TROMBOSI: IL VALORE DEL LABORATORIO (Coordinatore: Sophie Testa)
BIOMARCATORI IN ONCOLOGIA (Coordinatori: Massimo Gion, Chiara Trevisiol)
APPROPRIATEZZA PRESCRITTIVA NELL’AMBULATORIO DEL MEDICO DI MEDICINAGENERALE (Coordinatori: Mariastella Graziani, Marcello Ciaccio, Bruna Lo Sasso)
Official documents:
Determinazione e valutazione dei parametri di interesse del passaporto biologico dell’atleta
RACCOMANDAZIONI PER L’ESECUZIONE DI TEST MOLECOLARI SU BIOPSIA LIQUIDA INONCOLOGIA
Validazione dei metodi quantitativi bioanalitici in spettrometria di massa: regole e protocolli
sperimentali
Marcatori circolanti in oncologia. Guida all’uso clinico appropriato.
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REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution
for the meeting

AGGIORNAMENTO IN TEMA DI COAGULAZIONESESTO FIORENTINO (FI)
15 February 2018

SIBioC Provider

NOVITÀ DAL LABORATORIO PER UN
APPROCCIO ALLE MALATTIE NEUROLOGICHE
DEMIELINIZZANTINOVARA 28 March 2018

SIBioC Provider

LA STATISTICA IN LABORATORIO (I LIVELLO)MILANO 11 April 2018

SIBioC Provider

AGGIORNAMENTI IN IMMUNOMETRIA - 7°
CONVEGNOBAGGIOVARA (MO) 13 April 2018

SIBioC Provider

SOSTANZE PSICOATTIVE E IDONEITÀ ALLAGUIDAPROTOCOLLI ED ACCERTAMENTI ANALITICIPER LE COMMISSIONI PATENTISARZANA 19 April 2018

SIBioC Provider

INDAGINI DI LABORATORIO PER LA
DETERMINAZIONE DELLE SOSTANZE D’ABUSOSU SANGUEPERUGIA 21 April 2018

SIBioC Provider

XXII CONGRESSO REGIONALE
MULTIDISCIPLINARE DI MEDICINA DI
LABORATORIOABRUZZO E MOLISE

FRANCAVILLA 26 April 2018

SIBioC Provider

AGGIORNAMENTI SULLE PATOLOGIE
TROMBOTICHE E IL RUOLO DEL LABORATORIODI COAGULAZIONEMILANO 16 May 2018

SIBioC Provider

ACCREDITAMENTO ISO 15189 DALLA TEORIAALLA PRATICAMILANO 16 May 2018

SIBioC Provider

LE TECNICHE CROMATOGRAFICHE E LA
SPETTROMETRIA DI MASSA NEL LABORATORIODI ANALISI CLINICHEGENOVA 29 May 2018

SIBioC Provider

33° CONVEGNO DI MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO- L’EMOCITOMETRIA NEL LABORATORIO
CLINICO DEL 2020

VICENZA 31 May 2018

SIBioC Provider

L‘IMPIEGO DEI MARCATORI TUMORALINELLA PRATICA CLINICA. L’APPROPRIATEZZAPRESCRITTIVA È UN OBIETTIVO POSSIBILE?

ALESSANDRIA 7 June 2018

SIBioC Provider

AGGIORNAMENTI NELLA DIAGNOSTICADI LABORATORIO DELLE EMOPATIEONCOLOGICHEBARI 7 June 2018

SIBioC Provider

LA STATISTICA IN LABORATORIO (II LIVELLO)MILANO 14 June 2018

SIBioC Provider

APPROFONDIMENTI IN MORFOLOGIA
EMATOLOGICAMILANO 21 June 2018

SIBioC Provider

3° MEETING DI TOSSICOLOGIA CLINICA EFORENSE - EMERGENZE TOSSICOLOGICHE:NAPOLI 27 June 2018
NUOVE SOSTANZE PSICOATTIVE (NSP) E DOPING

SIBioC Provider

MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO E MEDICINA
D’URGENZA: UN CONNUBIO INDISSOLUBILE

BOLOGNA 12 September 2018

SIBioC Provider

AGGIORNAMENTI IN TEMA DI EMATOLOGIA,
COAGULAZIONE E VALUTAZIONE ESTERNADELLA QUALITÀCONGRESSO REGIONALE SIBIOC - MEDICINADI LABORATORIOMILANO 18 September 2018

SIBioC Provider

L’INNOVAZIONE IN MEDICINA DI LABORATORIOCONGRESSO REGIONALE SIBIOC - SEZIONESICILIA

FAVARA (AG) 25 September 2018

SIBioC Provider

IL LABORATORIO DI PATOLOGIA CLINICA CHE
CREA VALORE
III CONGRESSO SIBIOC SUDCOSENZA 28 September 2018

SIBioC Provider

117

UP DATES IN AUTOIMMUNITY 2018

NAPOLI 15 October 2018

SIBioC Provider

2° CONVEGNO GDS SIBIOC YOUNG SCIENTISTSLABORATORY MEDICINE: SPECIALISTS OF
ROMA 3 December 2018
TOMORROW

SIBioC Provider

CORSO DI MANAGEMENT DI LABORATORIODELEGAZIONE SIBIOC SARDEGNA

SIBioC Provider

ALGHERO 5 December 2018

REGIONAL RELATIONS
The current organization of the Society encompasses 2570 Members, distributed across the
21 National Regional Delegations. The Societies organizes many Regional and Inter-Regional
scientific events, promotes additional scientific events in the area of Laboratory Medicine andorganizes a 3-day annual National Meeting.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSIFCC- EFLM Membership
Complete list of IFCC Officers in the IFCC website
Participation in the organization of the 1st IFCC, EFLM, AFCB Conference “Laboratory Medicine:
Meeting the needs of Mediterranean Nations”, Rome (Italy) July 2-4, 2018

JAPANJAPAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (JSCC)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

The 58 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society of Clinical Chemistry (JSCC)

2018/8/24-8/26

See belowth

2 Special Lectures:
Recent advance in preimplantation genetic testing by comprehensive molecular technique(Kurahashi H), Nanobiocevices and AI for Society 5.0 and Future Hearlthcare (Baba Y)
5 Educational Lectures:
1 Clinical Chemistry of Bioactive Lipids,
2 Nutritional management for cancer cachexia,
3 Updates on antimicrobial resistance and diagnostics,
4 Development of novel biomarkers in kidney diseases,
5 Biomarkers for diagnosing bleeding or thrombosis,
10 Symposia:
1 Dawn of genomic diagnosis
2 Application cases and pitfalls of mass spectrometry
3 Challenges of clinical chemistry to countermeasures against Mibyou
4 Pharmaceutical research: laying the foundation for clinical chemistry
5 Challenge of clinical chemistry into food and diet
6 Open connectivity with POCT devices at home care setting
7 Contradiction and problems of serum protein measurement. etc.
EDUCATION
In all annual meeting of JSCC and regional meetings in Japan, educational lectures on various
clinical chemistry related subjects, such as standardization, analytic methods, and laboratory
related trouble shootings were performed by the specialists of clinical chemists. In addition,118

clinical chemistry related companies held various types of symposiums and educational
meetings in all over Japan all the year round.
Clinical Chemistry Academy and Educational Lecture for Certified Clinical Chemistry and
Immunochemistry Quality Assurance Medical Technologists and Professions were held in
Nagoya on Aug 26, 2018
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Hokkaido branch: The 28 branch regular metting
Tohoku branch: The 29th branch general meeting
Kanto branch: The 35nd branch regular metting
Koushinetsu branch: The 36rd branch general meeting
Tokai & Hokuriku branch: The 29th branch general meeting
Kinki branch: The 71th branch regular metting
Chugoku & Shikoku branch: The 14th joint regional meeting
Kyushu branch: The 30th branch general meetingthEach branch supervises the meetingof each region

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Scientific Division (SD)SD Committees:• Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL): Donchon. Kang, Member• Reference Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (C-STFT): Akira Hishinuma, Member
SD Working Groups• Standardization of Albumin Assay in Urine (WG-SAU): Yoshihisa Itoh, Member
Education Management Division (EMD)
EMD Committees• Internet and Distance Learning (C-IDL): Hideo Sakamoto, Member• Chronic Kidney Disease (Integrated Project) - (C-CKD): Takashi Wada, Member
Communications and Publications Division (CPD)
CPD Committees• Internet and Distance Learning (C-IDL): Hideo Sakamoto, Member
International Journal Editor
Editorial Board for Annals of Clinical Biochemistry: Kazuhiko Kotani
Editorial Board of Clini Chimica Acta:
Nobuo Okumura, Editorial Board
Masato Maekawa, Editorial Board
Takashi Miida, Editorial Board
Minoru Tozuka, Editorial Board
Katsuyuki Nakajima, Editorial Board
Akihiro Inazu Editorial Board
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
About 1,700 members including MD and PHD belong to JSCC and 9 blocks were divided as
the each centre of JSCC.
The annual meeting is held once a year and more than 300 papers are discussed in the meetingand the regional meetings were held once a year in each region and interesting symposiums
and special lectures are planned by an annual president of the meeting.

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KOREA

KOREAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (KSCC)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of themeeting

Date

Topic
Symposium 1. Current status of laboratory quality management (I)Symposium 2. Industry-sponsored symposium about CDT, blood viscosity test and PHI

1. Annual
Meeting of
KSCC (I)Plenary lecture. Healthcare technology assessment and blockchainMay,25, 2018

Symposium 3. Assessment and management of the point-of-care (POC) glucose test
Symposium 4. Current knowledge of blood gas testing
Workshop 1. Current status and functioning of clinical mass spectrometry
Workshop 2. Preparation of a TDM advisory report and practical session
Symposium 1.Current status of laboratory quality management (II)Symposium 2. Calibration, A to Z (from basics to application)

2. Annual
Meeting of
KSCC (II)October,
12, 2018

Symposium 3. Interferents affecting laboratory measurements
Symposium 4. Standardization of enzyme assays
Workshop 1. Clinical laboratory application of mass spectrometry
Workshop 2. TDM reports for patients with renal impairment

EDUCATION
1. Laboratory quality management
2. Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT)
3. Blood viscosity test
4. Prostate health index (PHI)
5. Healthcare technology assessment and blockchain
6. POC glucose testing
7. Blood gas testing
8. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)
9. Calibration principle
10. Interfering materials on laboratory measurements
11. Standardization of enzyme assay
12. Clinical mass spectrometry
REGIONAL RELATIONS
One council member for International Affairs in KSCC has the correspondence activity for theinternational (IFCC) or for the regional (APFCB) works.
KSCC will send the 2018 annual report to APFCB by February 4, 2019.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. KSCC was delegated of logistics of authority from IFCC-TSIC to facilitate participation in
2. the TSIC (Turning Science into Caring Symposium).
3. KSCC fostered the KSCC members to attend TSIC.
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4. KSCC (7 KSCC members) attended TSIC.
5. President Jeong-Ho Kim participated in the IFCC General Conference 2018.
6. He presented and introduced the IFCC WorldLab SEOUL 2020, there.
7. KSCC is participating in the IFCC Network Laboratory for HbA1c in Korea.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe Officer Bearer of KSCC (2019)
1. President: Prof. Jeong-Ho Kim
2. Secretary General: Prof. Hyung-Doo Park
3. Treasurer: Dr. Sung Eun Cho
4. International Committee: Prof. Sang-Guk Lee
5. Secretary: Ms. Anna Choi
6. Official Email of KSCC: kscc1111@gmail.com

LITHUANIALITHUANIAN SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINENATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

10th Annual Conference of the
Lithuanian Society of Laboratory
Medicine

12-04-2018

LLMD activities 2013-2017

National LLMD Conference

14-09-2018

Unity of Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical PracticeInternational Conference

18-10-2018

What clinicians should know, and what laboratories
should perform (dedicated to World Thrombosis Day)EDUCATION
Training course “Quality in laboratory medicine: traceability of results in the medical laboratory,
verification of methods, uncertainty and analytical quality specifications” 27-09-2018, Klaipeda,
Lithuania (40 participants)
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

XIV Baltic Congress of Laboratory
Medicine

10 May – 12 May 2018

Main organizer of the Congress

REGIONAL RELATIONS

Lithuanian Society of Laboratory Medicine (LLMD) is member of Baltic Association of Laboratory
Medicine (BALM). Other 2 members of BALM are: Latvian Society of Laboratory Specialists andEstonian Society of Laboratory Medicine. The main task of the Association – organization of
Baltic Congresses of Laboratory Medicine held every second year in one of the Baltic Countries.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSLLMD is the member of IFCC, EFLM and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI);
partner of The Global World Thrombosis Day Movement.

121

MACEDONIA

MACEDONIAN SOCIETY OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRYAND LABORATORY MEDICINE (MSMBLM)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

6 National Meeting of MSMBLM

03-05.10.2018(same topics as 26th BCLF Meeting)Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution
for the meeting

26th Meeting of Balkan ClinicalLaboratory Federation

October, 03-05.2018, Skopje,
Republic of Macedonia

Members of Society were includedin Organizing Comiteee andScientific Commiteeth

REGIONAL MEETINGSREGIONAL RELATIONS
Invited plenary speakers from, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, and R. Macedonia
presented their lectures at the Congress as well as 32 lecturers with their 15-minute oralpresentations from all Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece,
Serbia, Romania, Turkey, Montenegro, and the host country R. Macedonia. Sixty-nine participantsfrom the Balkan countries and from other European countries and Canada presented theire-posters. A total of 260 participants attended the Congress.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSPlenary speakers from Norway, Italy, France, USA, Slovenia, Croatia presented their lectures at
the Congress

MALAYSIA

MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTS(MACB)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

28th MACB Conference

9-10 July 2018

Conference theme: Future Fast Forward: Preparing for
Medical Laboratory Professionalism. Topics presented
include:biomarkers in pre-eclampsia, eGFR reporting,therapeutic drug monitoring, patient moving averages,
tumour makers, HCV, POCT, laboratory errors, useof big data, laboratory medicine for the elderly, preanalytical and drugs of abuse

Pre-conference workshop

8 July 2018

Chemical Health Risk Assessment

EDUCATION
The MACB organised three (3) seminars in 2018. Details of the seminars are as follows:
1. National HbA1c & Thalassemia Conference 2018 - 13 March 2018
2. Pre-analytical Symposium: The Role of Quality Management in Pre analytical Improvement- 24 April 2018
3. Point of Care Testing (POCT) - Arterial Blood Gas - 3 September 2018122

In 2018 the MACB Education Subcommittee was focussed on preparing for skills training
and professional certification of biochemists under the National Occupational Skills Standard(NOSS) under the Department of Skills Development, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia.
On 22 October 2018, the MACB organised a one-day NOSS induction training for coaches,trainers and management personnel that was attended by 30 participants.
REGIONAL RELATIONS
Reference interval study The MACB launched the reference interval study to determine thereference intervals of the Malaysian population in 2017 and this was continued in 2018. The
study involved four local institutions. A total of 615 subjects were recruited for this study, theirage ranging from 18 to 65. Samples were collected from Nov 2017 to August 2018. Reagents forthe project were supported by Siemens Healthcare Sdn Bhd and Abbott Laboratories (M) Sdn
Bhd. Becton Dickinson and blood collection tubes by Becton Dickinson Sdn Bhd. The study was
initiated under the Regional Reference Interval Study headed by Professor Kiyoshi Ichihara.
In 2018, the MACB president was selected by APFCB to be the APFCB Travelling Lecturer. She
presented lectures at the following meetings:
1. College of Chemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka Annual Academic Sessions 2018 (CCPSLAAS 2018):16 - 17 March 2018
2. HKKI Conference- Bali, Indonesia: 19-21 July 2018
3. 23rd National Scientific Conference, Vietnam Association of Clinical Biochemists: 17-18
August 2018
4. 15th Annual Convention Philippine Council for Quality Assurance in Clinical Laboratories(PCQACL): 24-27 September 2018.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSThe MACB participated in the IFCC General Conference that was held in Budapest, Hungary
on 9-11 November 2018. The MACB was represented by the president and a council member.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe MACB CKD Task Force was set up in December 2017 to look into the national standardisationof eGFR estimation in Malaysia. In 2018, the MACB carried out a three (3) months national survey
to determine how eGFR and urine albumin/protein are reported by laboratories in Malaysia.
Upon completion of this survey, the committee came up with recommendations and this waspresented during 28th MACB Conference 2018 in Kuala Lumpur.

MEXICOMEXICAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL LABORATORYSCIENCESNATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Clinical Biochemistry Workshops
2018 Tlaxcala Chapter

February to December 2018
Tlaxcala, Tlax. Mexico

To provide the Clinical Chemist
with knowledge on topics related
to laboratory sciences for thedevelopment of their technicalcompetences

Course Electrolytes, serum andarterial blood gases

March 31 and 1st. April 2018
Mexico City

Serum electrolytes and arterial
blood gases

Course Verification of qualitative
methods

April 24, 2018
On-lineVerification of qualitative methods

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Course Control of quality in
Microbiology

May 29, 2018. On-line

Quality control in Microbiology

Course on bood biometry in the
diagnosis of anemia

May 30, 31 and 1. June 2018
Ecatepec, State of Mexico

Course on bood biometry in the
diagnosis of anemia

Course Good clinical laboratory
practices

June 18, 19, 20, 2018
Ecatepec, State of Mexico

Good clinical laboratory practices

Course Statistical filters for theadequate selection of the average

June 26, 2018. On-line

Statistical filters for the adequate
selection of the average

Course Limitations and advantagesof External Quality Control

July 31, 2018. On-line

Limitations and advantages ofExternal Quality Control

Course on blood biometry in the
diagnosis of anemia

August 4 and 5, 2018. Mexico City

Hematic Biometry in the diagnosisof anemia

Equipment Qualification Course asa key tool in analytical performance

August 28, 2018. On-line

Equipment qualification as a key
tool in analytical performance

Course Induction to the Standard
NMX-EC-15189-IMNC 2015 /
15289-2012

August 29 and 30 2018. Chiapas,
MexicoInduction to the Standard NMX-EC15189-IMNC 2015 / 15289-2012

Seminars in Clinical Biochemistry.
Yucatan Chapter

Septiembre to December 2018.
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

To provide the Clinical Chemist
with knowledge on topics related
to laboratory sciences for thedevelopment of their technicalcompetences

Interlaboratory Comparative Course

September 25, 2018. On-line

Interlaboratory comparisons

Course Current Westgard rules/Six
sigma

October 30, 2018. On-line

Current Westgard rules/Six sigma

Lean management course in thelaboratory

November 27, 2018. On-line

Lean management in the laboratory

1st 2018 training and update days
“Give life, donate blood”

January 23 to November 27 2018
Mexico City

Donation of Human Blood (bloodbank)Specific Program of Training of
the Clinical Laboratory “From themolecular to the human”

November 22 and 23, 2018
Texcoco, State of Mexico

Training of the Clinical Laboratory“From the molecular to the human”

Qualification Course for Laboratory
Equipment. Quality control fromzero minuteDecember 14, 2018, Mexico City

Qualification for Laboratory
Equipment. Quality control fromzero minute

EDUCATION
AACC LAWG Method Verification Workshop, March 17-18, Xalapa, VER
Board Certification Committee in collaboration with the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
2018 Mexico, City
Monthly Conferences on Education in Clinical Biochemistry, in collaboration with the College of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2018 Mexico city.
Course of Clinical Pathology by Laboratory (140 hours in 9 modules), June-December 2018
Mexico City and Online
Course of International in Control of Analytical Quality in the Clinical Laboratory, May 7 2018 to
February 2019 On-line
Symposium in Molecular Biochemistry, August 31, 2018 Guadalajara, Jalisco.
REGIONAL MEETINGS

124

Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution
for the meeting

Course-Workshop AACCCMCLabC Verification of Analytical
Methods. Steps to follow to verify
manufacturers’ specifications

March 17 and 18 2018
Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

To provide the Clinical Chemist with
the necessary tools for the verificationof analytical methods based on thespecifications of the manufacturers

IV Meeting on Accreditation in
LATAM, Quito, Ecuador

September 25-26, 2018

Certification Program on Human
Rights and HIV or AIDS

Collaborate in the certification of 27
October 24 to December 8 2018. people for the management of the
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
patientcpn HIV or AIDS and their
RightsX CALILAB Congress Buenos Aires
Argentina

October 23-26, 2018

Symposium: Trazability in LM, Certified
Reference Materials

WK on ISO 9001 procedures
Lecture on: Standardization vsHarmonization
Symposium on Accreditation in Latin
America.

REGIONAL RELATIONSNORTH AMERICA:
Chairmanship of the Latin American Working Group, Global Laboratory Quality Initiative of theAmerican Association for Clinical Chemistry, AACC
COLABIOCLI:Member, Accounting Committee, EB COLABIOCLI (2017-2019)
Member, XXVI COLABIOCLI Congress International Committee Panama 2019
Member, XXVI COLABIOCLI Scientific Committee Panama 2019
Participation in the following regional projects:
Pre-Analytical Working Group
Ethics Working Group,
Education and Management Working Group
Asian Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry. APFBCCOLABIOCLI Symposium, Jaipur India 2019
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSCMCLC members are participating at the following activities in IFCC:EB Regional Representative 2018-2020
WG-eJIFCC editorial board member, IFCC
WG-eNews member, IFCC
WG-IANT member, IFCC
C-CLM corresponding member, IFCC
C-MB corresponding member, IFCC
C-TLM corresponding member, IFCCTF-YS corresponding member, IFCC
WG-PRE-LATAM full member, COLABIOCLI
WG-Ethics full member, COLABIOCLIADDITIONAL INFORMATION• Mutual agreement of understanding (mou) with the mexican accreditation entity to
improve laboratory accreditation awarness.
• Blood bank WG and national panel of technical experts in clinical laboratory of the
mexican accreditation entity.
• ISO CT 212 WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4, WG5, mexican accreditation entity ah doc committee• Mutual agreement of understanding (mou) with the association of qfb mx for clinicalchemistry board certification exam.
• Clinical biochemistry students sections: faculty of chemistry of the universidad
veracruzana; tlaxcala and yucatan state chapters.
• Tlaxcala CMCLABC chapter• Yucatan CMCLABC chapter• Universities –faculty of chemistries advisory activities for postgraduate studies

125

NORWAYNORWEGIAN SOCIETY OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY (NSBM)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Vårmøtet

16-18 april 2018

EDUCATION
National internet based educational talks a 45 minutes every second week all year round.

PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN SOCIETY OF CHEMICAL PATHOLOGISTSNATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

41st Annual Pakistan Association of Pathologist(PAP) conference at Pearl continental Hotel,
Rawalpindi.

November 9th 2018

41st Annual Pakistan Association of
Pathologist (PAP) conference

9th Annual Conference, CHEMCON at QAMC,
Bahawalpur.

Feb 16th 2018

Annual Conference, CHEMCONEDUCATION
1) Scholarships to attend IFCC Meetingsa) Dr Noreen Sherazi (AKU) 2017- abstract submitted, scholarship was accepted andmeeting was attended (IFCC Worldlab, Durban South Africa)b) Dr Hafsa Majid (AKU) 2017- abstract submitted, scholarship was accepted and meeting
was attended (IFCC Worldlab, Durban South Africa)c) Dr Sibtain Ahmed (AKU) 2017- abstract submitted, scholarship was accepted andmeeting was attended (AFPCB, Taiwan)
2) Started conducting workshops and meetings in Pakistan with mutual auspices of IFCC and
PSCP. (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-congresses-and-conferences/calendar-of-past-events/)
3) Meeting reports published in various IFCC newsletters from Pakistan in collaboration with
PSCP:i) ‘Workshop on Quality Control’ (Shabnum Dildar) Sep 2018.
ii) ‘Enhancing Quality Control Skills’ (Hafsa Majid) Jul 2018iii) ‘Meet the fraternity–a networking session’ (Sibtain Ahmed) Jun 2018iv) ‘The 9th Annual Course of the Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathologists’ (Sara Reza)
May 2018v) ‘Meeting Report–World Rare Diseases Day’ (Sibtain Ahmed) May 2018vi) ‘40th Annual Conference of PAP’ (Hafsa Majid) Mar 2018.
4) A working group proposal of Pakistan Inherited Metabolic Disorders Network (PakIMD-Net) is developed. The mission of this group will be strengthening the diagnostics,
education and research in the area of IMDs. This group was approved by the memberswith consensus.

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REGIONAL MEETINGS
Multiple educational activities were arranged by different chapters of PSCP, report of which isshown below
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Workshop on ‘Quality Assurance inClinical Laboratory’ at Indus Hospital

Jan 11th 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

Symposium on ‘Challenges andExperiences in Diagnosing Inherited
Metabolic Diseases in Pakistan’ at AKU

Feb 28 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of IFCC
and PSCP. Information disseminated throught
PSCP and IFCC website. Report was published in
IFCC newsletter

Advocacy Symposium on ‘Bringing
Laboratories Together in Fight against
Inherited Metabolic Disorders’ at CPSPMar 8th 2018

Karachi ChapterthActivities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

Networking Session ‘Meet the Fraternity
to discuss expected changes in Chemical
Pathology Exam’ at AKU

Apr 26th 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of IFCC
and PSCP. Information disseminated throught
PSCP and IFCC website. Report was published in
IFCC newsletter

Workshop on ‘Enhancing Quality Control(QC) Skills’ at AKU

May 14 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of IFCC
and PSCP. Information disseminated throught
PSCP and IFCC website. Report was published in
IFCC newsletter

Workshop on ‘Quality Control’ at NIBD.

July 13 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of IFCC
and PSCP. Information disseminated throught
PSCP and IFCC website. Report was published in
IFCC newsletter

Symposium on ‘Synacthen Stimulation
test for Addison’s disease: The
Diagnostics’ at CPSPJul 24rth 2018

Multidisciplinary Symposium on‘Management of Vitamin D deficiency and
Osteoporosis’ at AKU.

Oct 20 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of IFCC
and PSCP. Information disseminated throught
PSCP and IFCC website. Report was published in
IFCC newsletterFeb 2nd 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

Mar 29th 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

th

th

th

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

Lahore Chapter
Workshop on Dynamic Function Tests at
SMDC
Peshawar Chapter
Interesting cases of pediatricendocrinology at RMI
Quetta Chapter
Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

Interactive Lecture on ‘Requesting andInterpreting lab tests-Interactive lecture’ at
CMH, Quetta

Jul 2nd 2018

Hands on Workshop on ‘Specimen
collection in lab setting’ at CMH, Quetta

Jul 6th 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

May 5th 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

Interpretation of laboratory tests’ at QAMC Jul 12th 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

Rahim Yar Khan
CME on ‘The role of Troponins as cardiac
biomarker: Laboratory perspective’ at
SZH, RYK
Bahawalpur

Rawalpindi
5th Short Intensive Training at AFIP

Apr 2-7th 2018

Activities were conducted under auspices of PSCP.
Information disseminated throught PSCP website.

127

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSPSCP is actively involved in INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE OF NEW BORN (IMD) and
PSCP Society details are now on the SSIEM website (Society for the Studies of Inborn Errorsof Metabolism)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Publications under the auspices of PSCP
• A publication of PSCP ‘Chemical Pathology for Beginners’ 2018 by Dr. Aamir Ijaz
• The Spectrum 2018 volume no 6 (newsletter)• ‘Manual of laboratory’ by AFIP (Armed forces institute of Pathology) 2018 5th edition

PARAGUAY

ASOCIACIÓN DE BIOQUÍMICOS DEL PARAGUAY (ABP)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Workshop on design of scientific Research
projects in CONACYT format and other technicalcooperation organizations.

15 – 17, february

Investigation

Arbovirus (Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika) Workshop

8, march

Virology

Culture of Quality: Implementation of internal andexternal control.

16 – 18, april

Quality Control

Biochemical update.

1 – 2, june

Clinical Laboratory

First Meetinf for the Emerging and unattended
diseases and the Second meeting of Mycology.

22 – 24, november

Emerging diseases & Micology

EDUCATION
All the educational activities were undertaken at the “Continuing Education Program”:
National Speakers: Rosa Guillen, Laura Flores, Sonia Gini, Deisy Bordon, Elena Osnaghi,
Carmen Portillo, Pasionaria Ramos, Daniel Rodriguez, Nery Ortiz, Arnaldo Aldama, Sandra
Perez Macchi, Antonio Guzman, Cynthia Diaz, Maria Jose Tintel, Olga Aldama, Joaquin Villalba,
Jose Pereira, Fatima Ovando, Graciela Lird, Patricia Araujo, Adriana González, Andrea Giménez,Rosalba Riveros, Jesus Garcia, Gustavo Aguilar, Michel Campi.
International Speakers: Dominic Hasson (ARG), Jose Venzal (UY), Santiago Nava (ARG),
Gabriel Cicuttin (ARG), Alvaro Faccini (COL), Omar Cruz (MEX), Lourdes Ramirez Hobak (MEX),
Diana Vega (MEX), Alexander Gomez (COR), Hector Freilij (ARG) and Luis Roberto Escoto,
PAHO Representative.
The events were made possible by international and national speakers from the industries,
government agencies, ministries, institutes and universities with which the ABP maintains closeworking connections

128

REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting
CALILAB congress
VIII Latin American Quality Conference

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

October 24 to 27, 2018

Participation of many colleagues and thenational representative, Juana Ortellado
was part of a Symposium in Microbiology.
President Raquel Caceres was at the
Colabiocli Assembly.

REGIONAL RELATIONS
Active participation in COLABIOCLI activities with the participation of the National
Representative, Juana Ortellado as a member for the current COLABIOCLI Board of Directors.
One of this activities was the organized by the Fundación Bioquímica Argentina, the 10th editionof the CALILAB congress, together with the VIII Latin American Quality Conference at theClinical Laboratory from October 24 to 27, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Many paraguayan
colleagues participated at this meeting for the Quality. Raquel Caceres, the ABP President wasat the COLABIOCLI Assembly.
Participation in the call for COLABIOCLI 2018 Scholarships in Clinical Analysis. Two biochemist
from Paraguay won this year, out of a total of 5 winners: Rosa Guillen for the Course “Practicaltheoretical course of infrared spectroscopy of molecules” realized in the Facultad de Ciencias
de la Universidad de la Republica. Montevideo, Uruguay and Mercedes Alvarez for the Training
Course in “Serological and bacteriological training for the referential diagnosis of Brucellosis”
carried out at the Malbran Institute. Bs. As., Argentina from 1 to 12, july.
Montserrat Blanes member of the WG IANT participate as a speaker at the “Jornadas
Iberoamericanas del LAC” in june 2018 with the theme “Controversies in the study of thyroid
hormones and pre-analytical impact on the expected values obtained​​in the medical diagnosis”.
We appreciate the support of foundations, organizations, scientific societies, and companies
related to our profession for the implementation of activities.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Active participation of a Paraguayan delegation in the IFCC General Conference held in
November 9-11 in Budapest, Hungary.
• Members of ABP at the IFCC General Conference - Budapest – Hungary:
1. J. Ortellado as ABP National Representative.
2. M. Blanes G. as member since 2018 1st in Congresses and Conferences Committee(C-CC)- International and Learning (C-IEL) Publication and Communication Division(CPD) as corresponding member 2018-2020. Appointed as member of the COC of theEuromedlab Munich 2021 in behalf of the CCC.
3. G. Russomando as member in the Molecular Diagnostic Committee (C-MD), Scientific
Division (SD) and member since 2018 1st in the Awards Committee (AC) appointed by
the Executive Board (EB-AC).
• ABP Members integrating Working Groups
1. e-new (WG-e news) CPD. M. Blanes, Member liaison member
2. WG IANT E. Guillen Barua.
• ABP members in Task Force- Specially Projects.
1. How Glucose Meters Should be Evaluated in Critical Care (WG GMECC) and Task
Force on Point of Care Testing (POCT-TF). - E. Guillen Barua.
2. Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (C-STFT), Scientific Division Current Projects:
Phase IV Method comparison studies for FT4 and TSH on Clinically Relevant samples:
FT4 is Intended as technical standardization and harmonization process TSH, FT4
129

by Which Will Become Assays traceable to the conventional reference measurement
procedure. - M. Blanes G, second term.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
After the important achievements of last year, the promulgation of the “5.986 / 2017 Law of
the Biochemists”, which expresses the object, scope, nature and professional identity of the
Biochemist, a team effort chaired by the President of ABP, Raquel Caceres, and treasurer,
Mercedes Alvarez.
A Gala party was held at the Gran Hotel del Paraguay where Past Presidents were awarded,
as well as lifetime members remembering the Biochemical Day (10 of December) which wasapproved by an extraordinary meeting held in 6 of October, 2018.
ABP continues to work with all its partners in pursuit of career recognition, ensuring the qualityof education.

ROMANIA

ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION OF LABORATORY MEDICINE(RALM)NATIONAL MEETINGS
2nd CONGRESS OF THE ROMANIANASSOCIATION OF LABORATORY MEDICINEWith international participation

09-12 May Bucharest

Clinical Laboratory (Clinical Chemistry,
Hematology, Microbiology)

EDUCATION
In order to support our young colleagues, two awards are granted every year at the annual
conferences, one for the best poster presentation and one for scientific activity. As the attendanceof residents to the annual conferences is strongly encouraged, AMLR has preferential conference
fees for residents and is also offering conference sponsorship for few residents every year.
In 2018 RALM initiated an internal grant competition for young scientists, consisting in 3000
euros. The four applications submitted were evaluated by experts, and the winner of thecompetition (dr. Adina Hutanu from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureș)was announced at the General Assembly.
REGIONAL RELATIONSThe Romanian Association of Laboratory Medicine is member of the Balkan Clinical Laboratory
Federation BCLF.
The Publication Division of RALM collaborates with the Croatian Journal Biochemia Medica.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSThe Romanian Association of Laboratory Medicine is a full member of IFCC and EFLM.
IFCC and EFLM representatives - prof. Evi Lianidou (Greece), prof. Mauro Panteghini (Italy),prof. Janos Kappelmayer (Hungary) attended our conference and gave lectures which wereappreciated by the participants.

130

RUSSIAASSOCIATION OF LABORATORY SPECIALISTS AND
ORGANIZATIONSFEDERATION OF LABORATORY MEDICINE» (FLM)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

March 20 - 22

Issues of interactions laboratory specialists and clinicians.
Quality and safety of medical care. Modern scientificand practical achievments in hematology, immunology,
cytology, molecular diagnostics, microbiology,
coagulology, laboratory quality assurance. Problems ofrational organization of laboratory flows. Introduction of
new methods in laboratory practice.

May 24 – 25

Modern technologies in the organization of laboratory
services. Organization of laboratory diagnostics sociallysignificant infections.
Modern laboratory technologies in oncology.
Microbiological service in megapolis - optimization
system and implementation modern technology. Quality
management. ESKAPE Pathogens.

Fourth Russian Congress ofOctober 3 – 5Laboratory Medicine, Moscow

An organization, economics and legal aspects oflaboratory services. Fundamental questions of Clinicaland Laboratory Medicine. Etiology, early diagnosis andlaboratory monitoring of infectious diseases. The latest
and advanced technologies in the field of laboratory
diagnostics. Round tables with the participation of publichealth leaders and representatives of the firms on thecentralization of laboratory testing and procurement ofequipment and reagents

Third Interdisciplinary
Scientific Congresson “Autoimmune and
Immunodeficiency
Diseases”

November 16 - 17

IT health care in the field of autoimmune andimmunodeficiency diseases. Problems of oncology andautoimmunity. Infections and autoimmune diseases.
Issues of reproduction and pregnancy management inpatients with autoimmune diseases. An interdisciplinary
approach to systemic immune-mediated diseases.
Autoimmune diseases of childhood. Ophthalmology andautoimmune conditions. Innovative methods of laboratory
diagnosis of autoimmune conditions.

November 23 - 24

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents:patient safety.
Hemostatic disorders in a complicated patient. “(Un)normal” pregnancy and hemostasis. Perioperative period(Blood loss and thrombosis).

December 4 - 5Modern problems of training laboratory specialists. Topicalissues of laboratory diagnostics in a general hospital.
Forms of organization laboratory diagnostics in regionsof the Russian Federation. New research directions ofemergency conditions.

XXIII All-Russian scientificpractical conference“Traditions and innovationsof clinical laboratory
diagnostics”, Moscow

The XI International Scientificand Practical Conference“Modern laboratory medicine:
efficiency, accessibility,
quality”, Moscow

II Russian Congress“Reasonable therapy ofhemostatic disorders», Kazan
All-Russian scientific andpractical conference“Laboratory diagnosticsclinical medicine: traditions
and innovations” dedicatedto the 95th anniversary of thebirth birthday of the professor
B. F. Korovkin

EDUCATION
All meetings under the auspices of Russian Federation of Laboratory Medicine (FLM) accreditedby the Coordination Council for the Development of Continuing Medical and Pharmaceutical
Education of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
Participation in each regional scientific conference allows doctors to receive up to 6 credits ofcontinuing medical education (CME). Each Hemostasis school gets 12 CME credits.
Take part in the Fourth Russian Congress of Laboratory Medicine enable visitors to get 18 CME
credits in the field: “Clinical Laboratory” and “Bacteriology”.
131

REGIONAL MEETINGS

132

Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meeting

Hemostasis school: “Thrombotic and hemorrhagic
complications in obstetrics, gynecology andneonatology

January 26-27

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference “Yaroslavl Forumof Laboratory Medicine: Modern Approaches to
Improving the Quality and Information of ClinicalLaboratory Research”, Yaroslavl

January 29

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference “Voronezh forumof laboratory medicine: modern aspects of laboratory
diagnostics of oncological diseases”, Voronezh

February 16

Full organization of the meeting

Seminar for microbiologists “Program for the Controlof Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Central Asia andEastern Europe (CAESAR), Moscow”

February 20

Co-organization with the RussianInterregional Association for
Clinical Microbiology andAntimicrobial Chemotherapy(IACMAC)

Hemostasis school: “Thrombotic and hemorrhagic
complications in obstetrics, gynecology andneonatology”, Nizhny Novgorod

March 2-3

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference ”Saratov forumof laboratory medicine: laboratory diagnostics andorganization of laboratory services in the monitoring ofcardiovascular diseases”, Saratov

March 3Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference “Samara forumof laboratory medicine: modern approaches to theorganization of laboratory service, improving thequality and availability of clinical laboratory studies”,
SamaraMarch 16

Full organization of the meeting

Hemostasis school: “Thrombotic and hemorrhagic
complications in obstetrics, gynecology andneonatology”, Rostov on the Don

March 23-24

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference “Forum of
specialists in laboratory medicine in the Republicof Sakha (Yakutia): modern approaches to theorganization of the laboratory service, improving thequality and availability of clinical laboratory studies”,
Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

March 28

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference “Vladimir Forumof laboratory medicine: competence approach in theorganization, training of laboratory staff and improving
the quality of laboratory research”, Vladimir

April 20

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference of specialists of the
Ural Federal district “Modern laboratory medicine forApril 27
clinical solutions. Ural forum 2018”, Ekaterinburg

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference “Forum oflaboratory medicine specialists of the Republic of
Khakassia: modern approaches to the organizationof laboratory services, actual aspects of hemostasis
system research in medical practice”, Abakan

May 11

Full organization of the meeting

Interregional scientific and practical conference “Thestate and directions for improvement of laboratory
services in the North Caucasus Federal District of theJune 9Russian Federation and the Republic of North OssetiaAlania - 2018”, Vladikavkaz

Full organization of the meeting

Hemostasis school: “Thrombotic and hemorrhagic
complications in obstetrics-gynecology andcardiology”, Tyumen

Full organization of the meeting

June 29-30

XII Interregional school for laboratory medicine
specialists: “Innovations in modern laboratory
medicine”.

October 24 - 25

Co-organization with the Ministryof health of Novosibirsk region
and Novosibirsk state medical
university

Scientific and practical conference “Forum oflaboratory medicine specialists of the Ivanovo region:
modern approaches to the organization of laboratory
services, diagnosis of reproductive infections and newtechnologies in medical practice”, Ivanovo

December 7

Full organization of the meeting

Scientific and practical conference “Forum of
specialists of laboratory medicine of Udmurtia:
modern approaches to the organization of laboratory
services, professional standards, promisingtechnologies in medical practice”.

December 14

Full organization of the meeting

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Representative of Russian Federation of Laboratory Medicine (FLM), WG-PRE EFLMCorresponding Member took part in writing joint EFLM-COLABIOCLI Recommendation forvenous blood sampling.
Representative from the Federation of Laboratory Medicine became a corresponding memberof the Nomenclature Committee (C-NPU) at the IFCC.
Chairman of the Preanalytics Committee FLM participated in work The European Preanalytic
Working Group (EFLM WG-PRE), Zagreb, Croatia.
Speakers from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Scotland and the USA made presentations
at the Fourth Congress of Laboratory Medicine.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In 2018 all committees of the Association of laboratory specialists and organizations “Federationof laboratory medicine” (Occupational Safety and Health Committee, Immunohematology
Committee, Professional Development Committee, Pre-Analitical Phase Committee, Analyticaland Forensic Toxicology Committee, Standardization and Quality Assurance of ClinicalLaboratory Tests Committee, Chromatographic Methods Committee, Personnel Committee,
Clinical Cytology Committee, Hemostaseology Committee, Committee of Contracting Activity
in the Field of Laboratory Services, Microbiology Committee, Immunology and Allergology
Committee, Committee on Development and Implementation of Innovative and HighMicrobiological Practice, Public-Private Partnership Committee, Committee of the Medical
Industry and the Manufacture Localization, Committee on Cellular Technologies, Committee on
Molecular Biological and Genetic Research, Committee of Standardization of Laboratory Tests
for Autoimmune Diseases) prepared annual reports.
According to results of work for 2018, 5 committees of FLM were reorganized and 5 wereabolished.

133

SAUDI ARABIASAUDI SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTRYNATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meetingDate

4 Annual Meeting Saudi Society for Clinical Chemistry
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Crowne Plaza Hotel

4th – 6th December 2018th

Saudi Society for Clinical Chemistry held the 4th Annual meeting 5th – 6th December 2018 in Riyadh. A pre-conference
workshop was held in 4th December 2018 covering the topics on Biological Variation, Total Analytical Error, CAP
Calibration Verification and Linearity Surveys: From Receiving Till Evaluation, and Measurement of Uncertainty.
The keynote speaker for the conference was Professor Adekunle Okesina, an Executive Board Member ofInternational Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and representing the IFCC. The conference
was accredited by Saudi Commission for Health Specialties for 22 CME with more than 500 delegates attended
the meeting.
The Scientific Program included 7 sessions with more than 26 speakers, 20 posters and 27 presentations. The
Speakers were international, regional and national.
This scientific program included sessions about Updates in Metabolic Disease, Laboratory Biomarkers of Disease,
Laboratory Tests (Industry), and Good Laboratory Practice. Furthermore sessions on Laboratory Management
including Laboratory Test Utilization, Work/Life Balance, Diagnosing Diabetes with HbA1c in Sickle Cell Trait
Patients and Acid Base Homeostasis and Imbalance.
In addition, Clinical Chemistry related companies held different presentations during the conference. With a launchof first Saudi Guidelines for Venous Blood Collection in collaboration with Becton & Dickinson.
The exhibition court included more than 10 booths for different collaborators; Platinum (ROCHE, SIEMENS, and
SNIBE), Gold (BECKMAN and BIORAD), Silver (SHIMADZU) and Bronze (ABBOTT, BECKTON & DICKINSON,
BINDING SITE, JOHNSON & JOHNSON, and RANDOX) Others (ALEXION and IL).
By the end of the meeting there was Poster Session Awards Announcement with more than 20 posters printed, and3 prizes for the best 3 posters (photos attahed below).

EDUCATION
1st Point of Care Training Course at King Fahad General Hospital-Jeddah, 27 February – 1 March2018 in collaboration with MOH
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

MedLab Dubai

5 – 8 February 2018

Speakers for Scientific Sessions

Global Health Exhibition

10 – 12 Sepetember 2018

Speakers for Scientific Sessions

Saudi MedLab Expo

19 – 20 November 2018

Speakers for Scientific Sessions

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
During the AACC meeting Chicago Jul 29 - Aug 02, 2018, a proposal of collaboration between
the ASCP and SSCC was discussed between the Board members of the SSCC and Jennifer R.
Young, Director, Business Development of the ASCP. All agreed to have a full collaboration with
ASCP and to have workshops introduced by ASCP through the SSCC in Saudi Arabia.

134

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Photos from the 4th Annual meeting for the SSCC held at 4th – 5th December 2018

SERBIA

SOCIETY OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTS OF SERBIA (DMBS)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting
XXI Serbian Congress of
Medical Biochemistry andLaboratory Medicine withinternational participation

15th EFLM Symposium forBalkan Region

21th Annual Ivan Berkeš
Scientific Conference

Date

Topic

May 23-25, 2018, Belgrade• Novel trends in Laboratory Medicine• Patient-oriented approach in the evaluation ofanalytical Quality in medical laboratory• The role of laboratory in personalized
medicine• Factotrs and risk assessment of metabolicand endocrine disorders

May 23-25, 2018, Belgrade• Neighbouring countries: The sameprofessional aim• Laboratory medicine achievements inneighgouring countries• Forum of young researchers

December 6, 2018, Belgrade

Presentations of doctoral and master thesis fromprevious year (www.dmbj.org.rs)
Granted Awards of the Profesor Ivan Berkeš
Fund to the best graduated students of thePharmaceutical Faculty University of Belgrade

EDUCATION
1. Quality Indicators: pre-preanalytical and pre-analytical phases of laboratory diagnostic
investigation
2. Laboratory Management
3. Novelties in Laboratory Medicine
4. QM development and application in accredited laboratory
5. Laboratory safety
6. Validation of the Laboratrory Methods
7. Laboratory Medicine Environmental Health and Safety
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

26th Meeting of Balkan ClinicalLaboratory Federation

Skopje, Macedonia,
October 3-5, 2018

SMBS Members participate with lectures

135

REGIONAL RELATIONS
Cooperation with all Societies from Balkan region, members of Balkan Clinical Laboratory
Federation (BCLF) (see www.bclf.info).
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS• Cooperation with other Societies members of IFCC and EFLM
• Participation in EFLM activities: Dr Snežana Jovičić - Corresponding Member PFLM-WG;
Zorica Šumarac - corresponding member of the EFLM WG-PRE• Participations in Meetings organised by IFCC and EFLM
Participation in the organization of the 5th EFLM-BD European Conference on the Preanalytical
Phase; Participation in the organization of the EFLM-AACC Conference 2019; Participation in
the EFLM WG-PRE meeting in November 2018 (Zagreb, Croatia); Participation in conducting
EFLM WG –PRE Survey on Demand management in Serbia; Moderator in EFLM WG-PRE
e-learning webinar (18th September 2018): Catheter Blood Collection Practices: Can A High
Quality Sample for Laboratory Diagnostics Be Obtained? Implementation of the Joint EFLMCOLABIOCLI Recommendation for venous blood sampling in Serbia, by the Society of Medical
Biochemists of Serbia.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia published international JOURNAL OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY, the Official Journal of the Society, in which many scientists from region
published own papers (www.dmbj.org.rs/jmb; www.degruyter.com/view/j/jomb).

SLOVENIASLOVENIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTRYAND LABORATORY MEDICINE (SZKKLM)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Symposium
Slovenian Association for Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Ljubljana, 15.3.2018

Laboratory
diagnostics of congenital metabolic diseases

Symposium
Slovenian Association for Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Maribor, 1.-2. 6. 2018

Predanalytics, porphyrias, diagnostics fromconception to birthSymposium
Slovenian Association for Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Novo mesto, 7.9.2019

POCT yesterday, today, tomorrow

Symposium
Slovenian Association for Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Ljubljana, 10.12.2018

Efficiency and competence in laboratory
medicine

EDUCATION
On May and June 2018; Continuous Education Courses for the Medical Laboratory Technicianswith five (5) different topics in four different places in the country:• Kidney function tests• Ethanol and biochemical markers of alcohol abuse• The Challenges of pediatric laboratory medicine• Laboratory approach to the detection of patients with suspected leukemia• Gas-blood analysis –from the sampling to the results report and quality assurance136

From March to June 2018, we (our members) participated in the project “Information System for
the Monitoring of Patterns, Materials and Chemicals in Health” (InfoZdrav), which was carriedout within the framework of the Student Innovation Projects for Social Benefit. The project isthrough pedagogical mentors from the University of Ljubljana and professionals of laboratory
medicine connected an interdisciplinary group of ten students in which students of computerand information science, laboratory biomedicine, pharmacy, biology, biochemistry and graphic
and interactive communications participated. Students in the project have designed an
information system to support diagnostic and research work in laboratories. We expect that thedesigned system will enable even faster and more efficient work for both health and researchstaff. The project was co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union fromthe European Social Fund.
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

The 1st IFCC, EFLM, AFCB
Conference “Laboratory Medicine:
Italy, University of Tor Vergata
meeting the needs of Mediterranean (Rome) 2-4 July 2018.
Nations”

Evgenija Homšak, as a IFCC national
representative and chair of EFLM WGCPE, was a Member of the scientificboard, Chairman of the session andlecturer at the conference: EFLM project“Exchange of practical knowledge
and skills in Laboratory Medicine” –EFLMLabX

14th EFLM Symposium for Balkan
Region,Neighbouring Countries: The Same
Professional Aim
XXI Serbian Congress of Medical
Biochemistry and Laboratory
Medicine with international
participation

Evgenija Homšak, as a IFCC national
representative and chair of EFLM WGCPE, was a Member of the scientificboard, and lecturer at the conference:
EFLM project “Exchange of practicalknowledge and skills in Laboratory
Medicine” – EFLMLabX

Belgrade, May 23-25th2018

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Through active members and national representatives of EFLM and IFCC we have establishedinternational professional relations with neighboring and other different countries (participation/organizing common meetings).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2nd October is the Slovenian Day of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine – “TheDay of the Open doors of Clinical laboratories”. On that day we celebrate the beginningsof our professional national organization. On 2nd October each year all Clinical laboratories in
the country open their doors to the public visitors, from general population to the doctors andstudents, who are interested to see and be informed where, by who and how the laboratory
diagnostics and tests are performed. At that day the voice of Laboratory Medicine also goes/riseup through different national media (TV, radio, newspapers) to point out the role and importanceof our profession and the problematic issues that concern our position, as well.

137

SPAINSOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE MEDICINA DE LABORATORIO(SEQCML)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

XV Meeting of ScientificCommittees, Madrid

May 24-25th- Diagnostic Protocols in Endocrinology- Circulating DNA- Diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia- Massive sequencing- Neurological autoimmune disease- Update on Serum Proteins

Course, Madrid

June 5th- How to publish in Laboratory Medicine

Course, Hospitalet de Llobregat(Barcelona)

September 20th

- Analytical Validation of measurement procedures inClinical Laboratory

XII National Congress of ClinicalLaboratory (LabClin)

October 24-26 thFirst meeting of the Spanish
Society of Laboratory Medicine
with National Scientific Societies,
Barcelona

November 8th

This meeting was organized by the Spanish Societyof Laboratory Medicine (SEQCML) to strengthen lines
of collaboration with National Scientific Societies

November 16th

Inform of the possibilities that SEQCML offers for thedevelopment of their professional life in the field of
the clinical laboratory.
Promote relationships between residents of different
hospitals

First meeting of the Spanish
Society of Laboratory Medicine with
Residents and Young Scientists,
MadridEDUCATION
Annual Educational Program 2017-2018:• XXI General Educational Program 2017-2018		
643 participants• IV Clinical Cases in Haematology Program 2017-2018 		
364 participants• III Clinical Cases General Educational Program 2017-2018 		
391 participants• Implementation of the technical requirements of the UNE-EN-ISO 15189
quality standard. Practical cases. Program 2017-2018 		
467 participants• Clinical application of Molecular Biology Techniques
Program 2017-2018		
490 participants
REGIONAL RELATIONSSEQCML has relationships with:• the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM)• the Federation of European Societies on Trace Elements and Minerals (FESTEM)• the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)• the Ibero-American Working Group WG IAN through “Radio Microscopio”• the Latin-American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI)INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSSEQCML has relationships with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine (IFCC).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONSEQCML organizes the following EQAS programs:• Extranalytical processes : Preanalytical and Indicators138• Biochemistry: General biochemistry tests in serum and urine, Hormones, TDM, Proteins,
Blood gas, POCT, Cardiac markers, Tumor markers, Trace elements, Autoimmunity,
Monoclonal components and Drug abuse.
• Microbiology and Serology• European Project EurA1c• Urinary sediment analysis
Nowadays there are 700 centers participating in these programs with a total of 5000 inscriptions.
We are expanding SEQCML- EQAS Programs and Educational Programs to Latin-Americancountries.
SEQCML maintains the Spanish version of Lab Tests Online with more than 348 tests and aglossary with more than 498 contents. Consulting LTOES website has increased up to a total of150-175 consultations/month
SEQCML has a total of 2709 memberships, 368 members of 34 Commissions/ Committees/
Working Groups and 40 SEQCML Representatives in International Federations (IFCC/EFLM/
FESTEM/CLSI/ICSH)SWITZERLANDSWISS SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (SSCC)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of themeeting

Molecular
Diagnostics, Zurich

SSCC Annual
Assembly 2018,
Bern, ”Revolution
drives Evolution”

Date

Topic

March 8–9, 2018

DNA & RNA editing with CRISPR-Cas, CRISPR-based
nucleid acid test: basic principles and future potential,
Precision diagnosis and treatment for advanced Non–Small
Cell Lung Cancer, Molecular and functional characterizationof circulating tumor cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer,
Plasmodium Vivax diagnostic tests for control andelimination, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and drug-resistancetesting, Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya after Irma, Maria andHarvey, Genetics and environment in asthma, (Epi)genetics
of human memory: from physiology to drug discovery,
Porphyrias: from diagnosis to treatment, Genetic diagnosis of
mendelian disorders via RNA sequencing, DNA sequencing
at 40: past, present and future

November 15–16, 2018

Liquid biopsy : minimally invasive diagnostics using
somatic genetic variation, Liquid biopsy – ready for routine
diagnostics?, Roche sequencing solutions –from sample
preparation to bioinformatical analysis of next generation
sequencing data, Immune deficiency: recognition –understanding – treatment, Successes and challenges in thetreatment of pediatric leukemia, Newborn screening for cystic
fibrosis – benefits and pitfalls?, Mass spectometry of exhaled
breath, Clinical metabolomics by H-NMR spectroscopy,
What’s next in Next Generation Sequencing: the future ofsequencing in the clinical laboratory, Biology of senescence:
insights from the Do Health Study, Reference intervals in
geriatric laboratory medicine, Choosing wisely: over-andunderdiagnosis in daily clinical practice, eHealth: technicalrequirements and regulatory aspects, Role of semantics inelectronic patient records – how to make data structurescomparable, Application in the hospital setting: clinical data
ware house, Has AI arrived in practicing medicine yet?

139

EDUCATION
A novel CAS in laboratory medicine has been established in German at the University of Zurich
which will be part of the further education curriculum in laboratory medicine in Switzerland(https://www.cas-labmed.uzh.ch/de.html). The identical CAS in French will be established in2019 at the University of Geneva.
Annual education program: 10 one or two day courses in general laboratory management andin some specific topics.
REGIONAL MEETINGS
DateSociety’s contribution for the meeting

September 26–28, 2018

Symposium organized by SSCCSYRIASYRIAN CLINICAL LABORATORY ASSOCIATION (SCLA)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Syrian Clincal laboratory association
general conference

28 Sept 2018

Updates onLaws and regulation of socity

Third Sicentifc conference of Syrian
Medical Syndicates

1 March 2018

There were laboratory issues

Fouth Sicentifc conference of Syrian
Pharmaceutical Syndicates

13 April 2018

There were laboratory issues

Third Sientific Board

16 May 2018

Medical laboratory topics session

EDUCATION
CME monthly lecture in the Venue of Syrian clinical laboratory association
REGIONAL RELATIONSWith Lebanon SDBL
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
A) 1st IFCC Conference Laboratory Medicine: Meeting the needs of Mediterranean Nations
Rome Italy 2-4 July 2018 About 15 member of Syrian Clinical laboratory association
attended this conference with two lectures first for Dr Adnan Alkhatib second for Dr
Ghassan Shannan.
B) IFCC General conference Budapest; SCLA Participated by Dr. Adnan Alkhatib National
representative, and Dr Ghassan Shannan. November 10-11 2018.

140

TAIWAN - REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC) – TAIPEICHINESE ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRYNATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

CACB Annual General Meeting in
conjunction with 33rd Joint Annual
Conference of Biomedical Science(JACBS), Taipei, Taiwan

Date

Topic

24-25 March 2018

A key-note speech by Dr. Jozica Habijanic“The Future of Healthcare and Diagnostics:AI Application.” and a symposium:“Metabolism and Disease from Research to
Clinical Diagnosis” by Prof Ching-Hua Kuo:
“Development of analytical methods formetabolomics studies and therapeutic drug
monitoring.”
Prof Ching-Ying Kuo: “Altered mitochondrial
metabolism regulates breast cancer
tumorigenicity.”
Prof Mei-Ling Cheng: “Metabolomics in humanhealth.”30th anniversary Conference of
Taiwan Society of Clinical Pathology 15-16 December 2018and Laboratory Medicine.

CACB symposium in Molecular Dignostics andMass spectrometry by
Prof. Kang-Yi Su: “Clinical Application of Lab
Developed Test in Molecular Diagnostics”
Dr. Chia-Ni Lin: “Application of LC - MS/MS in
Clinical Laboratories”

EDUCATIONCACB in conjuction with Dept. Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology,
National Taiwan University, and Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories,
Industrial Technology Research Institute organized a special lecture inviting Dr. Alan Wu,
Professor Laboratory Medicine, Chief, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, San Francisco General
Hospital, to deliver a speech of “Promoting the value of the clinical lab to students, patientsand the general public.” On 13 April 2018. CACB members, faculties and students from Dept
CLSMB, NTU enjoyed the talk and a ethuastic discussion. This special lecture also served as
the official launch of tranditional Chinese edition of Dr. Wu’s book: “The Hidden Assassin: When
Clinical Lab Tests Go Awry.” All the fans were very happy to have Dr. Wu’s signature on the front
page of the books.
REGIONAL RELATIONS
For the upcoming APFCB 2019: 15th Asia-Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry andLaboratory Medicine Congress (Jaipur, India) on November 17-20, 2019, CACB proposed a
symposium of “Clinical Applications of Mass Spectrometry: Sample preparation, Diagnostics
and Therapeutics” by the speakers and titles of:
Dr. Jun-Jen Liu, Preparation of Sample for Mass Spectrometry
Dr. Chia-Ni Lin, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Newer Antiepileptic Drugs
Dr. Kang-Yi Su. Clinical Application of Lab Developed Test in Cancer Precision Medicine.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSCACB Immediate Past President Prof Woei-horng Fang acted as Correspondent Member of IFCC
Committee on Conference and Congress (C-CC) attended IFCC C-CC meeting on 10 November
2018, also acted as national representative participate the IFCC General Conference 2018,
Budapest on 11-12 November 2018. Prof Fang provided a report of meeting accomplishment
to CACB Boards.

141

CACB President Prof Ning participated AACC Annual Scientific Meeting on 29 July-2 August
2018, Chicago. She met with Prof Victoria Zhang, the Past President of North American Chinese
Clinical Chemists Association (NACCCA) discussing the potential collaboration between CACB
and NACCCA.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCACB is the organizer of upcoming the 34th Joint Annual Conference of Biomedical Science(JACBS) scheduled on 23-24 March 2019. The Conference venue will be at the National Defense
Medical University Campus, Taipei as previous years. The first Organizing Committee meeting
was held on 27 July 2018 chaired by CACB President Ning and attended by all nine association’s
Presidents and/or representatives. After heated discussion, the theme of the Conference waslater set as ‘Traslating Science into Health Care’ and a competition of oral presentation of ‘From
Molecules and Cells to human health’. Prof. Pan-Chyr Yang, a member of Academia Sinica, as
invited as the Plenary Lecturer to deliver a speech titled: “Global Rising Health Threat: Lung
Cancer in Never Smoker.”

TUNISIASOCIÉTÉ TUNISIENNE DE BIOLOGIE CLINIQUE (STBC)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

JOURNÉES NATIONALES
XXXII
DE BIOLOGIE CLINIQUE

May, 10 ,11
and 12th, 2018

ÈMES

Topic
th

th

XXXIIth National Meeting of Clinical
BiologyWorkshops:* Fighting antibiotic resistance: Situation in Tunisia* Antibiogram: New approaches* Method validation in clinical biology
Themes:• Ethics in clinical biology• Clinical laboratory informatics and automation• Managing clinical lobaoratory variability• Clinical laboratory accreditation• Thrombotic angiopathies• Growth hormone deficiency in children• Genetics: future and challenges• Quality management, automation and accreditation:
Role of the laboratory technician• Invasive fungal infections• Microorganisms food contamination• The past, present and future of microbiologicaldiagnosis• Biological exploration in central nervous system
inflammatory demyelinating deseases• Rapid tests in microbiology and parasitology• Standardisation of maternal serum markers
screening• Revision of the 2002 Law of clinical laboratories

EDUCATION
Date
02-09-2018

142

Place
Tunis

Theme
Biological viral markers of hepatitis B and C and HIV

Participation
88

02-23-2018

SousseThyroid exploration: the need for a clinical-biological dialogue

44

03-16-2018

Tunis

Ultra-sensitive Troponin

40

04-06-2018

Tunis

Automated analysis in spermiology

6304-20-2018

Zaghouan

Hemogram validation

38

09-07-2018

Sfax

Anemia in the newborn: A diagnostic appraoch44

10-05-2018

Tunis

Biological risk management25

10-26-2018

Tunis

Antifongigrams

60

11-17-2018

KebiliKebili Clinical Biology Day

90

11-30-2018

SousseIrregular antibody screening: Clincal case studies

37

12-14-2018

DjerbaDjerba Clinical Biology Day

14

REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

10 course in molecular biology“Hemoglobinopathies: Molecular
aspects»

May, 7th and 8th, 2018

International Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC)thREGIONAL RELATIONSArab Federation of Clinical Biology ( AFCB )Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir-TUNISIANational Health Assessment and Accreditation Authority (INEAS)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSInternational Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC)

TURKEYTURKISH BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY (TBS)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Symposium on Non-Alcoholic
Fatty Liver: Clinical andLaboratory

January 24, 2018, Ankara• Unhealthy Nutrition, Obesity Studies: Ministry of
Health Perspective: Assoc. Prof. Dr. N. Yardım• Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Assoc. Prof Dr. M.
Kekili• Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Non-invasive
Methods in the Evaluation of Fibrosis: Dr. M.S
Güngören• Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Tests (ELF Test): M.
Tosun• Intestinal Microbiota Dr. U. Demirpek• Importance of Intestinal Microbiota and Bile Acids
in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Process Assoc.
prof. Dr. H. Kayadibi

3rd In vitro Diagnostic
Symposium

February 28 - March 2,
2018 Izmir

Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases

2nd International Congress
on Environmental andOccupational Diseases

March 7, 2018, Antalya

The Role of the Laboratory in Occupational andEnvironmental Diseases:
Moderators: Assoc. Prof. Dr. D. Yücel, Assoc. Prof.
Dr. E. Tutkun• Heavy Metal Toxicity and Analysis Assoc. Prof. Dr.
F. Aksungar,• Pesticide Analysis, Assoc. Prof. Dr. H. Kayadibi• Analysis Methods Used in Occupational Healthand Safety, Dr. Ö. Güzel,• Problems in Laboratory Analysis Prof. Dr. M.A.
Serdar143

Multiple in Clinical and Laboratory Aspects of
Myeloma• Clinical and Laboratory Diagnostic Criteria in
Multiple Myeloma: Dr. S. Yılmaz:• Freelite® in Myeloma: A. Pickin:• Clinical Laboratory in Multiple Myeloma: Prof. Dr.
E. Devrim, Dr. Ç. Sönmez Atay

Symposium on Monoclonal
Gammopathies

April 11, 2018, Ankara

Symposium on PreanalyticalStage

April 28-29, 2018, Kayseri Preanalytical Stage

Symposium on ”Rational
Laboratory Usage”
Presentation

June 20, 2018, İstanbul

Rational Laboratory Usage

Conference

November 9, 2018,
AnkaraThe Use of Procalcitonin on the ICU and in the
Hospital – Michael Meisner

EDUCATION
1. The Role of Molecular Techniques in Laboratory Applications and Usage Course, January*
29-February 2, 2018, Adana
2. Venous Blood Collection Course was organized by the TBD Preanalytical Stage Working
Group on May 14 , 2018 for the students of Ayvansaray University Medical Laboratory
Techniques Program in Istanbul
3. Venous Blood Collection Course was organized by the TBD Preanalytical Phase Study
Group on May 15, 2018 for the students of Marmara University School of Health Services.
4. Molecular Techniques in Laboratory Course, September 10, 2018, Ankara
5. Course on Basic and Advanced Statistics for Medical Specialists, 15-16 September 2018,
Istanbul (by TBS Academy).
6. miRNA course, From Theory To Practice, September 26, 2018, Bodrum
7. Cell Death Cytotoxicity Course, October 26, 2018, Bodrum.
8. Biosensor Course, October 26, 2018, Bodrum.
9. Westgard Rules QC And Six Sigma Workshop, organized by Turkish Biochemistry
Association was held on October 25-26, 2018 in Bodrum.
10. Laboratory Mathematics Course was organized by the TBS Academia in December 1,
2018 in Acibadem University, Istanbul
11. Blood Gas Education Meeting was organized by TBS Academia and TBS Istanbul Branch,at Istanbul Education Research Hospital, in December 25, 2018 in Istanbul.
12. Prof. Dr. Callum G. Fraser’s book titled with ’Biological Variation: From Principles toPractice” It was translated into Turkish by Abdurrahman Coşkun according to theagreement with Fraser and AACC, and published as TBD in 2018.
13. “Leadership basics for clinical laboratory professionals“ written by Sedef Yenice and
Edward Randell, was published by IFCC in 2018.
REGIONAL RELATIONS
TBS participated in various working groups of Ministry of Health, Social Security Institution, andTurkish Chamber of Physicians.
TBS EB members visit National Metrology Institute, Gebze, Kocaeli.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. International IFCC Flow Cytometry (IFCC) courses organized by IFCC and Turkish
Biochemistry Association was held on 20 - 22 June 2018 in Istanbul under the sponsorshipof Beckman Coulter Life Sciences and Yeditepe University.
2. 1st IFCC, EFLM, AFCB, FIFBCML Conference Laboratory Medicine: Meeting The Needs Of
Mediterranean Nations. Our association is here represented by Prof. Dr. Diler Aslan and
Assoc.Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şeneş on the scientific committee
144

3. TBS participates in studies of working groups and task forces of IFCC and EFLM committees.
4. TBS represents other scientific or professional bodies in Turkey such as EFLM, BCLF, IUBMB,FEBS, and WASPaLM.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe International Biochemistry Congress-2018 and The 29th National Congress of TBS were
held in Bodrum in October 26-30th, 2018.
There were keynote speakers such as Edgard Delvin (from IFCC VLP), Sten Westgard, Edward
Randell, Mathhias Orth, Andrey Abromov and Hassan Bayat.
Educational workshops on method validation/verification, mass spectrometry applicationsin clinical laboratory, scientific writing, and presentation techniques were organised by TBS
Academy.

UKRAINE

ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND LABORATORYMEDICINE OF UKRAINE (ACCLMU)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

Kyiv, April 25-26,
2018

During the Conference, special attention was paid to
the European experience in the correct use of laboratory
tests in modern evidence-based medicine, as well as
to the evaluation of the analytical reliability of clinicallaboratory tests results. Modern clinical and diagnostic
aspects of diabetes mellitus and its complications
were also discussed, as well as approaches toprenatal screening, and algorithms for assessing
male fertility. The experience exchange between
laboratory medicine specialists in the field of cytologicaldiagnostics concerning preoperative prediction oftumor development, the choice of adequate therapy,
and the use of state-of-the-art laboratory technologies
in oncohematology was very important. An expanded
meeting of the ACCLMU Council was held within theframework of the Conference.

Scientific & Practical
Conference with International
Participation “Quality
indicators as components ofKyiv, October 17the quality assurance system
18, 2018
for laboratory services andachievement of the reliability oflaboratory testing results”

The main task of the conference was to formulate a
unified approach and to consolidate efforts aimed
at introducing a quality assurance system into thelaboratories of each region of the country, because thisis the key to provision of the accessible high-quality
laboratory services.
Special attention was paid to the world and European
experience in accreditation of medical laboratories, aswell as to requirements for competence and quality inmedical laboratories. It was once again stressed thatthe main objective of ISO 15189 is to provide medicallaboratories with their own effective quality management
systems.
Also, within the framework of the Conference, an
extended round table was held devoted to the actual
problems of laboratory medicine specialists training in
the context of reformation of the health care system of
Ukraine. The practice of training and the need for revisionof training programs for medical laboratory specialists,
modern requirements for general basic competencies andthe procedures for evaluation of the staff competence, as
well as the experience of use of the simulation laboratory
for successful practical skills acquisition, were discussed.

Scientific & Practical
Conference with International
Participation “Theory andPractice of Laboratory
Medicine”

145

EDUCATION
Participation in the round table meeting of the Committee on Health of the Verkhovna Rada (theParliament) of Ukraine on the theme: “Medical self-government and professional associations
as a guarantee of professional growth of medical workers” (Kiev, April 20, 2018).
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Scientific & Practical Conference with
International Participation “Laboratory
Diagnostics of Hemostasis Disorders.
Theoretical Basics, Errors and Interpretationof the Results of Laboratory Studies”

L’viv, April 17, 2018

Organization of the meeting

Master-Class “Basic Techniques for Working
with Semi-Automatic Analyzers Coag 2D/4D
Series”

L’viv, April 17, 2018

Organization of the meeting

Scientific & Practical Conference on the
Problems of Introduction of Standardization
Processes in the L’viv Region

L’viv, April 18, 2018

Organization of the meeting

REGIONAL RELATIONS
Cooperation of the ACCLMU with the Health Department of the L’viv Regional State Administrationin the organization of the Scientific & Practical Conference on the Problems of Introduction ofStandardization Processes in the L’viv Region.
Cooperation of the ACCLMU with the Expert Group on Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics ofthe Healthcare Department of the Kyiv City State Administration concerning interactions of
medical laboratories with primary care medical facilities and professionals, provision of medicallaboratories with modern laboratory equipment, cooperation with young laboratory specialists
and other professional medical organization, as well as implementation of quality management
system according to ISO 15189 in medical laboratories.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSParticipation in the first part of the training for trainers on the “Laboratory Development
Program for Accreditation for Laboratories” organized by the US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the project“Support for strengthening laboratories in countries with limited resources in the context of the
US President’s Emergency Initiative to Assist HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR)” (Kiev, January 29 – February
9, 2018).
Participation in the second part of the training for trainers on the “Laboratory development
program for accreditation”, organized by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for the project “Support forstrengthening laboratories in countries with limited resources as part of the US President’s
Emergency Initiative to Assist HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR)” (Kiev, March 19-30, 2018).
Participation in the Meeting of International Experts and the MOH Expert Group on ClinicalLaboratory Diagnostics and the Implementation of the Project “Supporting the Strengtheningof Laboratories in Disadvantaged Countries within the framework of the Emergency Initiativeof the President of the United States to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR)” on
discussing the results. Estimates of the basic efficiency and readiness of Kyiv’s pilot laboratories
for accreditation were made (Kyiv, June-August 2018).
Participation in the 4th China National Congress of Technology and Laboratory Medicine “OneBelt – One Way” (Suonzhou, July 2018).
Participation in the I International Congress of Young Scientists of the IFCC (Rome, July 2-6,
2018).
146

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONACCLMU performs functions of the Secretariat of the Technical Committee for Standardization
166 “Clinical laboratory testing and in vitro diagnostic test systems” (TC166) which is mirroring
the ISO/TC 212.
Together with TC166, ACCLMU members participate the implementation of the international
standards into the Ukrainian regulatory framework.
Since 2018, ACCLMU is publishing the Laboratory Diagnostics Journal.

URUGUAY

ASOCIACIÓN BIOQUÍMICA URUGUAY (ABU)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

“Regulation of the qualifications of companies,
registers of medical products, reagents,
equipment and instruments”“Good manufacturing practices”

15/3/2018(2nd. part)

Elaboration practices. Registration andAuthorizations
Dictated by:
Department of Technology andInspection Division.
Ministry of Public Health

Diffusion of IFCC activities by its
Corresponding Members
1- (TF-YS) María Eugenia Schroeder
2- (TF-POCT) Iris Miraballes
3- (C-NPU) and (IUPAC), Carlos Lacava
4- (C-MD) Patricia Esperón
5- (C-TLM). Ana Piana
6- (C-RIDL) Carlos Lacava

08/05/2018(1st part)

Knowing the systems of work andthe advancement in the WG, TF,
Committees, etc. of the IFCC throughour Corresponding National Members“Regulation of the qualifications of companies,
registers of medical products, reagents,
equipment and instruments”“Good manufacturing practices.”“Experiences of Clinical Biochemists
professionals in Uruguay”

14/06/18(3rd. part)

Elaboration practices. Registration andAuthorizations
Dictated by:
Department of Technology andInspection Division.
Minister of Public Health“The laboratory in thyroid function andpathology”
Dr. Raúl Supersaxco (Argentina)

20 and
21/10/2018

Endocrinology.
Coordination:
Wiener Foundation (Argentine)

Diffusion of IFCC activities by its
Corresponding Members
1-(TF-CKD) Stella Raymondo2-(WG-SAU) Stella Raymondo
3-(CCMBC) Patricia Esperón
4-Calidad Analítica (C-AQ)
Patricia Esperón
5-(C-DL) Carlos Lacava
6-(WG-LEPS) Carlos Lacava
7-(WG-FC) Ma.Schroeder
8-(C-PR) Ma. Schroeder
9-. (WG-IANT) Carlos Lacava

09/10/2018(2nd part)

Knowing the systems of work andthe advancement in the WG, TF,
Committees, etc. of the IFCC throughour Corresponding National Members“Urgency Laboratory”

17-18/11/2018

Coordination:
Wiener Foundation (Argentine)
Dres. Alberto VILLAGRA y Estela MEYER

147

1 “Automation and interferences in thehematological results in their interpretation,
through the analysis of cases”.
BC Cecilia Borba
2 “Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical andBiochemical aspects.”
BC Natalia Pereira

4/12/18

Return of experiences of professions
awarded by ABU to various courses.

3 “Evaluation of the infertile couple, role ofthe biochemist in the laboratory” BC Micaella
Cipriani

EDUCATION
Scholarships:
A call for scholarships was made between 04/10/2018 to 05/10/2018 and two scholarships
were selected
One of the scholarships was in the area of Specialization in Clinical Biochemistry and
Endocrinology at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The 2nd scholarship could not be completed due to the resignation of the creditor to it.
REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting.

Date

3rd Latin American and Caribbean
Regional Workshop “Interpretation
September 26 to 28 of 2018,of critical requirements of ISO 15189 Quito, Ecuador(Livestream)

20th Argentine Congress of Quality
in Clinical Laboratory CALILAB

October 24-27, 2018,
Buenos Aires, Argentine

Society’s contribution for the meeting
Attendants from Uruguay:
Coordinator: Ana Piana.
Participants: Stella Raymondo andMonica RevelloActive Participation: Stella Raymondo,
Ana Lena, Natalia Amor, Graciela Queiruga
and Fernando Antunez at the Assembly of
COLABIOCLI
Conferencists of the Congress: Graciela
Queiruga, Stella Raymondo, Ana Lena,
Ana Piana and Beatriz Varela

ABU has collaboration with several Regional Associations of Laboratory Medicine.
1) COLABIOCLI (Confederacion Latinoamericana de Bioquimica Clinica) as a full member.
ABU is the national entity of Latin America that has been designated headquarters of the COLABIOCLI by its General Assembly since 2015, and therefore has a fluid relationship with theother national entities of the Confederation´.
2) With especial links with:• FABA Argentine Biochemical Foundation• CUBRA Unified Confederation of Biochemical of the Argentine Republic• ABA Asociación Bioquímica Argentina• UBA. Reception of colleagues to study specializations.
• WIENER FOUNDATION. Face-to-face courses in Uruguay
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSIFCCNational Representative IFCC/Uruguay: Stella RaymondoI) IFCC Task Forces
1. (TF-E) Paola Audicio
2. (TF-YS) Maria Eugenia Shroeder
II) Scientific Division
Committees
1. (C-NPU) Carlos Lacava1482. (C-MD) Patricia Esperon
3. (C-TLM) Ana Piana
4. (C-RIDL) Carlos Lacava
Working Groups
1. (WG-CDT).Marcelo Lucas
2. (WG-SAU) Stella Raymondo
3. (WG-PAPPA) Paola Audicio
III) Education and Management Division.
Committees
1. (C-CMBC) Patricia Esperón
2. (C-AQ) Patricia Esperón
3. (C-CKD) Stella Raymondo
4. (C-DL) Carlos Lacava
5. (C-POCT) Iris Miraballes
Working Groups
1. (WG-LEPS) Carlos Lacava
2. (WG-FC) Maria Eugenia ShroederIV) Communications and Publications Division
Committees
1. (C-PR) Maria Eugenia Shroeder
Working Groups
1. (WG-IANT and WG-eNews) Ana Piana
ADDITONAL INFORMATION
1. Guild Activities
A - As a result of an agreement signed last year, all Clinical Biochemists that perform
activities in the State Health Services Administration (ASSE) received a salary adjustment
and were classified in grade II. The activity in the sector was continued for the designationof grades III and V in order to achieve a functional career of the ASSE professional. The
agreement also has a scope for those Pharmaceutical Chemists who work in the field ofClinical Analysis.
B - Within the framework of private health organizations governed by the Collective
Agreements Group 15 of Health, progress was made by explicitly incorporating new
professions in the next cycle of Collective Agreements
2. Co-government of the University of the Republic (UdelaR)
Representatives of ABU integrated the elected list to the various organs of the cogovernment of the UdelaR, with participation in the Council and Faculty of Chemistry andin the Cloister Assembly of the UdelaR
3. Civil Liability Insurance
An agreement was signed with the State Insurance Bank to create a civil liability policy
for Clinical Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Chemical professionals, which was
unprecedented in Uruguay.
4. New ABU website
5. Social
End of the year party for ABU members at Club Noa-Noa on 12/15/2018

149

USA

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTRY(AACC)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

2018 AACC Annual Scientific
Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo –Chicago, IL

July 29, 2018 – August 2, 2018

Multiple topics in laboratory
medicine

Point-of-Care Coordinators Forum:– Chicago, IL

August 2, 2018

Point of care testing coordinatortopics of interest

Point-of-Care Testing Boot Campand Beyond: Communicating,Connecting and Collaborating
Portland, OR

November 1, 2018

Point of care testing
communications and connectivity
for POCs

Mass Spectrometry and Separation
Sciences for Laboratory Medicine –Phildelphia, PA

October 1-2, 2018

Mass spectrometry technology/
methodology

27th International Critical and Pointof Care Testing Symposium
Washington, DC

September 26-30, 2018

New and emerging technologies inpoint of care testing

EDUCATION
Online Education
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
1/1/2018 – 12/31/2018:• Basic Principles and Architecture of Laboratory Information Systems Certificate Program• Clinical Laboratory Leadership and Management Certificate Program• Laboratory Operational Management Certificate Program• Patient Safety Essentials for Laboratory Professionals Certificate Program• Practical Approaches to Quality Control in the Clinical Laboratory Certificate Program• Regulatory Affairs for Laboratory Compliance Certificate Program• Statistical Methods for Clinical Laboratorians Certificate Program• Fundamentals of Molecular Pathology Certificate Program• Point-of-Care Specialist Certificate Program• Improving Outcomes Through Point of Care Testing Certificate Program• Principles of Clinical Toxicology Certificate Program• Basic Concepts and Clinical Applications of Flow Cytometry Certificate Program• Intro. Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry for the Clinical Laboratory Certificate
Program• LC-MS/MS Troubleshooting for the Clinical Laboratory Certificate Program
WEBINARS

150

Title

Progam Date

What is Your Lab’s Cost of Poor Quality? How to Demonstrate the Value of Your Quality Efforts
to Financial Decision Makers

01/03/18

Developing a Task Force When Making Decision About Point of Care

02/07/18

Managing Tough Conversations: Positive, Proactive Solutions

03/07/18

Procalcitonin to Guide Antibiotic Decisions in Bacterial Respiratory Infections and Sepsis

03/21/18

Facts are Friendly: Enable the Transition from Volume to Value Using Data

04/04/18

Reducing laboratory costs with freight management

04/25/18

Medicare’s PAMA-Based CLFS Payment Impact: Strategies to Protect Your Lab’s Revenue

05/02/18

How to Eliminate LC-MS Interference Peaks and Chemical Background: Improving the Limit of
Quantitation for THC-COOH in Hair

05/16/18

Health Economic Value of PCT Testing in the US

05/31/18

Listen and Learn Campaign: A Process Improvement Initiative

06/06/18

Automating Anatomic Pathology

07/11/18

Hepatitis B: Diagnostic Challenges

07/26/18

Influenza Testing: Impact of New Testing and New Testing Options

08/01/18

Increasing STI Screening Coverage by Focusing on the End Users: Clinicians and Patients

09/05/18

Strategies for Reducing Analytical Interferences in the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory

09/12/18

Lab Developed Tests for Steroids: The Journey from Immunoassay to Mass Spectrometry

09/19/18

Implementing Total Laboratory Automation: The Difficulties and Rewards

10/03/18

Implementing Procalcitonin: A Team Approach

10/10/18

Tough Love: How Actively Managing Your Customers Can Make Them (and You) Happier11/07/18

Validation of Clinical LC-MS/MS Methods: What You Need to Know

11/14/18

Healthy Mother/Healthy Baby: Optimal pregnancy outcomes through proper infectious disease
testing

11/28/18

Procalcitonin Testing and Molecular Pathogen Detection: A Value Model

12/05/18

REGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meetingGlobal Lab Quality Initiative Workshop:
Verifying Assay Performance: Steps To Follow
March 17-18, 2018
To Verify Manufacturer’s Claims (Xalapa,
Mexico)Provided content and speakers,
in collaboration with the Mexican
Association of Clinical Laboratory
Sciences

AACC Middle East, Abu Dhabi UAE

March 22-, 2018

Provided content and speakers,
in collaboration with Al Borg
Laboratories

August 22-23, 2018

Provided content and speakers,
in collaboration with the Nepal
Association for Medical Laboratory
ScienceAugust 26-27, 2018

Provided content and speakers, incollaboration with the College ofChemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka
and the Association for Clinical
Biochemistry, Sri Lanka

Global Lab Quality Initiative Workshop:
Adding Value to Patient Care Using Quality
Control (Manila, Philippines)

August 30-31, 2018

Provided content and speakers,
in collaboration with The
Philippine Association of Medical
Technologists, Inc.

Best of AACC China, Shanghai

October 12-13, 2018

Provided content and speakers, incollaboration with Chinese Medical
Education Association

Global Lab Quality Initiative Newborn
Screening Workshop: Early diagnosisof biochemical genetic disorders saves
children’s lives: A discussion on the merits
and the process to successfully implement
newborn screening (Goa, India)

October 24, 2018

Provided content and speakers, incollaboration with the Association ofClinical Biochemists of India

Global Lab Quality Initiative Workshop:
Adding Value to Patient Care Using Quality
Control (Kathmandu, Nepal)
Global Lab Quality Initiative Workshop:
Adding Value to Patient Care Using Quality
Control (Colombo, Sri Lanka)151

REGIONAL RELATIONSMember of the North American Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSAACC maintains memoranda of understanding with several national societies for the purposesof mutually beneficial education exchanges.

VIETNAMVIETNAMESE ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTS(VACB)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

National Scientific
Conference of the 55th
Jubilee Ceremony of theFoundation of VACB

17-18 August 2018 in
Da Nang City

ClinicalChemistry,Immunology,Toxicology,Therapeutic
Drug Monitoring,Oncology, Molecular
Biology,POCT,Quality Assurance and Quality
Control,Hormones

Scientific Conference of theClinical Biochemistry Society 21-22 September 2018of Hanoi and Northernin Ha Long
Provinces of Vietnam

Immunology, Molecular
Biology,Oncology,Quality Assurance and Quality
Control,Diabetes,Toxicology,Endocrinology

Scientific Conference of theClinical Biochemistry Society 15-16 November 2018
of HoChiMinh-City andin HoChiMinh-City
South Vietnam

Clinical Chemistry,Immunology,Quality Assurance andQuality Control,POCT.Oncology,Enzymology

REGIONAL RELATIONSGood relations. The VACB invited Dr. Elina Reja Aziddin ,Visiting Lecturer of the APFCB,Presidentof the Clinical Biochemistry Association of Malaysia to participate and give lecture in the National
Scientific Conference of the VACB in Da Nang City in August 2018
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSGood relations.
The VACB has a delegation of 4 members participating in the 1st IFCC Conference “ Meeting theneeds of Mediterranean nations” in Roma,2-4 July 2018.
Prof.Dr. Abderrazek Hedhili,representing the IFCC Direction Board,attended the National
Scientific Conference of the 55th Junilee Ceremony of the Foundation of the VACB in Da Nang
City,August 2018 and gave lectures.
Prof.Dr.Hoang Van Son,National Representative of the VACB to IFCC attended the IFCC General
Conference in Budapest,9- 11 November 2018.

152

Affiliate member societies

BRAZIL

SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE PATOLOGIA CLÍNICA /MEDICINA LABORATORIAL (SBPC/ML)
NATIONAL MEETINGS
53º Brazilian Congress of clinical pathology - For more information, check our website: http://
www.sbpc.org.br/
EDUCATION
EAD- Distance Education
Topic

Date

Systematization for elaboration of strategic planning in clinical laboratory

March 13 – 2018

Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus. The Importance of GlycatedHemoglobin.

March 27 – 2018

Interferences in immunoassays: Historical aspects and evolution of methods

April 10 – 2018

The Benefits of Automation in Molecular Biology in the Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

April 24 - 2018

Systematization for the study of interferents in the evaluation of a biochemicallaboratory method

May 15 2019

Natriuretic peptides

May 29 - 2018

Emotional intelligence

June 5 – 2018

Pre-analytical factors that interfere with the performance of proficiency testing andinternal quality control

July 10 – 2018

Assessment of support laboratories according to PALC requirements

August 14 - 2018

Analytical quality specification: How to deploy in the clinical laboratory

October 16 - 2018

Validation of reference intervals according to PALC requirements

November 13 - 2018

Risk management and patient safety in the clinical laboratory

December 11 - 2018

REGIONAL MEETINGS
Name: Symposium of Biomarkers in Cardiology
Date: February 15th of 2019
Society’s contribution: A partnership between the Brazilian Society of clinical pathology,
Society of Cardiology of the State of São Paulo(SOCESP) and Brazilian College of Radiology
and diagnostic imaging (CBR)REGIONAL RELATIONSPALC: Clinical Laboratory Accreditation ProgramFor more information, check our website: http://portal.sbpc.org.br/programa-da-qualidade/palc/
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
For more information, check our website: http://www.sbpc.org.br/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONOther courses and events are elaborated throughout the year. For more information, check our
website: http://www.sbpc.org.br/
153

PHILIPPINESPHILIPPINE COUNCIL FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE IN
CLINICAL LABORATORIES (PCQACL)NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic

PCQACL 15 Annual Convention

September 25 - 27, 2018

” Sustaining Global Quality Innovations”

th

EDUCATION
The PCQACL Committee on Continuing Education, Training & Research has conducted thefollowing Seminar – Workshops last 2018 :1. Seminar-Workshop on Handling Non- Conformities
Date: April 11, 2018 Venue: Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City
2. Seminar- Workshop on Internal Quality Control (IQC): The Basics and Beyond
Date: May 26, 2018 Venue: Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City
3. Seminar-Workshop on Hepatitis & Thyroid Function Tests
Date: July 25, 2018 Venue: Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City
4. 15th Annual Pre-Convention Seminar–Workshop on Efficient and Effective Laboratory
Operations Management
Date: Sept. 24, 2018 Venue: Crowne Plaza Galleria, Ortigas Avenue, Quezon CityREGIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting / Venue

ANCLS 17th Congress held at
Winsor Suites & Convention Hotel,
Sukhumvit 20, Bangkok, Thailand

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

July 5, 2018

• Dr. Marissa A. Orillaza, Chairperson of the PCQACL
Committee on Continuing Education, Training &Researrch delivered a special lecture on the topic” Standardization & Harmonization of ClinicalLaboratories.
• Dr. Grace J. Dela Calzada, PCQACL Vice-President
and Member of the PCQACL Committee on
Continuing Education, Training, & Research gave
a lecture on ” Standardization of Complete BloodCount”.

REGIONAL RELATIONSMember of Asian Network for Clinical Laboratory Standardization and Harmonization (ANCLS)
Member of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)
Member of Asian - Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (APFCB)INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSPCQACL is an active member of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine (IFCC)
IFCC-Visiting Lecturer Program has always been requested to provide Speakers at the plenary
lectures of the PCQACL annual conventions, seminar-workshops and other scientific sessions.
Member of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) which gives PCQACL the authority
to be the distributor of their books and other documents in the Philippines, procuring of suchin bulk and distributing them to facilitate their adoption and implementation by the clinicallaboratories.

154

CLSI will be invited by PCQACL to provide Speaker(s) at annual conventions’ plenary sessions
and other scientific sessions hosted by PCQACL.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe IFCC Chairman on Communications & Publications Division, Dr. Khosrow Adeli has graced
with his presence, the PCQACL 15th Annual Convention Opening Ceremonies as the Keynote
Speaker held last Sept. 25, 2017 at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. Furthermore, the 15th Annual
Scientific Program had the privilege to have Dr. Khosrow Adeli as the renowned IFCC- Visiting
Lecturer –Program Speaker together with the distinguished Speaker from APFCB, Prof. Raja
Elina Raja Aziddin on the following topics:

Khosrow Adeli,
PhD, FCACB, DABCC
Topic

Date

Time

a) Keynote Address -Advancing Laboratory Medicine throughInnovation: Predicting the Lab of the Future

September 25, 2018

10:00 am - 10:15 amb) Lipid Guidelines for Cardiovascular Risk Stratification

September 25, 2018

11:15 am - 12:00 nnc) Panel Discussion II: Interpreting Abnormal Routine Lab
Results in Cancer Patients

September 26, 2018

9:00 am - 9:50 amd) Panel Discussion III: Challenges in Lipid Testing:Introduction of Non- Fasting Lipid Profile

September 26, 2018

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Date

Time

b) Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing

September 25, 2018

1:30 pm - 2:15 pmc) Preventing or Minimizing Laboratory Errors & NonConformity

September 25, 2018

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

Prof. Raja Elina Raja Aziddin
Topica) Methodologies and Technologies for Therapeutic Drug

155

SERBIASERBIAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY MEDICINEAND SCIENCE (SCLM)
NATIONAL MEETINGSName of the meeting

Date

Topic
Men’s and Women’s Health: Biomarkers inClinical Practice and Future Approaches(IFCC, EFLM, ESPT auspiced)

SERBIS 2018
(3rd and 4th SERbian
BIomarker Symposium(www.serbis.rs)

Belgrade, Serbia
June 05th-08th, 2018

13 Sessions: SERBIS in Practice, Male infertility,
Female infertility and in vitro fertilisation, Prenatal
screening, Preeclampsia, Newborn screening,
Oncology-prostate and testicular cancer, Oncologybreast, ovarian and cervical cancer, Bonediseases, Diabetes and obesity, Cardiovasculardiseases, Psychiatric disorders, SERBIS
breakthrough:unravelling taboos
12 Industry sponsored Workshops
60 speakers from 18 countries(30 spekaers from AU, BE, CA, HR, CZ, FI, FR, GE,
GR, HU, India, IT, NL, SI, ES, SE, USA, and 30 fromRS)
1702 participants
POCT innovation, Connected Health and Beyond:
How digital technology is transforming lab
medicine health and social care?
(IFCC, EFLM auspiced)

CLAQ 2018
2nd Conference on Medical
Laboratory Accreditation
and Quality Systems

Belgrade, Serbia
November 26th-27th, 2018

7 Sessions covered: questions to
consider before introducing POCT, criteria for
selecting tests suited for POCT; availability of POCT
in a range of common conditions: cardiovasculardisease, diabetes, acute and chronic kidney disease,
infectious diseases, transmissible diseases, criticalcare, etc.; POCT vs Lab-based testing; economic
arguments for funding POCT; mHealth; emerging
technologies for POCT, common preanalytical andpostanalytical errors in POCT, transition to POCTbest practices.
1 Round table discussion: POCT Market overview
and future perspectives
30 speakers from 12 countries (19 speakers from
BE, FR, GE, GR, IT, NL, NO, SI, ES, TR, UK, and 11
speakers from RS)
689 participants

REGIONAL MEETINGS

156

Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meeting

International symposium ”Critical Care
Testing and blood gases”

Antibes, France
June 21th-22th, 2018

Session chairmanship1st IFCC Conference “Laboratory Medicine:
Meeting the needs of Mediterranean
Nations”

Rome, Italy
July 2nd-4th, 2018

Session chairmanship

SINERGY (Serbian conference on
iNtERventional cardioloGY) cardiovascularimaging and drug therapy

Belgrade, Serbia
September 6th-8th, 2018

Invited lecture and Session
chairmanship
Scientific Committee Membership

Geneva, Switzerland
4th ESPT Summer School 2018
“Precision medicine and personalised health” September 24th-27th, 2018

Group work, Session chairmanship
Scientific Committee Membership

26th The 26th Meeting of the Balkan ClinicalLaboratory Federation

Skopje, Macedonia
October 3th - 5th, 2018

Invited lecture and poster
presentation

15th Annual conference of the ESC Working
Group on myocardial and pericardial
diseases

Belgrade, Serbia
October 5th-7th, 2018

Invited lecture

VII Serbian Congress of Pharmacy withinternational participation

Belgrade, Serbia
October 10th-14th, 2018

Invited lecture

2nd International Congress of the SerbianCoronary Care Units Association

Belgrade, Serbia
November 3th-4th, 2018

Invited lecture
Scientific Committee Membership

Quality Day-Innovation by Abbott
Laboratories

Belgrade, Serbia
November 15th, 2018

Invited lecture

7th National Symposium of the Associationof Laboratory Technologists and Techniciansof Serbia with international participation

Tara, Serbia
November 15th-17th, 2018

Invited lecture

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSIFCC Affiliate Membership
IFCC Communications and Publications Division (CPD)
eJIFCC (WG-eJIFCC), Sanja Stankovic
EFLM Quality and Regulations Committee - Tatjana Vodnik
EFLM Science Committee - Sanja Stankovic
European Society of Pharmacogenomics and Personalised Therapy (ESPT)General Secretary Sanja Stankovic
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONWith the idea to support education and expanding the horizons of colleagues who work in
the field, SCLM has awarded one clinical chemist with registration fee for the 23 IFCC-EFLM
European Congress of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine 2019, to be held in Barcelona – ES,
19 - 23 May 2019.
SCLM has given two travel scholarship grants to two young scientists (Swarup A.V. Shah from
India and Janja Zupan from Slovenia) for attending SCLM international congress SERBIS 2018
and offer them an opportunity to present their research results.
SCLM has given one grant (travel grant and hotel accommodation) to one clinical chemist for
attending next national congress.

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