enews
International Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine

Communications and Publications Division (CPD) of the IFCC
Editor: Katherina Psarra, MSc, PhD
IFCC Office, Via C. Farini, 81
20159 Milano, Italy
E-mail: enews@ifcc.org

news

№9
September 20241

enewsIn this issue
Editorial
Message from the eNews Editor

4

The voice of IFCC
Message from the IFCC President

5

IFCC Professional Scientific Exchange Programme: My experience at the9

Chemical Pathology Division, Stellenbosch University and National Health
Laboratory Services (NHLS) Tygerberg Academic Laboratory, Tygerberg
Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lecturer Program (VLP) 2024 - 9th Annual Academic

11

Sessions at College of Chemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka, 12th and 13th July2024 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Mass Spectrometry Meets Clinical Laboratories

13

IFCC Calls for bids

14

Call For Outcome Study Proposals

15

IFCC: the people
Obituary: Dr. Tan It Koon, Clinical Biochemist, Artist, Pianist, Renaissance Man

16

Patrick Bossuyt, PhD, winner of the 2024 Wallace H. Coulter Lectureship Award

19

at ADLM congress, Chicago, USA

IFCC: the Young Scientists
IFCC Worldlab 2024 - Dubai through Young Scientists’ Eyes

212Contribute to IFCC eNews
GetCheckedOnline: Better access to testing for sexuallytransmitted and blood-24

borne infections
Early detection of metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease using

26

FIB-4
Improved management of patients with high LDL-C through electronic health27

record-directed algorithms for guidelineconcordant high-intensity statinprescribing
Lima: a must-see destination for the XXVII Congress of the Latin American

29

Association of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine – ALAPAC/ML 2024

News from Regional Federations and Member Societies
IFCC Expert Insights on Quality improvement in Laboratory Medicine and33

Patients’ Safety
SFBC – Société Française de Biologie Clinique : Webinar “Faster, Higher, Stronger

36– Together” : When laboratory medicine meets Olympic games

New IFCC Members
Beijng Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. Ltd;38

Instand e.V.

38

Lifotronic Technology Co. Ltd;39

IFCC’s Calendar of Congresses, Conferences & Events
IFCC and Regional Federations events

41

Corporate Member events with IFCC auspices

42

Other events with IFCC auspices

423Editorial
Dear colleagues
I am sure you are back to work full of energy after your relaxing
holidays and you are ready to plan your activities in the fall, winter, oreven the spring.
The eNews are here to help you by presenting all the opportunities
IFCC is offering to you. Our President Prof Tomris Ozben in her
message is inviting you to participate in the National and regional
congresses and she ia presenting the regional ones. She explains thatthe general conference will take place in Bruges together with theEuromedlab, to be held in Brussels in the spring. In her message she
invites you to benefit from the VLP and PEP IFCC programs.
Examples of these really successful programs are presented in thisissue. Go through them and think of their importance in your own
laboratorian’ s life.
Don’t miss Dr Tan It Koon’s obituary. You will learn about the life of agreat scientist, very important for clinical biochemistry in Singapore
and APFCB and an IFCC officer. Dr Tan It Koon was a great artist, aswell, a man of great talent.
In this issue you can also learn about the winner of the 2024 Wallace
H. Coulter Lectureship Award at ADLM congress, Chicago, Dr Patrick
Bossuyt and his research on developing methods to evaluate
diagnostic tests.
Univants again rewards very successful initiatives for people’s healththrough laboratory results. Some of these initiatives are presented
here.
You are cordially invited to Lima for the XXVII Congress of the Latin
American Association of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine –ALAPAC/ML 2024 by the Peruvian President, Dr. Luis Figueroa Montes.
You are also invited to participate in the hybrid conference on Mass
Spectrometry to be held in Greece together with the national Greek
Congress. It is organized by the IFCC Scientific Division and the Greek
Society of Clinical Chemistry- Clinical Biochemistry, It is a unique
opportunity to learn about the use of Mass Spectroscopy in clinicallaboratories.
In this issue you can also go through the very interesting article about
the French experience on the follow up of athletes and the doping
detection during or between the games.
I hope you will enjoy this wonderful information and the benefits IFCC
is offering to you.

Katherina Psarra, MSc,
PhD, eNews Editor

Katherina

4

The voice of IFCC
IFCC and Congress President’s Welcome Message
September 2024
By Tomris Ozben

Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends,
I hope most of you had a relaxing nice holiday and you are back to work
fresh. I’m delighted to share some important updates from the IFCC, as
our activities continue without any break.
Starting from September, there will be two Regional and several Nationalsociety meetings. They remain pivotal for laboratory professionals,
serving as vital platforms for knowledge exchange, professional
development and networking. I encourage active participation in thesemeetings. The IFCC provides auspices for congresses, conferences, IFCC
Corporate Member webinars, and other scientific/educational events to
support organizing committees in promoting their events and attracting
professional participation.

Prof. Tomris Ozben
EuSpLM, Ph.D.

IFCC Regional Federation, Latin American Confederation of Clinical
Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI) is organizing XXVI COLABIOCLI Congress
and XXII International Congress of the National College of Bacteriology
in Cartagena, Colombia from October 3 to 6, 2024. The slogan of thecongress is “Science and the Clinical Laboratory United for One
Health”, expressing commitment from the Clinical Laboratory, to work
together to promote, prevent, detect and respond effectively to healthchallenges arising from the relationship between humans, animals
and the environment. The IFCC Executive Board meeting will be heldon October 5 and October 6, 2024 during the Congress. IFCC is alsoorganizing three IFCC sponsored symposia during the Congress.
Another IFCC Regional Federation Congress will be organized by the
Asia-Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine(APFCB) in Sydney from 31 October–3 November 2024. The Congress will
be held in the spectacularly located International Convention Centre in
the heart of Sydney and just 8 km from the international airport. Sydney
is a hub for medical research and innovation, with numerous research
institutions and universities in the city.
I wish both Regional Federation congresses and all the National Society
meetings successful organizations.
Moving to 2025, I would like to draw your attention to the 26th European
Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EuroMedLab).
It will be hosted by the Royal Belgian Society of Laboratory Medicine(RBSLM) in conjunction with their 49th Annual Congress, set to takeplace in the vibrant heart and capital of Belgium, Brussels in May 1822, 2025. The congress will deliver a world-wide forum for the free andopen exchange of information on the science and technology of clinicalchemistry and laboratory medicine in the academic, clinical, and industrial
settings. The Scientific Program Committee has prepared an outstanding,
excellent scientific program. It will be shared with you very soon. I’m also
thrilled to see an increasing number of IFCC corporate members showing
a great interest in EuroMedLab Brussels. Their involvement underscores

Article continued on the next page5

Message from the
IFCC President

the growing collaboration between IFCC and the IVD industry, which is crucial for our collective
progress. We look forward to welcoming you to Brussels. Several satellite meetings are also underpreparation before or after the Congress.
https://www.euromedlab2025brussels.org/
According to the results of the survey conducted in March 2024, it emerged that the biennial IFCC
General Conference should have been preferably organized in conjunction with the EuroMedLab
Congress. As the last GC was organized in October 2022 in Brussels, the next IFCC General
Conference (GC) is planned in a different city in Belgium. Bruges (Belgium) was selected as thevenue of the General Conference to be held on May 16th and 17th, 2025 (Friday and Saturday)
before the next EuroMedLab Congress. I emphasize again that the choice to select Bruges andplan the GC before the EuroMedLab Congress follows the results of the recently held survey,
where it was indicated that the preferred choice to attend the GC is in conjunction with an IFCC
Congress. Bruges is well connected to Brussels with frequent train connections directly evenfrom the Brussels airport, therefore after the GC, it will be very easy to reach the EuroMedLabvenue and attend the EuroMedLab Congress. We are expecting a great interest for the General
Conference bringing together IFCC officers and IFCC Regional Federation, National Society
and Corporate Member representatives to discuss the current status of laboratory medicine,challenges and innovations shaping its future.
Furthermore, I want to highlight the call for studies by the Task Force on Outcome Studies inLaboratory Medicine (TF-OSLM). This presents a valuable opportunity to contribute to impactfulresearch in the field, with research funding available. TF-OSLM seeks proposals for studies
evaluating the impact of laboratory testing on health outcomes, with an application deadline of
October 1st, 2024. Don’t miss the chance to submit your research proposal. Visit the Database of
Outcome Studies in Laboratory Medicine for more information.
I am also delighted to announce that we have recently selected nine new recipients for
the Professional Exchange Program (PEP). This highly regarded program provides a unique
opportunity for emerging scientists in laboratory medicine to expand their expertise by visitinga host laboratory for up to three months. Whether learning a new technique (PSEP - Scientific
Programme) or acquiring essential management skills (PMEP - Management Programme), the
PEP is designed to foster both professional and personal growth. Over the past three years, 41
laboratory medicine professionals have benefited from this transformative experience, many ofwhom describe it as life-changing opportunity. We are confident that this year’s recipients willcontinue this tradition of excellence and bring valuable insights back to their home institutions.
The reports of the participants are always featured in the eNews.
I’m also proud to announce that the call for nominations for the IFCC Distinguished Awards for2025 will soon be distributed. These prestigious awards recognize outstanding contributionsin the field of laboratory medicine, and we encourage strong participation with distinguishednominations. We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors, whose support makes theseawards possible. We look forward to celebrating the exceptional achievements of our colleagues in
the coming year.
Finally, I am pleased to highlight the formation of two vital new committees within the IFCC: theCommittee on Molecular Diagnostics in Infectious Diseases (C-MDID), focusing on tuberculosis
diagnosis and antimicrobial resistance testing, and the Committee on Molecular Diagnostics
in Oncology (C-MDO), dedicated to enhancing the accuracy of molecular diagnostic methods
for circulating tumour cells and circulating tumour DNA in the diagnosis and management ofmalignant diseases. We are currently seeking nominations for 5 members, including 1 Chair and
4 Members, for each of these committees. If you are interested in these fields, please do nothesitate to contact your national representative for nomination: your participation in shaping

Article continued on the next page6

Message from the
IFCC President

these important initiatives is invaluable.
Thank you for your continued dedication and contributions to the IFCC community.
With my best regards
Prof. Dr Tomris Ozben
IFCC President

78IFCC Professional Scientific Exchange Programme:
My experience at the Chemical Pathology Division,
Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory
Services (NHLS) Tygerberg Academic Laboratory, Tygerberg
Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
By Dr. Uchechukwu, Chisom Esther, MBBS, Chemical Pathology Registrar, University of Nigeria
Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria.

I was fortunate to receive approval for my application to attend the IFCC sponsored PMEP at theChemical Pathology Division at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa from May to July
2024. The main aim of my visit was to learn and acquire laboratory quality and management skills to
help improve existing quality systems and build capacity at my base laboratory by translating theknowledge gained to the laboratory staff.
Tygerberg Academic Laboratory is an automated tertiary laboratory facility accredited to theInternational Organization for Standardization ISO 15189:2012 by the South Africa National
Accreditation System (SANAS) since January 2009. It regularly hosts IFCC-sponsored candidates,
thereby assisting health institutions in Africa to acquire and spread local leadership in implementing
quality improvement programs towards achieving accreditation. Accreditation to ISO 15189 standard
is a requirement for medical laboratory accreditation and recognized as global proof of competenceand quality.
I participated in the Leadership and Laboratory Management module presented at the Tygerbear
center, Cape Town from the 6th to 10th May 2024.The course was developed to impart leadershipskills, research, quality improvement skills and promote networking among young scientists andregistrars from different academic institutions in South Africa and other countries.
In the laboratory, I rotated through the various sections, observed and participated in sample anddata collection for different laboratory investigations, controlled quality system documentation,
attended monthly EQA meetings, weekly academic update and journal club meetings, and reviewed
the laboratory SOPs. I also attended regular audits with prompt root cause analysis, detection,correction of nonconformities and assisted with documentation of preventive process change
measures which are key attributes of continual improvement. I also assisted the registrars andpathologists with authorization of routine and specialized chemical pathology tests.
I visited the private Pathcare Reference Laboratory in Cape Town, a fully automated laboratory withstate-of-the-art facilities, the Red Cross Memorial Children Hospital, which specializes in laboratory
investigations of inborn errors of metabolism, the Clinical Pharmacology Division of Stellenbosch
University, where I learnt and gained a lot of knowledge on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and
the Pathology Research Facility at Stellenbosch University, where I observed and also carried out
genomic DNA extraction for the first time.
I wrote a proposal and received ethics approval for a research project investigating the use of
cardiac biomarkers at Tygerberg Academic Hospital. The research project was however halted
following a cyberattack on the South Africa NHLS Information Technology system in June 2024.
However, this project will be continued remotely once the IT system is fully restored.
Although the cyberattack delayed my project and affected some of my proposed rotations, I gained
valuable experience as I assisted the chemical pathology staff with troubleshooting and manual test
performance and communication of results.

Article continued on the next page

9

IFCC Professional ScientificExchange Programme

I also networked with other international students during social and shopping outings and enjoyeda cool cable ride to the famous Table Mountain with a breathtaking view from the mountain top overCape Town and Camps Bay. I went on the blue bus tour round the beautiful city of Cape town, visitedthe Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, World of Birds and Monkey Jungle, the Mariner’s Wharf,
Hout Bay Harbor and the Groot Constantia Winery, where I attended a wine making and tasting
lesson.
I’m sincerely grateful to my Host, Professor AE Zemlin for the warm reception, ensuring I was
comfortable throughout my stay and granting me unlimited access to the laboratory. I also
appreciate my Supervisor, Dr EC Kruger and all the staff of the Division of Chemical Pathology,
Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Thank you IFCC for this rare and golden opportunity given to me and by extension for learning andimproving our Laboratory Management skills as we strive toward achieving accreditation.

Visit to the Famous Table Mountain

Group Photo with Staff members at Chemical Pathology
Division at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town

With Dr. M Hoffman at Pathcare Reference Lab

With my Host, Prof. AE Zemlin

10

IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lecturer Program (VLP) 2024 9th Annual Academic Sessions at College of Chemical
Pathologists of Sri Lanka, 12th and 13th July 2024 Colombo,
Sri Lanka
By Dr. Thushari Vithanage, Consultant Chemical Pathologist/Joint Secretary of the College of Chemical
Pathologist of Sri Lanka Teaching Hospital, RathnapuraThis report aims to provide a concise overview of the College of Chemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka’s
experience with the IFCC- Abbott Visiting Lecturer Programme (VLP). The report highlights thecollege’s gratitude for the program’s support in providing two eminent speakers for their 9th Annual
Academic Sessions, which was held on 12th and 13th July 2024 at Hotel Galadari, Colombo, Sri Lanka. It
acknowledges the successful conference, the positive reception of the lectures delivered by Dr Farhan
Ahmed and Dr Mehdi Mirzazadeh, the problem-solving achievements, networking opportunities, and thehope for continued support from the IFCC VLP in the future.
The College of Chemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka expresses deep gratitude to the IFCC Abbott Visiting
Lecturer Programme for their support in providing two eminent speakers for their Annual Academic
Sessions. Despite the adverse economic situation Sri Lanka is facing currently, the college is extremely
grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such renowned experts.
The conference organized by the college was a resounding success, attracting a wide range ofprofessionals in the field of Chemical Pathology. There were 75 participants in the main academic programand 290 participants in the Medical Laboratory Science program.
The lectures delivered by Dr Farhan Ahmed and Dr Mehdi Mirzazadeh were exceptionally well received by
the attendees. Their expertise, knowledge, and engaging presentation styles made a significant impact
on the participants, providing them with valuable insights into the latest advancements in the field.
The VLP facilitated meaningful discussions and problem-solving sessions, allowing participants toaddress various challenges faced in the field of chemical pathology. Through interactive exchanges andcollaborative efforts, participants were able to find practical solutions to the problems they encountered.
The VLP played a vital role in fostering a collaborative environment that facilitated the sharing ofexperiences and expertise among professionals.
Also, the VLP provided an excellent platform for networking and establishing connections among theprofessionals in the field of chemical pathology. Participants had the opportunity to meet and engage
with colleagues from different institutions and backgrounds. These networking interactions allowed
for the exchange of ideas, best practices, and potential collaborations. The opportunity to build suchconnections was invaluable for enhancing professional growth and fostering future partnerships.
The College of Chemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka expresses its sincere hope for continued support fromthe IFCC Abbott Visiting Lecturer Programme in the future. The collaboration with IFCC VLP has been
instrumental in the success of the annual sessions, and the college believes that further support would
strengthen its ability to provide high-quality education and professional development opportunities in
the field of Chemical Pathology. The college is eager to continue working with the IFCC VLP to promote
excellence and advancement in the field.

Article continued on the next page11

IFCC-Abbott Visiting
Lecturer Program (VLP) 2024

Dr Farhan Ahmed during his presentation

Dr Farhan Ahmed at the interactive sessions

Dr Mehdi Mirzazadeh on the stage

12

Mass Spectrometry Meets Clinical Laboratories

On behalf of the IFCC Scientific Division and the Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry- Clinical
Biochemistry, we have the pleasure of announcing a joint Clinical Mass Spectrometry congressfor diagnostic purposes. The Congress Title of this event is “Mass Spectrometry Meets ClinicalLaboratories”. The conference will be held as hybrid (physical presence and virtual) facilitatingcolleagues who cannot attend in person. This event aims to highlight that automated and robust
mass spectrometry is becoming a valuable asset and feasible technology in medical laboratories, notonly for small molecules but also for metabolite and protein/proteoform profile testing, to fulfil theclinical needs of essential precision medicine applications.
The objectives of the organizers of the congress are to inform laboratory professionals, trainees
and clinicians about the strengths and challenges of mass spectrometry in medical laboratories
with special emphasis on standardization and quality of test results. In addition to traditional
laboratory-developed applications, new commercial applications and technology developments will
be discussed.
The Scientific and Organizing Committees of the IFCC SD and the GSCC-CB created a comprehensive
scientific program that is focused on Clinical Mass Spectrometry. It encompasses basic, intermediate
and advanced applications. Experts and end-users will share their knowledge and experiences withspecial focus on the latest developments mass spectrometry for medical testing. This interactive
meeting will allow participants to contribute with their ideas and help shape the future of clinicaltesting using mass spectrometry. The conference will provide the opportunity to network withexperts and end-users in the field, and to develop new and advance existing knowledge and skills.
This event is scheduled to take place in Athens, Greece, from November 8 - 10, 2024,and is hosted by
the GSCC-CB. The registration is open: Mass Spectrometry Meets Clinical Laboratories (https://eekxkb.gr/22pskx/)
Christa Cobbaert, IFCC SD Chair

Hubert Vesper, Member IFCC SD
Konstantinos Makris, Vice-Chair IFCC SD

13

Milan, June 10, 2024
To: Presidents and IFCC/EFLM National Representatives ofEuropean National Societies of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

EUROMEDLAB 2027 – INVITATION TO BID
Dear Colleagues,
As you are aware, the EUROMEDLAB conference is the premier event in European laboratory medicine,
held every two years. Last year’s conference was successfully held in Rome, Italy.
IFCC and EFLM are now pleased to invite formal bids from European National Societies to host the
EUROMEDLAB 2027. The selection of the host city for EUROMEDLAB 2027 will be made by therespective IFCC and EFLM Executive Boards (Please see “Guidelines Rev.17.” document in
attachment).
All applications should be submitted using the enclosed form B, and must be received by September 30,
2024 at following email addresses: ifcc@ifcc.org and eflm@eflm.eu.
We look forward to receiving your bids for the 2027 EUROMEDLAB Congress of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine!
With best wishes,

Tomris Ozben
President, IFCC

Pȁivi Laitinen

Chair, Congresses and Conferences Division, IFCC

Mario Plebani

President, EFLM

Daria Pasalic

Chair, Education and Training Committee, EFLM

IFCC / EFLM OFFICE
Via Carlo Farini 81 - 20159 Milano, Italy - Tel: +39 02 66809912 - Fax: +39 02 60781846 - e-mail: ifcc@ifcc.org
http://www.ifcc.org - http://www.eflm.eu

14Call For Outcome Study Proposals

The IFCC Task Force on Outcome Studies in Laboratory Medicine (TF-OSLM) is seeking research
proposals for studies evaluating the impact of laboratory testing on healthcare outcomes.
Submit your proposals to contribute to this vital field and help enhance healthcare throughinnovative laboratory research.
It is crucial to demonstrate that the study links the laboratory testing to patient management, andimprovements/changes in clinical outcomes.
Please refer to https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvad132 for details.
Timeline Release date: June 25, 2024
Application deadline: October 1, 2024 @ 11:59 PM ESTAward notification: December 20, 2024
Application process••

Applications and supporting documents (in PDF format) must be submitted via the
Application form link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeG7A0TQoPjyK8GBSfO_
tXgErYSrdY5fGRtMKRbdZGWvHXdEA/viewform?pli=1
For any questions, please email the IFCC Office (smeralda.skenderaj@ifcc.org).

For further information about the TF activities, please visit:https://ifcc.org/executive-board-and-council/eb-task-forces/task-force-on-outcome-studies-inlaboratory-medicine-tf-oslm/

15

IFCC: the people
Obituary - Dr. Tan It Koon, Clinical Biochemist, Artist,
Pianist, Renaissance Man
By Joseph Lopez

Dr Tan It Koon, the founding President of the Singapore Association of Clinical Biochemists(SACB) and the APFCB, passed away on May 1st this year. Dr Tan was a pioneer clinical biochemist
who loomed large in the Asia-Pacific region. During his lifetime, he served our profession with
distinction and received acclaim as an artist, calligrapher and concert pianist.
Dr Tan graduated from the University of Singapore (now the National University of Singapore)with a First Class BSc Honours degree. He spent his entire professional life at the Departmentof Pathology of the Singapore General Hospital, where, as its Head, he managed its laboratory
services, conducted training and undertook research. Dr Tan completed his PhD in Biochemistryin 1970, while working at the department and subsequently undertook post-doctoral studies in
the United Kingdom and in the United States. In addition, he obtained professional qualificationsin clinical biochemistry, these being the Mastership in Clinical Biochemistry (MCB), the Fellowshipof the Royal College of Pathologists UK (FRCPath) and the Fellowship of the American Academy ofClinical Biochemistry (FACB).
In early 1991, at the request of the Singapore Government, he established a national referencelaboratory for the investigation and diagnosis of inherited metabolic disorders. The resultsof the 13-year study in this area were shared at congresses and in publications. Later, at therequest of the Deputy Prime Minister of his country, he authored a position paper on the value of
Biotechnology in Singapore and organised an international Symposium on Biotechnology. These
activities resulted in the establishment of the first Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology(IMCB) in Singapore.
Dr Tan became a clinical biochemist just as the field was emerging as a profession in its own
right. This led him to initiate the formation of the SACB, which he served as President for several
years. With colleagues from Australia, he founded the APFCB, of which he was elected the first
President. Together, they pioneered the APFCB congresses, with the first two held in Singapore,in 1979 and 1982. In his capacity as an APFCB office holder for many years, Dr Tan was also
actively involved in the organisation of several subsequent congresses. He started the APFCBNews in 1983 and was its editor for many years.
Dr Tan was the first Asian to be elected to the IFCC Executive Board. As a WHO consultant andmember of its various Expert Committees, he conducted educational training courses for clinical

Article continued on the next page16

Obituary - Dr. Tan It Koon, Clinical
Biochemist, Artist, Pianist, Renaissance Man

laboratory staff in the Asia-Pacific region. As a member of the Asian-Pacific Scientific Advisory Boardof Becton Dickinson for over 10 years, he was involved in the publication of the BD Analyte Notes andthe conduct of courses on pre- and non- analytical errors. He published more than 150 articles in local
and international peer-reviewed journals, he was a speaker or session chairman at various national
and international conferences, and he served on the editorial board of several journals and books.
Dr Tan’s innate talent in art and music became manifested in early childhood. His musical studies
commenced under Singapore’s most well known music teachers, just before entering primary school.
He was fortunate to be tutored throughout his secondary school and beyond by Singapore’s first
generation of artists who were recipients of the prestigious National Cultural Medallion Awards.
Dr Tan gave his first public piano recital at the Victoria Memorial Hall, in Singapore, in 1957 andsubsequently won top prizes for piano performances in 1959 and in the early 1960s. He was thewinner of the Yamaha Singapore-Malaysia Music Composition Competition in mid-1970, where his
winning composition was performed by the National Theatre Choir with him on the piano.
Dr Tan was an accomplished artist. His paintings during high school days won top awards at art
exhibitions. He was invited to participate in the annual National Day art exhibitions organised by theSingapore Ministry of Culture from 1970. His more recent paintings accompanied with description,from the past decade and earlier, have appeared in the APFCB News and Clinical Chemistry. His
outstanding achievements in the arts resulted in him being appointed by the Singapore Cabinet to
the top management of the National Theatre Trust, a body dedicated to the promotion of culturaldevelopment and the performing arts.
Dr Tan spoke several Chinese dialects and languages. Even while he was busy working full-time inclinical biochemistry, his involvement with music, painting and calligraphy never ceased. He gave
piano recitals at public concerts and private musical soirees. Even in his latter years, he painted andpractised his calligraphy and piano, often well into the night. In recent decades, his art works havebeen exhibited annually in Singapore and abroad. Dr Tan served as the President of the Southeast
Asian Art Association and chaired its art exhibition organising committee for a number of years. He
adjudicated the annual national level calligraphy competition for schools and tertiary institutions
and was appointed adviser for promotion of cultural heritage and art at the Ngee Ann Corporation
and Chaozhou Clan Association more than a decade ago. More recently, Dr Tan’s profile and artworks
earned him a chapter in each of four art books published in China featuring distinguished ethnic
Chinese artists.
Dr Tan’s immense contributions to the sciences and arts resulted in him being presented with two
National Day Awards by the Government of Singapore and appointment to the Boards of the Cultural
Foundation and Science Council of Singapore. Recognition by his peers in laboratory medicine cameby way of international awards, including the inaugural APFCB Distinguished Service Award.
The European Renaissance from the 14th century to the 17th century was an intense period of
cultural, artistic, political and economic flourish. Some of the greatest thinkers, authors, statesmen,scientists and artists in human history emerged during this era. The Renaissance Man, an
ideal which evolved from that time, recognised that the human kind had limitless capacities fordevelopment in multiple spheres of endeavour. The foremost embodiment of the Renaissance Man
was perhaps Leonardo da Vinci, whose extraordinary gifts were manifest in the fields of art, science,music, invention and writing.
Dr Tan It Koon was a rare and exceptionally talented person. Requiescat in pace, Renaissance Man.
(The writer is a founding member of the Malaysian ACB, a past President of the APFCB and a pastmember of the IFCC Executive Board who knew Dr Tan from the mid-1970s. We remained in touch until
recently.)

Article continued on the next page17

Obituary - Dr. Tan It Koon, Clinical
Biochemist, Artist, Pianist, Renaissance Man

Three samples of Dr Tan It Koon’s work in the arts:
1. Postage stamps produced jointly by China and Japan to commemorate the 42nd Anniversaryof Sino-Japan Peace, Cultural and Art Exchange Agreement which featured a number of Dr Tan’s
artworks.

2. A piano recital by Dr Tan

3. An example of Dr Tan’s art and calligraphy with explanation
A 5-ft long ink-colour Chinese brush painting combined with calligraphy by Dr Tan: *”An Ox witha Young Cowherd Playing the Piccolo* “. The inspiration for this painting came from the Song
Dynasty poet (1045-1105) Huang Tingjian’s “Poem of A Young Cowherd” that consisted of four
sentences, each with seven words. It may be interpreted as follows: “A young cowherd riding onan ox passes a distant village. Sound of his piccolo playing could be heard drifting across the farm
fields. Many famous and wealth-seeking people in the capital city of Changan spend too much timeand effort in plotting schemes to bring them fame and fortune. How can they be compared with the
cowherd who is so carefree and void of worry and stress? The poem in the artwork was written in the
Running Script.

18

Patrick Bossuyt, PhD, winner of the 2024 Wallace H. Coulter
Lectureship Award at ADLM congress, Chicago, USA
The case for putting lab testing to the ultimate test —clinical trials
Highlight from ADLM

Modern medicine cannot operate without diagnostic tests, which are intended to improve patients’
health and enhance healthcare efficiency without compromising outcomes. Yet demonstrating thattests are delivering on these goals is no easy task. In the ADLM (former AACC) congress opening
plenary lecture, Patrick Bossuyt, PhD, winner of the 2024 Wallace H. Coulter Lectureship Award,
made a compelling case for why we need strong clinical trials of laboratory tests.
The IFCC congratulates dr Patrick Bossuyt for this important and so very well-deserved Award.
Among his many roles, dr Patrick Bossuyt was a former member of the IFCC Working Group on
Harmonization of Autoimmune Tests (WG-HAT)
Bossuyt is a professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Amsterdam whose research
focuses on developing methods to evaluate diagnostic tests. He noted that clinical trials are alreadywidely accepted as the standard for assessing the safety and efficacy of new pharmaceuticals andother interventions in clinical medicine, such as surgical strategies. However, laboratory medicine has
lagged with respect to adopting a clinical-trial-style approach toward assessing diagnostic value.
Bossuyt explained that diagnostic-accuracy studies should aim to evaluate the degree to which
medical tests correctly classify study participants as having a target condition. This type ofinvestigation is difficult to do and requires precise scientific protocols. Researchers must carefully
consider the challenges, which include figuring out how to recruit participants, define eligibility
criteria, develop appropriate controls, and handle missing data.
Unfortunately, this work is not always done, and the ramifications can be significant. Bossuyt pointed
out that study-design shortcomings may be partially to blame for the relative lack of successful new
biomarkers and clinical tests.
To address this lack of rigor, Bossuyt led the effort to develop Standards for Reporting Diagnostic
Accuracy Studies (STARD), which has identified 30 items that should be included when reportingon diagnostic tests to aid in evaluating study completeness and transparency. Importantly, herecommended considering these items as early as possible during a study’s design phase.
The first version of STARD, which was published in 2003, helped raise awareness about theimportance of strong study designs, protocols, and analysis plans for diagnostic test evaluations.
STARD has caught the eye of regulatory bodies, journal editorial boards, and clinical researchers
around the world. Notably, since its update in 2015, the STARD guidelines have been cited over 1,000
times.
During his talk, Bossuyt shared some of his professional background and career path. He has
authored more than 1,000 articles and continues to be incredibly prolific. He has also trained morethan 100 doctoral students.
Bossuyt made it clear that rigorous clinical trials should be applied to medical tests. His talk was acall to action for laboratory medicine professionals to rethink how diagnostic tests are evaluated andultimately improve the evidence base for tests used in medical decision-making.
* Source: Based on CLN Daily Report from Gabrielle N. Winston-McPherson, PhD

Article continued on the next page19

Patrick Bossuyt, PhD, winner of the 2024 Wallace
H. Coulter Lectureship Award at ADLM congressd.d. 29th July 2024

Patrick Bossuyt, PhD, winnerof the 2024 Wallace H. Coulter
Lectureship Award at ADLM
congress, Chicago, USA The
case for putting lab testing
to the ultimate test — clinical
trialsOn behalf of the IFCC SD Committee on Bone Metabolism (C-BM) you are kindly invited to participate
in their survey.
The aim of this survey is to assess the use of PTH, vitamin D and bone markers in clinical practiceworldwide.
No individual responses will be presented, and the privacy of individual respondents will be
respected.If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Prof. Etienne Cavalier(Etienne.Cavalier@chuliege.be)
The deadline for completion is September 30th, 2024.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2WFFLRZ
We value your input!

20

IFCC: the Young Scientists
IFCC Worldlab 2024 - Dubai through Young Scientists’ Eyes
- Part 3
Task Force for Young Scientists (compiled by Udara Senarathne, Sri Lanka)

José Larramendi
Maciel Hospital - Uruguay
After finishing my bachelor&#39;s degree, I was somewhat disoriented
about my next steps. Being in this state I realized that the Forumfor Young Scientists and the IFCC WorldLab would be the perfectopportunity to meet professionals and fellow young scientists from allaround the world who could share their experiences and help me to find
my way. After attending both events thanks to the Travel Scholarship
Programme I can say that the experience was a turning point in myprofessional and personal development. The atmosphere, thepresentations, and especially the people gave me the ideas and the
motivation to continue engaging in this beautiful profession. I truly have
no words to describe how thankful I am to everyone involved in thischapter of my life.
Shanel Raghubeer
Cape Peninsula University of Technology - South Africa
Attending the IFCC WorldLab 2024 in Dubai was an extraordinaryand enriching experience, providing invaluable opportunities for
professional growth and cultural exploration. The conference featured
inspiring plenary talks and innovative sessions that showcased
cutting-edge advancements in clinical chemistry and laboratory
medicine. The presentation of my poster was a highlight of my trip.
The Young Scientist Forum was very rewarding, facilitating meaningfulconnections with peers from around the world who share similar
research interests and career goals. This initiative underscored theimportance of global scientific cooperation and mentorship, creating avibrant community of emerging scientists. Networking with both young
and established researchers enriched my understanding of the diverse
scientific landscape and opened avenues for future collaborations. The
knowledge gained, connections made, and inspiration drawn from thisevent will shape my future endeavours in clinical chemistry, leaving alasting impact on my career and growth as a young scientist.

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21

IFCC Worldlab 2024 - Dubai
through Young Scientists’ Eyes

Jamal Amri
Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Iran
Attending the IFCC YS Forum, Dubai 2024 and meeting professors andyoung scientists from different countries was a unique experience forme. This opportunity allowed me to update my knowledge in the field ofclinical biochemistry and get to know the latest scientific achievementsof researchers in different panels and discuss with young scientists withthe understanding of cooperation for the future. Besides the panels,
the presence of unique workshops and companies providing services in
the laboratory field also added to the quality of the congress. Getting toknow the university system of the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah was
also interesting for me. On behalf of my country, I would like to thank the
IFCC YS Forum for inviting me and the travel scholarship to participate
in this important event, and I hope that more young scientists frommy country can participate in these congresses in the future and takeadvantage of the unique opportunity provided to them.
Sathya Selvarajan
MGM HEALTHCARE CHENNAI, Tamil Nadu – India
The Young Scientists Forum at IFCC WorldLab Congress Dubai 2024
provided an excellent platform to network with peers globally andexchange ideas on research and subject matters. I actively participatedin dynamic networking sessions and presented my research at the
Poster Tour, where I was honored to receive an award for the bestposter. I am truly grateful for the encouragement, recognition, andsuggestions provided by the forum. This experience highlighted
the importance of emerging trends and leadership skills in clinicalbiochemistry, and the insights and connections I gained will significantly
influence my future work and career development.
Nano Mikaia
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University – Georgia
I am a PhD student in biology and genetics at the Molecular Laboratory
Specialist at LTD ‘Vistamedi”. I want to share my experience with the
IFCC Forum for Young Scientists, 3rd edition, Dubai. Our research,“Implementation of Molecular Markers Targeting Thrombosis-Related
Conditions in the Real Clinical Practice,” has been selected to present
during the Young Scientists Poster Tour. First, I would like to thank IFCC
and the YS forum for choosing and giving such a great opportunity tointroduce research, for giving opportunities to colleagues from aroundthe world to improve our professional capabilities, and for supporting,encouraging, and helping young scientists reach scientific goals. I had
the opportunity to interact with other young scientists from around theworld and get acquainted with their works. I’m very proud that I was partof this.

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22

IFCC Worldlab 2024 - Dubai
through Young Scientists’ Eyes

Rajan Paudel
Nepal Association for Medical Laboratory Sciences (NAMLS) - Nepal
Having been awarded the IFCC Travel Scholarship, I was able toparticipate in the Third IFCC Forum for Young Scientists as well as IFCCWorldLab 2024 - Dubai, UAE. I had the honor of presenting my researchfindings at the IFCC WorldLab 2024 Young Scientists Poster Tour. I was
motivated to seek out more expertise in our profession by this platform.
In addition, the occasion offered me a fantastic chance to network withboth seasoned professionals and aspiring scientists, as well as to gain
valuable insights and feedback. These interactions have broadened
my view of the world via the lens of laboratory medicine. I would liketo express my sincere gratitude to the IFCC for providing me with the“IFCC Travel Scholarship” so that I could attend the XXVI International
Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the IFCC
Forum for Young Scientists in Dubai (UAE) from May 26 to 30, 2024, andfor making such a worthwhile and educational event. This event has
been a major turning point in my laboratory medicine career and futureaspirations.
Genzane Muçaj Kurti
Clinic of Medical Biochemistry, University Clinical Center of Kosovo Republic of Kosovo
My attendance at the 26th International Congress of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine and the FORUM for Young Scientists 3rd editionin Dubai proved transformative for both me and the Kosova Associationof Clinical Chemistry (KACC). Witnessing the latest advancements inlaboratory medicine firsthand, I returned not just with knowledge, butwith a renewed vigor to elevate our national standards. The Young
Scientists’ Forum provided invaluable networking opportunities andexposure to global best practices. This experience ignited a spark in
our younger KACC members, fostering a collaborative environment
where fresh ideas are not just welcomed but actively encouraged. As a
direct result, the KACC is undergoing a revitalization. We’re focusing on
expanding our educational programs, fostering research collaborations,and advocating for policy changes that prioritize laboratory quality in
Kosovo. It’s an exciting time, as we strive to build a vibrant communityof laboratory professionals dedicated to delivering exceptional patientcare. The IFCC events in Dubai served as a catalyst for change,
reminding us of the global landscape we’re part of, and the potential we
have, to make significant contributions to healthcare in Kosovo. It’s notjust about keeping pace with the world, but about actively shaping our
future, and that’s exactly what the KACC is committed to doing.

23

Contribute to IFCC eNews
GetCheckedOnline: Better access to testing for sexuallytransmitted and blood-borne infections
Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) can compromise quality of life, sexualand reproductive health, and the health and well-being of newborns. STBBIs can also indirectlyexpedite sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and can cause some cancers.
Fortunately, many STBBIs are curable or manageable, with appropriate treatment. A key step intreatment and to help mitigate downstream transmission, is early diagnosis, and partner notification.
Many barriers can exist related to STBBI screening and treatment, including access to services andcare, wait times, concerns around confidentiality, stigma, and fear of judgement or discrimination.
These barriers, coupled with the increasing rates of STBBIs in the last decade, reinforce this asa public health issue globally and further emphasize the need for targeted initiatives for STBBI
diagnosis and treatment.
Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections(STBBI) can compromise quality of life, sexualand reproductive health, and the health andwell-being of newborns. STBBIs can also
indirectly expedite sexual transmission ofhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancause some cancers. Fortunately, many STBBIs
are curable or manageable, with appropriate
treatment. A key step in treatment and to help
mitigate downstream transmission, is early
diagnosis, and partner notification.
Pictured from left to right: Garth Graham, Devon Haag, Mark
Gilbert, Meghan McLennan, Susie van der Valk

Many barriers can exist related to STBBI
screening and treatment, including accessto services and care, wait times, concerns around confidentiality, stigma, and fear of judgement
or discrimination. These barriers, coupled with the increasing rates of STBBIs in the last decade,reinforce this as a public health issue globally and further emphasize the need for targeted
initiatives for STBBI diagnosis and treatment. This low-barrier service is free and confidential,
enabling increased engagement, reflected in a 2022 survey indicating that 87% of people testing
through GetCheckedOnline (GCO) report that they test earlier and more often than they would ifthey were testing through a regular clinic or healthcare provider, with 11% reporting they would nothave tested if GCO had not been available. Importantly, survey results also indicate the program isreaching equity seeking populations, with 13% of GCO testers identified as Indigenous (First Nations,
Inuit or Metis) and 14% identified as transgender. Use of GCO was also significantly higher amongpeople of color (vs. white), gender minority (vs. men), transgender (vs. cisgender) and sexual minority(vs. heterosexual) participants. In an additional 2022 survey >50% of regular GCO users indicated asexual identity other than heterosexual, including gay, bisexual, queer and pansexual.
“For clients looking for routine testing, GetCheckedOnline is a fantastic tool. Many clients areexperienced testers and do not require the services of a physician or nurse. This frees up valuable
and often scarce clinician resources to focus on clients with significant STI needs, such as those whoare symptomatic or looking for preventative STI care such as HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
initiation.” - Natalie Holgerson, Clinical Nursing Supervisor, Provincial STBBI Clinic Clinical Prevention
Services Department British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
For their commitment to healthcare excellence and the remarkable outcomes associated with GCO,

Article continued on the next page24

GetCheckOnline: Better access to testing forsexually transmitted and blood-borne infections

the team behind GetCheckedOnline received 2024 Top Honors from the UNIVANTS of Healthcare
Excellence award program. Congratulations to Devon Haag, Manager, Digital Public Health Services,
BC Centre for Disease Control, Meghan McLennan, Manager, Laboratory Operations, BC Centre
for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory, Garth Graham, Director, Government Contracts
Management BC, LifeLabs, Mark Gilbert, Public Health Physician, Clinical Prevention Services, BC
Centre for Disease Control, Susie van der Valk, Manager, Specialized Provincial & Ancillary Solutions,
Provincial Health Services Authority.

25

Early detection of metabolic-dysfunction associatedsteatotic liver disease using FIB-4
Chronic diseases continue to plague populations around the globe, with obesity and metabolic
diseases no exception. These public health threats cannot be understated, and can lead tosignificant morbidity and mortality, including decreased quality of life, cardiovascular disease,diabetes, osteoarthritis, cancer and liver disease. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liverdisease (MASLD), steatotic liver disease caused by factors other than excessive alcohol use, occurs
most often in the presence of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, and is the mostcommon chronic liver disease, affecting more than 30% of the global population.
Despite significant global prevalence, MASLD is considered a silent epidemic, as signs and symptoms
typically do not manifest until the disease progresses to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH),
cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and/or end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Consequently,
early identification through targeted screening of high-risk individuals can minimize morbidity andmortality. In recent years, the Fibrosis-4 scoring system has emerged as an accessible and useful
tool for screening programs, in part because it is non-invasive compared to biopsies, accessible inresource constrained environments and valuable in primary care. FIB-4 grades liver fibrosis using
age, ALT, AST and platelet count to help direct next steps, if needed.
Appreciating the value of FIB-4 and the increased levels of diabetes and obesity in Malaysia, PremierIntegrated Labs Sdn Bhd implemented FIB-4 screening in July 2022 to help enable early liver disease
identification in primary care, enable appropriate triage and intervention, and reduce overall disease
burden. Since implementation >39,000 patients have been screened, enabling identification of 5,662
patients with ‘moderate or high risk’ of MASLD. These patients can now receive early treatment
to help minimize disease. Conversely, 33,358 patients were classified as ‘low risk’ and as such, did
not require further referral, thus saving resources. Ultimately, FIB-4-guided early follow-up andintervention, patient outcomes have improved, including increased patient wellness, mitigatedhospital stays and reduced absenteeism. Impressively, FIB-4 has also enhanced clinical decisionmaking, reaching 74% utilization amongst primary care physicians.

Pictured from left to right: Leslie Charles Lai Chin Loy, Mun
Yee Evonne Kong, Hareeff Muhammed, Yoke Lee Low.

This impressive initiative and important outcomes
have not only improved care and outcomes but
saved precious healthcare budget. For theirimportant role in this integrated clinical careinitiative, Yoke Lee Low, Biochemist, Departmentof Pathology, Premier Integrated Labs, Hareeff
Muhammed, Chief Executive Officer, PremierIntegrated Labs, Leslie Charles Lai Chin Loy,
Consultant, Chemical Pathologist, and Metabolic
Medicine Specialist, Premier Integrated Labs,
Mun Yee, Evonne Kong, Senior Manager, Medical
Affairs and Quality, Premier Integrated Labs havereceived Top Recognition associated with the2024 UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence award

program. Congratulations!
To learn more about this initiative, the UNIVANTS programs and/or to apply, please visit
www.UnivantsHCE.com

26

Improved management of patients with high LDL-C throughelectronic health record-directed algorithms for guidelineconcordant high-intensity statin prescribing
The development of fatty deposits in your blood vessels is silent, with no symptoms ofhypercholesterolemia until a potentially catastrophic event such a heart attack or stroke.
Hypercholesterolemia accounts for a third of ischemic heart disease, an estimated 2.6 million
deaths (4.5% of total) and 29.7 million DALYS (Disability-adjusted life year) globally. Laboratory
medicine. Measurement of low density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-C) is the only way to detect
hypercholesterolemia and is increasingly important with a global hypercholesterolemia prevalence of
39% in adults.
Available treatment for elevated cholesterol include lifestyle changes and medications, suchas statins. Statins are highly effective at reducing LDL-C, safe for most people, and are therecommended treatment for hypercholesterolemia. Despite their effectiveness, high-intensity
statins are underutilized among adults with LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL. Consequently, as part of the SureNet
program, Kaiser Permanente Southern California conceived and initiated the Statin Start program.
The program aims to identify undiagnosed and untreated hypercholesterolemia (LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL)
and enable treatment and follow-up. Using electronic surveillance to identify patients with gaps incare, high-intensity statin orders and lipid panel testing are automatically generated for primary careprovider approval. To help ensure approval and minimize care provider burden, care managers alert apatient’s primary care provider of pending orders for their approval. Patients are then notified of their
new prescription and follow-up laboratory requisition.

Pictured from left to right: Kristi Reynolds, Matthew Mefford,
Michael Kanter, Ronald Scott, Tracey Imley

Through this multi-disciplinary collaboration,
there was a 6% improvement (from 21.5% to27.5%) in high-intensity statin prescription orders
for patients with LDL-C at or above 190 mg/dL,
corresponding to a 22.2% relative increase (from34.7% to 42.4%, p<0.001) in the proportion ofpatients who improved their LDL-C below 190mg/
dL. Impressively, clinicians also find this program
beneficial to their workload. “The KPSC SureNet
program reduces the clinician burden associatedwith identifying and correcting missed diagnosisof hyperlipidemia and missing medications andlab orders, enabling clinicians to focus on highquality patient care. In addition,

the program eliminated a missed diagnosis of hyperlipidemia in patients with an LDL at or above 190
mg/dL.” Michael Kanter, Chair of the Department of Clinical Science; Professor, Kaiser Permanente
Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Associate Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Department of Research & Evaluation
For their commitment to patient care and measurably better healthcare, the Kaiser Permanente
SureNet, Statin Start program team have been awarded the Top 2024 UNIVANTS of Healthcare
Excellence award. Congratulations to Matthew Mefford, Research Scientist, Department ofResearch & Evaluation, Michael Kanter, Chair of the Department of Clinical Science; Professor,
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine Associate Investigator, Kaiser Permanente
Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation, Ronald Scott, Family Medicine; Cholesterol
and Cardiovascular Risk National Clinical Lead, KPSC Co-Lead, Southern California Permanente
Medical Group, Kristi Reynolds, Director, Epidemiologic Research, Department of Research &Evaluation Professor, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Tracy Imley, Regional
Assistant Medical Director, Quality, Clinical Analysis, and Value Demonstration.
To learn more about this best practice and others, and/or to apply for the 2025 UNIVANTS of
Healthcare Excellence awards, please visit www.UnivantsHCE.com.

27

DON’T MISS OUT…

ACT NOW!

The UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence Award
recognizes teams who collaborate across disciplines andtransform healthcare delivery, and ultimately patient lives.
Submit your team application to the UNIVANTS of
Healthcare Excellence Award program on or before
November 15th at UnivantsHCE.com.
The time is now to highlight your healthcare excellence!

© 2023 Abbott. All rights reserved. ADD-132526-GBL-EN.

28

Lima: a must-see destination for the XXVII Congress of
the Latin American Association of Clinical Pathology andLaboratory Medicine – ALAPAC/ML 2024
by Dr. Luis Figueroa Montes, President of AMPPC and ALAPAC Peru

Lima, the capital of Peru, is a city rich in history and culture, with a vibrant mix of tradition andmodernity. This metropolis is not only the economic and political center of the country, but also an
epicenter for education and innovation in health in Latin America. In this context, Lima is presented
as the perfect place to host the XXVII Congress of the Latin American Association of Clinical
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (ALAPAC/ML), an event that promises to mark a turning point in
the transformation of laboratory medicine in the region.

Coastline in the city of Lima

ALAPAC/ML was founded in Lima on September 23, 1976 by delegations from Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Peru, in response to the need of the sistercountries of Latin America to defend the prestige of the specialty in Clinical Pathology, covering allareas of its work. Since then, the association has become the guiding authority for the thinking ofclinical pathologists in the region. Below, I share the main details of this outstanding academic event.
It is important to highlight that our congress will have the academic sponsorship of the International
Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), the World Association of Societies of
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (WASPALM), the Latin American Association of Clinical Pathology
and Laboratory Medicine (ALAPAC/ML) and the Peruvian Medical Association of Clinical Pathology(AMPPC).

ALAPAC Founding Act on
September 23, 1976

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ALAPAC/ML 2024

The entire congress will have lectures that will be given by national and international speakers,
experts in their clinical fields, strengthening the links between participants and expanding their
network of contacts.
Pre-Congress Courses: October 9, 2024
The congress will begin with three pre-congress courses, one day dedicated to intensive workshops
on analytical quality control and microbiology. We will cover topics such as the establishment ofrecommended analytical quality control practices and the importance of harmonizing the preanalytical phase. In microbiology, key aspects of mycology and an antimicrobial optimization program
will be addressed.
Day 1 of the Congress: October 10, 2024
The first day of the academic program will focus on various disciplines: transfusion medicine, clinicallaboratory management, mycology, genomics, histocompatibility and biochemistry, with conferencesin three rooms simultaneously at the event facilities.
In addition, we will have a technological exhibition that will bring together more than 25 companies
from the diagnostic industry on two levels, where the latest advances and innovations in laboratory
medicine, as well as services focused on quality control, among others will be presented.
The academic activity will culminate with the first plenary session of the congress, entitled “First
Latin American Consensus for the Timely Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): The Correct
Renal Profile”, which will bring together the presidents of the medical societies of clinical pathology
from all over Latin America. To close this great day, we will have an emotional opening ceremony
with the presence of distinguished national and international authorities, followed by a cocktail tofraternize and expand our network of contacts.

Roundtable held at the Brazilian Congress of Clinical
Pathology in 2023

Day 2 of the Congress: October 11, 2024
The second day will be dedicated to artificial intelligence, immunology, molecular biology, omics,
microbiology and emerging challenges in antimicrobial resistance, cytometry and hematology.
We will also have a block of guest lectures by the Visiting Speakers Program (VLP) of theInternational Federation of Clinical Chemistry -IFCC-Abbott. As a full member of the IFCC, our society
benefits from this great benefit.
Three lectures will be given, led by the president of the IFCC, Professor Tomris Ozben from Turkey

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ALAPAC/ML 2024

(who will be present during all days of the congress), Professor Juan Gallardo from Mexico and Fabrio
Brazao from Brazil.
In parallel, the conferences of the medical societies of Clinical Pathology of the countries of theregion representing ALAPAC will be held: Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay and Mexico. The academic
activities will end with the second plenary session of the congress, entitled “Integrated diagnosis:
evidence-based therapy guide in oncology, from tumor markers to immunohistochemistry, liquidbiopsy and imaging”, given by Professor Tomris Ozben from Turkey. Professor Tomris leads the mostimportant academic institution in the world, for its contribution and impact on Laboratory Medicine.

Prof. Tomris Ozben

As part of our social activities, the day will conclude with a fellowship party entitled “Latin American
Reunion in Clinical Pathology”.
Day 3 of the Congress: October 12, 2024
On this last day, we will continue with the conferences of the medical societies of Clinical Pathologyof the countries of the region representing ALAPAC: Chile and Ecuador.
This day will focus on sessions centered on pre-analytical management, ethics in laboratory
medicine, and presentations by residents from various countries, with a strong emphasis on quality
and precision in laboratory practice, reflecting the importance of these values in​​ the continuous
improvement of health services.
A traditional meeting of Clinical Pathology residents from the different member countries of ALAPAC/
ML will be held, where free topics will be addressed from their respective societies. In addition, theBrazilian society will organize a special forum with three conferences.
Another crucial topic will be the approach to ethical and deontological issues. Our Peruvian society,together with the Mexican society, will present a round table on the “Dichotomy in Clinical Pathology.”
I would like to highlight the incorporation of Colombia to ALAPAC/ML, led by Dr. Ludwig Albornoz, whowill also present the conference “Sources of Imprecision in Precision Pathology.” Another notableparticipation will be that of colleague José Jara with his conference “The clinical pathologist in the
resolution of clinical cases with discrepant laboratory results.”
The congress will conclude with a plenary session by Dr. Mario Plebani, a world leader in quality inlaboratory medicine, entitled “The Unfinished Journey towards Quality in Laboratory Medicine.”

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ALAPAC/ML 2024

Prof. Mario Plebani

The development of scientific research in Clinical Pathology will allow the participation of attendees
at the congress with their scientific contributions, highlighting the contribution of our profession.
Finally, the closing ceremony will be held, where the best research papers and clinical cases
presented will be awarded.
ALAPAC 2024 will not only be a platform for the exchange of knowledge in Laboratory Medicine,
but also an opportunity to experience Lima in all its splendorous diversity. The city, with its unique
combination of history, culture and gastronomy, promises to offer attendees an unforgettable
experience. There is no better place to combine professional advancement with the exploration of
one of the most captivating metropolises in South America.

AMPPC Board of Directors 2022-2024

We look forward to seeing you in Lima for an event that will undoubtedly be memorable!
For more information about the congress, please visit our website: https://congresoalapac2024.com/

32

News from Regional Federations and Member
Societies
IFCC Expert Insights on Quality improvement in Laboratory
Medicine and Patients’ Safety
Mont Saint-Anne, Quebec, Canada – 16-19 June 2024
organized by the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC) and the Quebec Society of Clinical
Biology (Société Québécoise de Biologie Clinique, SQBC).
By Dr. Paul M. Yip, CSCC President, Associate Professor and Division Head of Biochemistry,
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
I am deeply grateful to the IFCC-Abbott VLP and the programme chair, Prof. Sedef Yenice for thegenerous support that made possible the special symposium featuring members of the IFCC Working
Group on Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety (WG-LEPS). The backdrop to this event was the
Joint Conference of the CSCC and SQBC with an overarching theme of Sustainability in the LAB and
was attended by over 300 delegates. The VLP included a plenary session that provided cuttingedge advancements in laboratory quality improvement and diverse perspectives drawing on theexperiences of experts from countries across the globe.
The conference had the distinct honor of Prof. Mario Plebani, Italy, founding Chair of WG-LEPS
and EFLM President to set the stage for the symposium with an overview of “The Saga of Quality
Indictors” from the start of his own QI journey to the current state of the art almost thirty years
later. Prof. Pieter Vermeersch, Belgium, Chair of the EFLM Post-Analytical WG began the mainpresentations on the topic of “When patients’ safety depends on our capacity to record and reportlaboratory errors”. He articulated the challenges of non-conformities in the pre-analytical phaseand efforts towards standardized coding to improve the interoperability of laboratory test results
as more health data is exchanged. Dr. Wilson Shcolnik, representative of the Brazilian Society ofClinical Laboratory-Laboratory Medicine spoke on “Sharing the insight on the Brazilian programof Quality Indicators Comparison”, which highlighted the role of laboratory accreditation in theadherence to monitoring quality indicators and its impact. Dr. Sohini Sengupta, India, WG-LEPS
and IFCC POCT Committee member presented on “Implementing the WG-LEPS guidelines to thenational level, the Indian experience”. Her stimulating talk illustrated the immense scale of thecountry’s size and how the growth of laboratory accreditation highlighted the need for systematic
application of quality indicators in order to reduce errors. The session concluded with an engaging
panel discussion moderated by Dr. Vincent De Guire, Canada, President of the Quality Improvement
Committee of the SQBC, Chair of the Quality Improvement through Quality Indicators Special Interest
Group of the CSCC and incoming Chair of WG-LEPS.
In addition, the IFCC-Abbott VLP enabled a conference workshop, Advancing POCT Quality:
Discussion on the Value and Strategies of Integrating Canadian POCT Quality Indicators in the IFCCQIs Comparison Program. Members of the WG-LEPS joined roughly 30 delegates to elevate the workof CSCC and SQBC into the global model for quality indicators (MQI). The timing of the VLP sessions
could not have been better as the conference was held in parallel with the third major consensus
group meeting of the WG-LEPS, co-chaired by Prof. Mario Plebani and Dr. Vincent De Guire. As thegroup worked to substantially update the MQI (last time in 2016), the gathering of experts also gave a
joyful and heartfelt farewell to Mario Plebani, who concluded his term as Chair of the working group.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge the collaboration of my colleagues in organizing this event: Dr. Michaël
Lehoux, SQBC President, Dr. Julie Shaw, IFCC C-POCT member and Chair of the POCT Special
Interest Group of the CSCC, and the entire conference planning committee.

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33

IFCC Expert Insights on Quality improvementin Laboratory Medicine and Patients’ Safety

Mario Plebani delivers an overview of quality indicators

VLP speakers: W. Shcolnik, P. Vermeersch, S. Sengupta

Discussion panel with members of the WG-LEPS

V. De Guire, P. Lyons (CSCC Office), S. Sengupta, A. von Meyer

34

26th IFCC-EFLM EUROMEDLABCONGRESS OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRYAND LABORATORY MEDICINE
49th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ROYALBELGIAN SOCIETY OF LABORATORYMEDICINE

18 TO 22MAY 2025
FROM

VENUE

Brussels Expo

Preliminary scientific program soon available

www.euromedlab2025brussels.org

Registrations and abstract submission open in November 2024

15 January 2025
15 March 2025

Deadline for poster abstract submission
Deadline for reduced registration fees

Organising Secretariat
MZ Events 35
info@euromedlab2025brussels.org

SFBC – Société Française de Biologie Clinique : Webinar“Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” : When laboratory
medicine meets Olympic games
by Marie Lenski, Annabelle Dupont, Laurie Gheddar and Xavier Bigard, (SFBC, Société
Française de Biologie Clinique)France was hosting summer Olympic games from July 26th to August 11th, 2024, as well as
Paralympic games from august 28th to September 8th, 2024. The Olympic motto is “Faster, Higher,
Stronger – Together”. Sport-laboratory medicine can provide valuable contributions to the monitoringof athletes to improve performance and to preserve their health, to the diagnosis of athletic injuries,
or to the screening of doping behavior to identify cheating athletes. It is a relatively innovative
branch of laboratory science, which is in the spotlight at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In this context, the French national society of laboratory medicine SFBC, Société Française deBiologie Clinique, organized a webinar on July 10th, 2024. This webinar, moderated by Dr Marie
Lenski (France), a young scientist working in the laboratory of toxicology at Lille University Hospital,
has covered challenges of sport-laboratory medicine from several facets, including performance
improvement, monitoring of doping behavior, and the importance of the athlete biological passport.
This webinar comprised of three presentations and was followed by a panel discussion at the end.

•

Biological indicators of interest in monitoring athletes and interpreting their variations to improve
performance and to preserve their health
The biological monitoring of athletes has the overall objective to preserve the health of athletes andto help to personalize the level of athletes training. Thus, the implementation of biological analyses
in this context must help to detect 1) possible contraindications present before sports practice, 2)
pathologies inherent to sports practice or a state of overtraining and, 3) the use of harmful and/or illegal products for the athlete. Prof. Annabelle Dupont, specialist in laboratory medicine at thehematology institute at Lille University Hospital (France), discussed the main biological analyses
relevant in this context. In majority, these biological analyses are in the field of hematology,

Article continued on the next page36

SFBC - Société
Française de Biologie Cliniquebiochemistry and endocrinology. Prof. Dupont also described the indications and limits of thesebiological analyses, the interpretation of results and the impact of an intense physical exercise on
these results, as well as the specificity of pre-analytical conditions in respect to athletes.
•
Doping behaviour and its monitoring in hair and nail clippings
The pursuit of performance and success is very prominent in our society and affects the general
population, including the world of sports. Therefore, many products are misused by top athletes,
as well as by amateurs, to improve their physical and/or mental performances. The World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) has therefore banned their use in competition and/or out-of-competition.
In WADA-accredited anti-doping laboratories, the usual testing matrices are urine and blood.
In case of an adverse analytical finding, the athlete must demonstrate his/ her innocence. Dr
Laurie Gheddar, young scientist in forensic sciences from Strasbourg (France), gave an outlook
on additional and alternative analyses, such as hair and/ or nail clippings investigations. Hair has
several advantages, such as the possibility of establishing a consumption profile or differentiating
between a single intake and repeated consumption. However, this matrix has some limitations, suchas the impossibility of differentiating exposure routes. The limitations and advantages of keratinous
matrices should be considered when interpreting the results and was discussed by Dr Gheddar
based on authentic cases.
•
The Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), Biology in the fight against doping
The term “Athlete Biological Passport” (ABP) is defined as a specific process to establish thelongitudinal profiles of selected biological variables, markers of the misuse of prohibited substancesand prohibited methods. Prof. Xavier Bigard, French sports physician and Medical Director of theInternational Cycling Federation, provided a high-level overview of the ABP that can be used toflag Athletes requiring further attention through intelligent and timely interpretation of Passport
data which can lead to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV). The ABP can notably be used as acomplement to current Analytical Testing Procedures implemented in and out of competition tofurther refine and strengthen the anti-doping strategies used to directly detect the use of agentsaffecting erythropoiesis, homologous blood transfusion, endogenous steroids administeredexogenously, hGH isoforms, etc. Examining changes in biological markers of doping over time, a
passport (i.e. ABP) can be used to establish the use of a particular prohibited substance or prohibited
method without necessarily relying on traditional analytical approaches for their direct detection.
Then, the ABP is a powerful and necessary tool to complement traditional analytical testing.
The webinar was attended by 300 participants and received positive feedback from the audience.
The on-demand content of this webinar is available following the link:
https://eacademy.ifcc.org/eacademy/
Many thanks to Prof. Dupont, Dr. Gheddar and Prof. Bigard for their interesting and awesome
presentations that provided such valuable information on the topic we discussed. Many thanks also
to the IFCC and organizers for offering this tool for the eLearning, and SFBC for its support.

37

New IFCC Members
IFCC WELCOMES THREE NEW CORPORATE MEMBERS

Lifotronic Technology Co. Ltd
Founded in 2008, Lifotronic is a publicly listed company dedicated to developing, manufacturing,and distributing in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) products. With a steadfast commitment to innovation andquality, Lifotronic is consistantly investing approximately 20% of its annual revenue into cuttingedge technologies.
Over the past years, Lifotronic has cultivated expertise in four major technology platforms, including
ECLIA, HPLC, Hematology, and POCT. Our dedication to excellence has earned recognition andtrust from global customers across more than 100 countries. In the realm of chemiluminescence,
our Electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) technology stands out for its unparalleled sensitivity andlow background signal, enabling detection at extremely low analyte concentrations. Our HPLC
Hemoglobin test system, developed over a decade, showcases expertise in chromatography column
technology and advanced data analysis algorithms, positioning Lifotronic as the leading exporter of
HPLC products in China for years.
Beyond technological innovation, Lifotronic prioritizes service quality. Establishing subsidiaries
and global after-sales centers reflects our commitment to serving international customers better.
Embarking on a professional and distinctive development path, Lifotronic continues to focus oncore business while expanding our global footprint. We are dedicated to benefiting healthcare
professionals and patients worldwide.
For more information: https://en.lifotronic.com/

Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. Ltd
Founded in 1991, Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy is a listed company (STOCK 603392.SH) withoutstanding influence in the field of biological science and technology. The company is dedicated to
the R&D, production and marketing of in vitro diagnostic reagents, vaccines, biological raw materials
and other products. it is committed to building an all-round health care ecosystem encompassing
diagnosis, prevention and treatment. With its robust scientific research strength and innovative
spirit, the company holds more than 300 products that have been applied in various healthcare
scenarios.
In the field of in vitro diagnostics, the company devotes itself to proffering comprehensive
diagnostics solutions for infectious diseases, such as HIV, Hepatitis Virus, Tuberculosis and soon. Its reagents are renowned for their high accuracy and reliability and have been widely used in
more than 50 countries. With the aim of enhancing the testing efficiency of clinical laboratories, thecompany also presents integrated automated platforms (chemiluminescence, biochemistry) withover 100+ assays for tumor, thyroid, hormone, cardiac and so on.
For more information: https://www.ystwt.cn/

Article continued on the next page

38

IFCC Welcomes three
new corporates members

INSTAND e.V.
Society for Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratories (Gesellschaft zur Förderung der
Qualitätssicherung in medizinischen Laboratorien e. V.)
INSTAND is a German non-for-profit interdisciplinary scientific medical society, and acting as an EQA
scheme organizer with about 380 EQA programs. It has been appointed to be a reference institution
for quality control in medical laboratories by the German Medical Association. It is accredited
according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043. INSTAND has been conducting interlaboratory comparisonsworldwide in all areas of in vitro diagnostics since 1970. INSTAND is a member of many national andinternational professional societies and standardization committees at DIN, CEN and ISO, and has
an excellent global scientific network. It is actively involved in the development of medical guidelines
within the AWMF (Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany). In its own calibrationlaboratory INSTAND e. V. has established reference measurement procedures to set target values
for EQA scheme evaluation fulfilling the requirements of the Rili-BÄk (Guideline of the German
Medical Association on Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratory Testing). The calibration laboratoryis accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and DIN EN ISO 15195, operating according to DIN EN
ISO 15193.
Website: www.instand-ev.de39

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Therapeutic Drug
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Assay Highlights• CE Mark• Validated on clinical chemistry analysers
from major instrument manufacturers• Rapid, accurate and easy to perform• Liquid-stable reagents, calibrators,
and controls• No sample pretreatment

To learn more visit mycaretests.com

40

IFCC’s Calendar of Congresses,
Conferences & Events
IFCC and Regional Federation
Events
Date

Title

Place

Oct 3 - 6,
2024

XXVI COLABIOCLI 2024

Cartagena,CO

Oct 31 - Nov 3,
2024

APFCB 2024 Sydney

Sidney,AU

Nov 8-10,
2024

IFCC SD satellite symposium on
Mass Spectrometry in the ClinicalLaboratory

Athens, GR

May 18 - 22,
2025

XXVI IFCC-EFLM
EUROMEDLAB 2025

Brussels,BE

Oct 25 30, 2026

XXVII IFCC WORLDLAB 2026

New Dehli,IN

Oct 10 - 13,
2027

APFCB 2027 KUALA LUMPUR

Kuala
Lumpur, MY

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC-EFLM EUROMEDLAB
2027

Venue to be
selected

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC WORLDLAB 2028

Venue to be
selected

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC-EFLM EUROMEDLAB
2029

Venue to be
selected

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC WORLDLAB 2030

Venue to be
selected

Article continued on the next page41

Corporate Member Events with
IFCC Auspices
Date

Title

Place

Sep 14,2024

Inter-QCTopics Internationalseminars on Quality Control :Laboratory screening for infectious
agents in blood services: methods
and quality control

Qualityconsulting
online event,BR

Nov 16,2024

Inter-QCTopics Internationalseminars on Quality Control:
Patient blood management –what is the role of the laboratory
according to ISO 15189?

Qualityconsulting
online event,HR

Other events with
IFCC auspices
Click here

42

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43

IFCC Executive Board 2024 - 2026

TomrisOZBEN
President

Khosrow
ADELI
Past-President

SergioBERNARDINI
SecretaryAlexander
HALIASSOS
Treasurer

TriciaRAVALICO
Corporate
Representative

T. BADRICK
Asia-Pacific Fed
for Clin Biochem
and Lab Med(APFCB)

M. PLEBANI
European Fed ofClin Chem andLab Medicine(EFLM)

E. FREGGIARO
Latin-American
Confederationof Clin
Biochemistry(COLABIOCLI)T. PILLAY (ZA)
Communications
andPublications
Division Chair

D. GRUSON (BE)
Emerging
Technologies
Division Chair

P. LAITINEN (FI)Congresses andConferences
Committee Chair

Regional Representatives

R. ERASMUS
AfricanFederation ofClinical Chemistry(AFCC)

O. NAJJAR
ArabFederation ofClinical Biology(AFCB)

D. GRENACHE
North American
Fed of Clin
Chem and Lab
Med(NAFCC)IFCC Divisions and C-CC Chairs

C. COBBAERT (NL)
Scientific
Division Chair

N. RIFAI (US)
Education andManagement
Division Chair

IFCC Office Staff(L-R) Elisa Fossati, Smeralda Skenderaj, Paola Bramati, Silvia Colli Lanzi, Silvia Cardinale

44

IFCC Membership
Full members

Albania (AL) - ASoLaM
Algeria (DZ) - SABC
Argentina (AR) - CUBRA
Armenia (AM) - AMLDSAustralia and New Zealand(AU/NZ) - AACB
Austria (AT) - ÖGLMKC
Azerbaijan (AZ) - ASCLS
Belgium (BE) - RBSLM
Bolivia (BO) - SOBOBIOCLI
Bosnia Herzegovina (BA) UMBBiH
Brazil (BR) - SBAC
Bulgaria (BG) - BSCL
Canada (CA) - CSCC
Chile (CL) - SCHQC
China (Beijing) (CN) - CSLM
China Region (Taipei) (TW)- CACB
Colombia (CO) - CNB
Croatia (HR) - HDMBLM
Cuba (CU) - SCPC
Cyprus (CY) - ACLCY
Czech Republic (CZ) - CSKB
Denmark (DK) - DSKB
Dominican Republic (DO) CODOBIO
Ecuador (EC) - SEBIOCLI
Egypt (EG) - ESCC
Estonia (EE) - ELMU
Ethiopia (ET) - EMLA
United Arab Emirates (UAE)ECCS
Finland (FI) - SKKY
France (FR) - SFBC
Georgia (GE) - GLMA
Germany (DE) - DGKLGreece (GR) - GSCC-CB
Guatemala (GT) - AQBG
Hong Kong, China Region(HK) - HKSCC
Hungary (HU) - MLDT
Iceland (IS) - ISLM
India (IN) - ACBI
Indonesia (ID) - HKKI
Iran (IR) - IAB
Iraq (IQ) - ISMBG
Ireland (IE) - ACBI
Israel (IL) - ISCLS
Italy (IT) - SIBioC
Japan (JP) - JSCC
Jordan (JO) - JSMLC

Corporate members

Kenya (KE) - CCAK
Korea (KR) - KSCC
Kosovo (XK) - KACC
Latvia (LV) - LLSB
Lebanon (LB) - SDBLB
Libya (LY) - LACP
Lithuania (LT) - LLMD
Luxembourg (LU) - SLBC
Malawi (MW) - MAMLS
Malaysia (MY) - MACB
Mexico (MX) - CMCLABC
Montenegro (MNE) - MACC
Morocco (MA) - SMCC
Myanmar (MM) - MMTA
Nepal (NP) - NAMLS
Netherlands (NL) - NVKC
Nigeria (NG) - ACCN
North Macedonia (MK) MSMBLM
Norway (NO) - NSMB
Pakistan (PK) - PSCP
Palestine (PS) - PMTA
Panama (PA) - CONALAC
Paraguay (PY) - ABP
Peru (PE) - AMPPC
Philippines (PH) - PAMET
Poland (PL) - PTDL
Portugal (PT) - SPML
Romania (RO) - RALM
Russia (RU) - FLM
Saudi Arabia (SA) - SSCC
Serbia (SRB) - DMBS
Singapore (SG) - SACB
Slovak Republic (SK) - SSKB
Slovenia (SI) - SZKKLMSouth Africa (ZA) - SAACB
Spain (ES) - SEQC
Sri Lanka (LK) - ACBSL
Sudan (SD) - SSCB
Sweden (SE) - SSCC
Switzerland (CH) - SSCC
Syrian Arab Republic (SY)- SCLA
Tunisia (TN) - STBC
Türkiye (TR) - TBS
Ukraine (UA) - ACCLMU
United Kingdom (UK)
United States (US) - ADLM
Uruguay (UY) - ABU
Vietnam (VN) - VACB
Zambia (ZM) - BSZ
Zimbabwe (ZW) - ZACBRegional Federations

•
•
•
•
•
•

Arab Federation of Clinical Biology (AFCB)
African Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC)
Asia-Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry
and Laboratory Medicine (APFCB)
European Federation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine (EFLM)
Latin America Confederation of Clinical
Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI)North American Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine (NAFCC)

Abbott Laboratories
Agappe Diagnostics Ltd
Arkray Inc.
Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp.
Autobio Diagnostics Co. Ltd.
Bd Diagnostics-Preanalytical
Systems
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
Beijing Wantai BiologicalPharmacy Enterprise Co. Ltd.
Bio Rad Laboratories
Biomasterclin Laboratorios
Venezuela
Brooks Automation Italy srl
Controllab
C.P.M. Compagnia per laMedicina® srl
Dia Sys Diagnostic Systems
GmbH
Diagnostica Stago
Diasorin SpA
Dirui Industrial Co., Ltd.
ET Healthcare Inc.
Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical
corporation
Fujirebio-Europe
Gentian As
Greiner Bio-One GmbH
Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech
Co. Ltd.
Helena Biosciencies Europe
Hemas Hospital PVT
Hytest LTD.
Immunodiagnostic Systems
INSTAND e.V.
Instrumentation Laboratory
i-SENS, Inc.
Jiangsu Bioperfectus
Technologies Co. Ltd.
Labor Team W AG

Lifotronic Technology Co. Ltd.
Lumiradx Uk Ltd.
Maccura Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.
Medix Biochemica
Menarini Diagnostics
Mindray
Nanjing Realmind Biotech Co.,Ltd.
Ningbo Medicalsystem
Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Nittobo Medical Co. Ltd.
Oneworld Accuracy
Quidelortho
Perkinelmer
PHC Europe B.V.
Quality Consulting
Radiometer Medical ApS
Randox Laboratories Ltd.
Roche Diagnostics GmbH
Sansure Biotech Inc
Sebia S.A.
Sentinel Ch SpA
Shanghai KehuaBioengineering Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Yhlo Biotech
Siemens Healthcare
Diagnostics
Snibe Co., Ltd
Synlab International GmbH
Sysmex Europe GmbHTechnogenetics
The Binding Site Group Ltd.
Thermo Fisher ScientificTosoh Corporation
United Robotics Group GmbH
Wisplinghoff
Laboratoriumsmedizin Koeln
Zybio Inc.

Affiliate Members

Botswana (BW) - BICLP
Brazil (BR) - SBPC/ML
China (CN) - LMC
Egypt (EG) - EAHCQPS
United Arab Emirates (UAE) - UAEGDAFrance (FR) - LABAC
India (IN): ACCLMP and AMBI
Iran (IR) - IACLD
Jordan (JO) - MTLS
Kazakhstan (KZ) - FLM
Mexico (MX): CONAQUIC A.C., CONQUILAB and FENACQC
Nepal (NP) - NACC
Philippines (PH) - PCQACL
Romania (RO) - OBBCSSR
Serbia (RS) - SCLM
Spain (ES): AEBM-ML, AEFA, SANAC
Sri Lanka (LK) - CCPSL
Türkiye (TR) - KBUD
Ukraine (UA) – AQALM

45

enewsPublisher
Communications and Publications Division(CPD) of the IFCCThe Communications and Publications
Division publishes ten editions of the e-Newsper year, including two double issues.
EditorKatherina Psarra, MSc, PhD
Department of Immunology Histocompatibility Evangelismos Hospital,
Athens, Greece
E-mail: enews@ifcc.org
The eNews is distributed to all IFCC
members registered on-line to receive it andto all IFCC sponsors.
Deadlines for submissions to the eNews
N° 1/2 – January/February: by mid January
N° 3 – March: by mid February
N° 4 – April: by mid March
N° 5 – May: by mid April
N° 6 – June: by mid May
N° 7/8 – July/August: by mid June
N° 9 – September: by mid August
N° 10 – October: by mid September
N° 11 – November: by mid October
N° 12 – December: by mid November
If you want to submit an article oradvertisement to be published in the eNews,
send it to: Katherina Psarra, Editor, IFCC
eNews
E-mail: enews@ifcc.org

Copyright © 2024 IFCC. All rights reserved.
Contents may not be reproduced without
the prior permission of the Communications
and Publications Division (CPD) of the IFCC.

46