Testo

International Federation ofClinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine

serving laboratory medicine worldwide

AnnualReport 2015
www.ifcc.org

ANNUAL REPORT 2015
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAREuroMedLab Congress
Paris, FR - June 2015 - http://www.paris2015.org/



IFCC-Abbott “Turning Science into Caring” Symposium
Bali, ID (December 2015)



IFCC Speakers Bureau
http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/speaker-s-bureau/

Webinars and Distance Learning Modules
http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/webinars/

e-Academy, open educational resources
http://eacademy.ifcc.org/

Experts Database
http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/experts/



Launch of the IFCC Foundation for Emerging Nations
http://www.ifccfoundation.org/

Implement cooperation and agreements with IFCC Regional Federations



COLABIOCLI Congress 2015
Quito, Ecuador, September 2015 - www.sebiocli-ec.org

2

INDEX
Message from IFCC President

4

Executive Board

6

Treasurer Report

7

Corporate Members

14

Committee on Congresses and Conferences (C-CC)

16

Scientific Division (SD)19

Educations and Management Division (EMD)32

Communications and Publications Division (CPD)38

Task Forces

43

Federations

47»» APFCB - Asia-Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine 47
and Laboratory Medicine»» COLABIOCLI – Latin American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry50»» EFLM – European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

54»» NAFCC - North American Federation Of Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine

57

Full Member Societies

58

Affiliate Member Societies

1193

Message from the President of IFCC
This is my report after the first year as IFCC President and I’m very
proud to summarize what has been done during the 2015.
During 2015 IFCC again increased its membership as we welcomed
one new Full Member:•

Malawi: Malawi Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (MAMLS)
And three new Affiliate Members:• Iran: Iranian Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctors• Nepal: Nepalese Association for Clinical Chemistry (NACC)• Turkey: Society of Clinical Biochemistry Specialists (KBUD)
Collectively, there are 90 Full Members, 12 Affiliate members and 46
Corporates Members and IFCC represents >45,000 senior laboratory
medicine specialists.
The important work of IFCC takes place in its Divisions, Committees Task Forces and Working Groups.
During 2015 >300 experts volunteered to work on 46 IFCC projects, which cover a wide range ofclinical, scientific, educational and communication related topics. Full details may be found on the IFCC
website (www.ifcc.org) and reports from many of these projects may be found in this Annual Report.
IFCC also contributes expert input to a number of global organizations.
The IFCC Strategic PlanThe Executive Board for 2015-2017 has identified and agreed the above strategic objectives for its
term of office. They accord with the overall IFCC strategic plan and its principal objectives. They areintended to be in addition to the ongoing work of Division Executives. There are 33 strategic actions
which have been classified into the following four broad areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Supporting our membership.
Broadening our horizons.
Improving the quality of laboratory medicine.
Improving the effectiveness of IFCC.

The Executive Board worked effectively during 2015 and I would like to outline some of the achievements:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Agree and implement a procedure to enable the future election of Regional Federation
representatives to the IFCC Executive Board.
Signe the MoU between EFLM and IFCC.
Conclude and sign an agreement with the North American Federation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine (NAFCC).
Launch and promote the Foundation for Emerging Nations as a new income stream for IFCC.
Invite an external body to perform a wide-ranging SWOT analysis of IFCC, evaluate the findings
and publish a report with recommendations.
Further develop and promote “Shaping the Future of Laboratory Medicine”.
Devise and introduce a strategy to increase the attractiveness of IFCC to Corporate members.
Establish one new high level project with WASPaLM that aims to promote the quality of laboratory
medicine through promoting the value of Laboratory Medicine.
Increase the number of young scientists participating in the IFCC Committees and Working
Groups.
Consolidate the mentoring programme as a Special Project and promote its gradual expansion.
EuroMedLab Congress, Paris, FR - June 2015 (http://www.paris2015.org/)
IFCC-Abbott “Turning Science into Caring” Symposium, Bali, ID (December 2015).
IFCC Speakers Bureau (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/speaker-s-bureau/).

4

•
•
•

Webinars and Distance Learning Modules (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/webinars/).
e-Academy, open educational resources (http://eacademy.ifcc.org/).
Experts Database (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/experts/).

Over the last year there we increased the activity focused to outline on the clinical effectiveness oflaboratory medicine. For IFCC this has been exemplified by the work of many of the Task Forces
and by the increasing collaboration with international clinical organizations. This trend will surely gain
further momentum in the years ahead for laboratory medicine is truly central to clinical decision making
in healthcare.
Finances
The annual accounts for 2015 were audited in March 2016 and copies are available upon request fromthe IFCC Office. IFCC had another solid year financially and our finances are sound as we prepare
for the future. The only ‘dark cloud’ is the continuing fall in value of the Euro against other currencies,
notably the Swiss Franc (the formal currency of IFCC).
We prepared a clear budget for 2016 to try to contain the increasing expenses but with the goal to
improve as much as possible the activities of IFCC in favor of our Members.
Finally, I wish to thank, after my first year as President, the Executive Board and the Chairs of Divisions
for their skill, wisdom, commitment and inspiration. Our excellent team in the IFCC Office in Milan(Paola Bramati, Silvia Colli-Lanzi and Silvia Cardinale) have again demonstrated their dedication andprofessionalism in supporting our Members. Above all, however, IFCC owes a great debt to the many
scientists and medical doctors who work on a voluntary basis to give freely of their time and expertisein the interests of improving the quality, delivery and relevance of clinical chemistry and laboratory
medicine on a worldwide basis. It is gratifying that we are seeing an increase in the number of experts
who want to work for IFCC. These people are the true strength of IFCC as we move forward.

5

EXECUTIVE BOARD (EB)The Executive Board held three meeting during 2015. The first meeting was held in Milano on January
30-31; this meeting has been the first one for the new EB elected for the first time by an electronicballot and was mainly focused on the new Strategic Plan. The second EB meeting was held in Paris inconnection with the EuroMedLab Congress on June 19-20. The third EB meeting was held in Quito inconnection with the COLABIOCLI Congress on September 26-28.
Besides the new members societies that joined IFCC in 2015, two merging took place, the first one
between the “Royal Belgian Society of Clinical Chemistry” and the “Belgian Society of Clinical Biology”,
forming the “Royal Belgian Society of Laboratory Medicine, and the second one between the “RomanianSociety of Laboratory Medicine” and the “Romanian Association of Medical Laboratories”, forming the“Romanian Association of Laboratory Medicine”. Two companies joined IFCC as Corporate Members:
Helena Biosciences Europe, UK, and Ningbo Medical System Biotechnology, China.
A letter was sent to National Societies of the Full and Affiliate members requesting for their annual
report. More than forty reports were received to be included in the IFCC Annual report 2015 which isavailable on the IFCC Website (www.ifcc.org).
2015 has been the first year of my 2nd term as Secretary of the IFCC and has been for me a great
opportunity to continue my professional growth in Laboratory Medicine as well as the chance to meetand make new friends from different countries and cultures. Thanks to the members of the EB for theirsupport and friendship, thanks to all IFCC officers and to the staff of Emmezeta-MZ Congressi in Milan(Paola Bramati, Silvia Cardinale and Silvia-Colli-Lanzi).
Sergio Bernardini, Executive Board Secretary

6

TREASURER REPORTI start expressing my warmest thanks to Dr Bernard Gouget as the previous Treasurer for his work andservices to IFCC.
During my first year of term as the IFCC treasurer, with the valuable help and assistance of the IFCC
office, the annual dues of Full, Affiliate and Corporate Members have been received, the adherenceof operating units of IFCC to their budgeted allocation have been monitored and detailed records ofall transactions have been kept, reimbursements have been processed as quick as possible after thereceipt of the claims. Close collaboration has been achieved with the IFCC investment bank, (LGT) to
optimise the financial return on IFCC investments. A detailed report has been prepared in consultancy
with the Director and Portfolio Manager of LGT to provide to the IFCC Executive Board the detailed
status of the investments depending on the chosen portfolio. The annual accounts and financial
actions have been reviewed by an external independent audit in order to finalize the actual income andexpenses at 31st December 2015.
COMPARISON OF 2015 PROPOSED BUDGET WITH ACTUALS AT 31st DECEMBER 2015:
IFCC NET INCOME
The 2015 budget was expected to be closed with a deficit of CHF -408 461. Instead, it was closed witha positive balance of CHF 154 850 (Fig. 1).

IFCC NET INCOME - 2015 Budget to Actual at 31 st December 2015
SUMMARY
Budget 2015
Actual 2015
Total Operational revenues & financial income
Total Operational costs & financial charges
Profit (-loss) for the year

CHF
1.388,000
1.796,461-408,461

CHF
1.952,283
1.797,433
154.850

Figure 1. 2015 proposed budget versus to actual at 31st December 2015.
TOTAL OPERATIONAL REVENUES AND FINANCIAL INCOME
The actual total operational revenues and financial income in 2015 are CHF 1 952.283 (Fig. 2). The main
revenue sources are, in decreasing order in CHF: Congresses (CHF 866 989), Sponsorships (CHF
399.257), Corporates members’ contributions (CHF 326 733), Full+Affiliate Members’ contributions(CHF 187 724), realised profits on sales of investments and increase in value of investments in year
(CHF 90 468), Securities (CHF 14 137) and Royalties (CHF 66.975 ).

		Figure 2. 2015 Total Income by categories (CHF 1 952, 283).

7

The revenue includes the financial inflow from EuroMedLab 2015 Paris. According to the current
EuroMedLab Guidelines, IFCC receives 15% of the gross income of EuroMedLabs which was € 749
872 from EuroMedLab Paris. € 50 302 of this figure was kept by MZ for the advanced hotel payments.
€ 699 570,88 entered into the IFCC account. € 29 892 of this figure was spent for the expenses of the
speakers of the IFCC sponsored symposia. CHF 162 497 (~€ 150 000) of this figure was transferred to
EFLM corresponding to the EFLM share of EuroMedLab Paris.
The Chair of EuroMedLab 2015 presented a random-system audit of revenues conducted by Nava
Vigano Revisori Associati srl to provide for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to whether thefinancial statements give a true and fair view in all material respects of the revenues of EuroMedLabParis 2015 as of December 21, 2015 in accordance with the International Standard on Related
Services 4400. The procedure constituted a random-system audit and do not constitute a full review
made in accordance with International Standards on Auditing or International Standards on Review
Engagements. The auditing firm confirms that:
MZ CONGRESSI have made available all books of account and supporting documentation related to
the revenues solely.
MZ CONGRESSI has complied with all aspects of contractual agreements that could have a material
effect on the financial statements in the event of noncompliance. There has been no noncompliancewith requirements of regulatory authorities that could have a material effect on the financial statementsin the event of non-compliance.
We thank EuroMedlab 2015 Congress Organizing Committee and MZ for the organization of a
successful IFCC EuroMedLab Congress.
IFCC Membership Dues
Below is a diagram showing the percentage of the major income of IFCC from the annual dues ofFull, Affiliate and Corporate Members collected during 2015 (Fig. 3). Thanks all the member Societies
and Companies that supported IFCC throughout the years. Their continuous contribution have madepossible the accomplishment of numerous IFCC tasks and projects. We also thank the members fortheir loyalty and attention in paying dues at the start of the year, which helps the cash flow.

			

Dues
Full members

CHF
184 858

Corporate members
Affiliate members
Total

326 7332 866
514 457

Figure 3. IFCC membership dues in 2015.

A total amount of CHF 184 858 was received as full member dues received from IFCC Regional
Federations.
The amount of full member dues is set according to the World Bank classification which distinguishes
countries in different categories according to their gross national product (GNP) per capital. Therefore,
economies with low revenue, medium revenue and high revenue are distinguished (medium revenues
being subdivided into lower medium revenue and upper medium revenue).
Corporate membership dues (CHF) are decided according to their annual turnover in the field of clinicalchemistry. The actual received amount from Corporate members was CHF 326 733 which shows ahigher sum compared to the proposed one, due to the contributions from outstanding dues of thecompanies. IFCC is very grateful to the IVD industry for their support and active participation in the
IFCC scientific events.

8

IFCC Meetings Income Partition
IFCC meetings’ revenues are not a regular yearly income. The average yearly income of IFCC arisingfrom the meetings can be calculated dividing the total revenue by the frequency of the event. The
yearly income of IFCC from the recent meetings (EuroMedLab2015 Paris and WorldLab 2014 Istanbul)
subdivided per year is indicated below.
incomeWordLab (Istanbul) 2014~€ 500,000
EuroMedLab (Paris) 2015~€ 500,000

partition
3 years

year availability~€ 167,000

2 years~€ 250,000~€ 417,000(~CHF 451,820)

Total: ~€ 1,000,000		Figure 4. IFCC annual meetings income from EML Paris and WL Istanbul.

The income from EuroMedLabs and WorldLabs is in EUR. The dues are received in CHF. The official
currency of IFCC budget is in Swiss Franc (CHF). EUR has lost approximately 15% against CHF in2015 leading to a loss of the meetings’ income against CHF. The income of IFCC from the membershipdues and annual meetings income (excluding sponsorships and other revenues) in 2015:
CHF 514 457 (dues) + CHF 451 820 (annual meeting income) = CHF 966 277
Sponsorship
Divisions and some Functional Units raise sponsorship from the companies which give them a certain
flexibility in conducting projects. These sponsorships are used for the specific projects in due time.
Following sponsorship amounts raised by Divisions in 2015 are used for their specific projects:- CHF 377.482			
- CHF 13.028			
- CHF 8.747			

– SD received sponsorships– EMD receivedSponsorship– CPD receivedSponsorship

CHF 399.257 TOTALTOTAL OPERATIONAL COSTS AND FINANCIAL CHARGES
Total operational costs and financial charges are CHF 1 797, 433 which was shown below in threegroups.
IFCC Regional Organizations
Organizations Affiliated with IFCC
IFCC Congresses and Conferences Committee (C-CC)
IFCC Scientific Division (SD)IFCC Education and Management Division (EMD)
IFCC Communications and Publications Division (CPD)
IFCC Special Projects

160.000
92.88085.000534.081120.000
124.000
214.000

TOTAL 1.329.961

192.75165.03940.645388.347103.497117.314108.5431.016.136

Figure 5. 2015 Functional Units actual expenses compared to their allocated budget (CHF)

9

EXPENSESIFCC Office salaries
IFCC Consultancy and rent of equipment
IFCC Office consumable materials
IFCC Office web master/technical support
Depreciation & bad debts
Auditor’s fees
Treasurer’s office
EB Meetings & GC & President’s Office

Proposal 2015
CHF
240.000
30.00015.0005.000
1.500
15.0005.000
98.000TOTAL 409.500

Actual 2015
CHF
174.449
21.84517.8332.638
1.280
15.0002.493
62.445297.983

Figure 6. 2015 Organizational Matters actual expenses compared to their allocated budget compared to their allocated budget (CHF)
EXPENSES
Losses on exchangeBank charges
Management of investments charge
Realised losses on investments
Unrealised losses on investment

Proposal 2015
0
5.000
25.000
0
0Actual 2015159.9892.995
36.28694.037178.339

Figure 7. 2015 actual expenses of exchange, bank charges, and investment (CHF)
IFCC investment at LGT in 2015
The financial outcome for 2015 is disappointing, mainly because of the loss of value of investments
and the exchange rate between EUR and CHF. The currency chosen for investments is EUR. EUR
has lost approximately 15% against CHF in 2015 leading to a loss of the value of investments in EUR
against CHF.

10

Performance of investments in 2015 indicated as monthly return is shown below in Figure 8. Performance net cumulative was 0.73% at 31st December 2015.

Figure 8. Performance of investments indicated as monthly return in 2015.
The percentages of asset and currency allocation are shown below in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Asset/currency allocation of investments in 2015.

11

Figure 10. Different investment portfolios.
LGT has five main investment portfolios with and without inclusion of alternative investments. The risk
tolerance of these five portfolios ranges from Very low to Low, Average, High, and Very HighThe riskincrease is proportional to the inclusion of the equities in the portfolio from average of 20% to 79%.
IFCC had chosen the ”Growth” portfolio containing alternative investments among the five portfolios
as shown above (Figure 10). The reference currency was chosen as “Euro”, the duration of investment
as “min. 8 years” and the risk tolerance “High”.

			Figure 11. Historic performance of IFCC investments.
The revenues of IFCC investments at LGT in the previous four years are shown in Figure 11 (20122015; 8.82+1.60+4.56+0.73 = 15.71%).
The sudden devaluation of EUR in 2015 (15-20%) is more than the revenues of the last four years’
investment at the LGT Bank.
The LGT Director and Portfolio Manager confirm that the volatility of the profile chosen by IFCC withthis exposition in equities (average 70%; range 55-85%) is around 14%. It means that the historicalperformances have been between +14% to -14% indicating a high-risk tolerance. There is no guaranteeeven that the worst scenario will not happen which is EUR losing value against CHF again and thenegative income of IFCC portfolio up to -14% occurring at the same time leading to a big loss of IFCC
capital.
Taking into consideration the current and future financial trends in economy, IFCC Executive Board at
its Board meeting in Quito in September 2015 decided to move from the “GROWTH” to “ BALANCED”
portfolio with less risks limiting the risk posed by the high percentage of equities. It should be noted thattransferring the investment into liquidity in a short time might result in big losses. So, the right time andprice need to be waited to avoid losses before selling the assets.
Future trends
Some financial difficulties are anticipated in 2016 due to increase expenditure for the General
Conference and shortage of income as no major conferences will be held in 2016.

12

MedTech Guidance and code were changed at the EDMA and Eucomed General Assemblies
on December 2nd, 2015. Briefly, this code change seems to bring important changes for industry
sponsorship of delegates and speakers leading to a decrease in interest and income for congresses/
conferences.
In the recent years, the scientific, and educational activities of IFCC have increased significantly leading
to a significant growth in its expenditure. The income of IFCC has not increased proportionally.
In 2016, IFCC activities and meetings can be kept as planned spending all the cash available at Credit
Suisse which includes meeting revenues to be spared for 2017 and sponsorship funds. Under thesecircumstances though, it will not be possible to hold the IFCC activities in 2017 at the same level since
the sole income of IFCC will be confined to the dues to be collected. The meeting incomes from Athens
and Durban will be available 6 months after these meetings (earliest end of 2017, most probably in2018).
Tomris Ozben, Treasurer

13

CORPORATE MEMBERS’ REPORT 2015
Rolf Hinzmann, MD, PhD (Roche)
Corporate Representative at IFCC Executive Board (1st term 2015-2017)
Looking back at my first year of service as Corporate Representative at the IFCC
Executive Board I am very appreciative of the commitment by which Corporate
Members contribute significantly to IFCC activities: Numerous delegates from
Corporate Members actively collaborate in most of the scientific workgroups inall three divisions and in their Executive Committees, either as Full Members
or as Corresponding Members.
By the end of 2015 the total number of IFCC’s Corporate Members was 49,
providing the IFCC annual fees of CHF 293.000 which was 17% of IFCC’s
total annual income. In addition, Corporate Members’ organizations continued
sponsoring of IFCC conferences, workgroups, scientific awards, e-learning programs and travel
scholarships.
In 2015 we welcomed two companies who newly joined IFCC as Corporate Members: Helena
Biosciences Europe, UK, and Ningbo Medical System Biotechnology, China. Five companies decided
to discontinue their membership: Care, Dako, Drew Scientific, Labquality and Scipac.
Through IFCC membership, Corporate Members mainly seek to benefit from the following:
•
•
•
•
•

Increasing awareness for the importance of lab testing in general and providing education withfocus on countries with limited resources.
Together with clinical societies, supporting medical claims leading to reimbursement.
Emphasizing the importance of quality and using IFCC’s unique expertise in standardization.
Co-operating intensely with other organizations (CLSI, FDA, clinical societies, etc.) to getalignment of guidelines and recommendations.
Providing opportunities for exhibitions, industry symposia and networking with lab professionals
during high-level academic conferences.

Some of these directions should receive more emphasis in the future.
The following Corporate Representatives were / are members of the Executive Committees of IFCC’s
three divisions:• Scientific Division: James Pierson-Perry (Siemens) (1st term 2015-2017)• Education & Management Division: Christoph Ebert (Roche) (1st term 2013-2015)• Communications & Publications Division: Bruce Jordan (Roche) (2nd term 2014-2016)
The following persons were/are Corporate Members of the Congress Organizing Committee (COC):•••

IFCC / EuroMedLab 2015, Paris, France: Christine Flandre (Sebia) and Ulrich Schwörer(Roche)IFCC / EuroMedLab 2017, Athens, Greece: Angelos Evangelopoulos (Roche) and Thomas
Brinkmann (Sonic Healthcare).
IFCC / WorldLab 2017, Durban, South Africa: Beth Slavic (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics)

Last December, MedTech Europe (an organization comprising EDMA and Eucomed) has issued a
new code regulating the interaction between the IVD industry and healthcare professionals (HCPs)
on various levels. This includes new rules for industry sponsorship of conferences that will become
effective partly at the beginning of 2017 and partly at the beginning of 2018 and will impact IFCC
conferences:••

For third-party organized conferences (main program): Companies may not directly support an
HCP, neither as a delegate, nor as a speaker.
For company-organized events in the framework of third-party organized conferences (e.g.
satellite symposia): Companies may directly support speakers (i.e. their consultants) but not

14

•
•
•

delegates.
Educational grants are still possible. They can only be provided to legal entities but never toindividuals.
Companies will be able to define the type of recipients which should be eligible for the grant
but will not be able to identify individual recipients.
Companies must have an internal & independent process based on objective criteria to assess
the grant requests.

For more information, e.g. on exact timelines, please check out the MedTech Europe website.
Recently, the IFCC Executive Board conducted an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, ofopportunities and threats (SWOT). The results will be presented at the General Conference in Madridin March 2016 to which all Corporate Representatives are heartily invited.
Last year two Corporate Members’ meetings were organized in conjunction with international
conferences: At IFCC EuroMedLab in Paris, France (June 2015) and during AACC in Atlanta, GA, USA(July 2015). In general, attendance from Corporate Members at these meetings was rather low and I
would like to encourage all members to take part in the next Corporate Members’ meeting which willtake place during AACC in Philadelphia on August 1, 2016. The SWOT results will be presented there
as well.
Corporate Members fully support IFCC’s recently developed new vision to advance excellence inlaboratory medicine for better healthcare worldwide.
Rolf Hinzmann, Corporate Members Representative

15

COMMITTEE ON CONGRESSES AND CONFERENCES (C-CC)
James Wesenberg replaced Tomris Ozben as Chair of the C-CC as of January 1, 2015.
International Congresses of Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine (ICCCLM);
WorldLab Congresses
23rd IFCC WorldLab Durban, South Africa (22-25 October 2017 - http://www.durban2017.org/)
Congress Chair: Prof RT Erasmus; Scientific Chair: Prof TS Pillay; Scientific Committee Members:
established and consist of 11 members. 2nd Announcement prepared and distributed.
The 23rd WordlLab Congress will be held at the Durban International Convention Centre.
IFCC WorldLab 2020, Seoul, South Korea (24-28 May 2020)
The organization is on going, Prof. Song announced the website “IFCC WorldLab Seoul 2020” that is
linked to the KSCC home page. The KSCC has used other domestic venues to promote the Congress.
The KSCC was awarded the “2014 Korea MICE Alliance Conference & Awards” by the Korean Ministryof Culture, Sports and Tourism” for becoming the host for WorldLab 2020.
IFCC Regional Congresses of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine
APFCB 2016 Congress - Taipei, Taiwan(November 26-29, 2016 - http://www.apfcbcongress2016.org/)
The 14th APFCB Congress will be held at Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), Taipei, Taiwan.
The congress organizing committee has signed a contract with Enjoy Professional Conference
Organizer Corp. to locally assist it in organizing the congress 2016.
The tentative program, sponsorship prospectus, and information about conference venue have beenposted on the website.
Chairman is Woei-horng Fang; Executive Secretary - Jui-Ching Wu; Scientific Chair - Shu-Chu Shiesh.
The theme of the Congress is ‘Laboratory Medicine in Cloud’. The revised topics for the Congress
are: Big Data, Cloud and Laboratory Medicine; Age and Sex Related Testing; Autoimmune Diseases;
Infectious Diseases; Laboratory Management; Metabolic, Cardiac and Kidney Diseases; MolecularDiagnostic; Stem cell and Laboratory Medicine.
The second announcement for the exhibition prospectus was released in the April of 2015.
APFCB 2019 Congress – Jaipur, India(November 17-20, 2019 - proposed Congress website: http://www.apfcbcongress2019.org/)
The Congress Committee has been formed, under the chairmanship of Prof Praveen Sharma, alongwith Prof. Rajiv R Sinha, Prof MVR Reddy and Dr Elizabeth Frank .
EuroMedLab Congress 2015 – France, Paris (21-25 June 2015)
KEY FIGURES OF THE EVENT:
Almost 10,000 professionals from 106 countries:- 4.200 delegates including 365 delegates from France- 5.500 international visitors:• 47% from France• 75% from Europe. Among them the most represented countries: Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland• 7% from Eastern Europe. A strong Russian involvement has been noticed• 6% from Africa. Maghreb countries (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco) were highly represented.
More than 160 exhibiting medical laboratory suppliers; 27 symposia and 5 plenary lectures, including
an outstanding opening lecture by Prof. J Hoffmann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology andMedicine; 37 workshops held by industrials; 1.285 abstracts presented.
Pre and Post Congress Satellite meetings “6th International Symposium “Critical Care Testing andBlood Gases”, “HbA1c and management of diabetes in the 21st century” and “State of the art in
the biology of trace elements and vitamins” have been very successful.

16EuroMedLab Congresses guidelines have been revised and signed by IFCC and EFLM Executive
Board Members on June 2015. http://www.ifcc.org/media/302327/IFCC-EFLM%20EML_Guidelines_
Rev_13_June_2015.pdf; application form available at: http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-congresses-andconferences/ifccauspicesapplicationform/. Venue selection and organization of the 2019 EuroMedLab
Congress will be done following above new guidelines.
EuroMedLab Congress 2017 – Athens, Greece (11-15 June, 2017)
22nd IFCC-EFLM EuroMedLab Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine - 25th Balkan
Clinical Laboratory Federation Meeting - BCLF 2014 and 15th National Congress of GSCC-CB9
President of the Congress is Dr. Alexander Haliassos. Local support will be provided by PCO ERA Ltd
Deadline for the reduced registration fees: April 30th 2017
Deadline for the poster abstract submission: November 1st 2016
IVD Companies will have the opportunity to select and organize EduW (educational workshops), as well as
propose for EduW topics from SPC to IVD companies.IVD Sponsors will be asked to support postgraduate
students with bursaries, travel grants, or poster awards. 1st Announcement has been prepared.
23rd EuroMedLab Congress 2019 – Barcelona, Spain (19-23 May, 2019)
The IFCC and EFLM Executive Board Members have determined the venue for ‘IFCC EFLM
EuroMedLab 2019’ that will be held in Barcelona, Spain, at the Barcelona International Convention
Center (CCIB).
COLABIOCLI 2015 Congress - XXII Congreso Latinoamericano de Bioquímica Clinica
Quito, Ecuador (24-26 September, 2015)24 Symposiums, 2 plenary conferences, oral communications and posters have been programmed thatwill be presented by prominent professionals from diverse areas of Clinical Laboratory and Laboratory
Medicine. 3 pre-congress courses and 3 intra-congress courses have been organized.
COLABIOCLI 2017 Congress – XXIII Congreso Latinoamericano de Bioquímica Clinica
Punta del Este, Uruguay (17-20 September, 2017).
Organization on going
AFCB 2015 Congress – Khartoum, Sudan, December 2015
ArabMedLab 2015 - 14th Arab Congress of Clinical Biology (AFCB) will be held in Khartoum, Sudan
in December 2015. The Congress was successful.
AFCC 2015 Congress – Harare, Zimbabwe (28–30 April, 2015)
The theme for the conference was “Integrating Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine in Evidence
Based P4 Medicine”. ZACB organized a pre-congress Point of Care (POCT) Workshop. 4 plenary
lectures took place, as well as a session on organized by the IFCC TF-YS. The Congress was attended
by 168 delegates and the Main Congress by 200 delegates.
IFCC Specialized Conferences
15th Roche Bergmeyer Conference – Eibsee, Germany (3-5 March 2014)
The 15th Bergmeyer Conference will take place on March 7-9, 2016 at Eibsee Hotel in Grainau,
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, topic: “Biomarkers in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cancer”.
The Proceedings of the Conference will be published in Scand J Clin Lab Invest.
IFCC Specialized Conference “Biomarkers in Alzheimer Disease”, Mexico City, Mexico (May20th, 2016), supported by ROCHE.
The conference will be held at the “Camino Real Hotel Polanco”, with the support of ROCHE. Chairs of
the Organizing Committee are Prof. Sergio Bernardini and Dr. Rosa Sierra-Amor.
IFCC-ABBOTT “Turning Science into Caring” Symposium
The 8th Annual Asia Pacific and Japan Scientific Symposium “Turning Science into Caring” was held in
Bali, Indonesia, on December 1-3, 2015. The theme of the meeting is “Elevating the Standard of Patient
Care” organized by Abbott Diagnostics Division represented by Dr. Peng Yin, IFCC was represented
by Prof. M. Ferrari.

17

IFCC General Conference
The preparation of the IFCC General Conference is on going. The event will be held in Madrid, Spainat the Auditorium Marriott Hotel, from March 19th – 21st, 2016. Closed meetings of IFCC functional
units will be planned before the conference on March 18th.
Congresses with IFCC Auspices
The number of the meetings under IFCC auspices, held in 2014 are 45.
James Wesenberg, C-CC Chair

18

SCIENTIFIC DIVISION
During 2015, the following members served on the SD Executive Committee: Ian Young (UK) (Chair),Philippe Gillery (FR) (Vice-Chair), Joseph Passarelli (US) (Secretary), Giampaolo Merlini (IT),
Christa Cobbaert (NL), Tsutomu Nobori (JP) (Members) and James Pierson-Perry (US) (Corporate
Representative). Three representatives of International Organizations are invited to attend the SD
meetings as consultants: Gary Myers (JCTLM), Heinz Schimmel (IRMM) and David Bunk (NIST). Twomeetings were held during 2015: June 19-20 (Paris, FR) and November 20-21 (Milano, IT).
Relationship with International Organizations
The SD continues to pursue the expansion of its activities to partner with international organizations topromote the implementation of the concept of traceability in laboratory medicine and the implementationof 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.
JCTLM Governance: The JCTLM Executive conducted a governance review and update during
2015. Membership in the JCTLM was organized into two categories of members: JCTLM National
and Regional Members being defined as national and regional organizations that adhere to and/or
contribute to the activities of the International Organizations that are members of the JCTLM Executive
Committee and that have expertise in traceability in laboratory medicine and demonstrate a willingness
to provide experts for JCTLM Working Groups and Review Teams; and in addition JCTLM Stakeholder
Members being defined as properly constituted “non-profit” and “for-profit” organizations, with interest,
expertise and a demonstrable record of working to reduce the between method variability in laboratory
medicine measurements and a commitment to promote the JCTLM database and activities.
The JCTLM Executive formed a new Working Group on Traceability Education and Promotion (WGTEP). The aim of the WG-TEP is to produce written reports and promote educational materials todemonstrate the value of traceability in laboratory medicine as a means to reduce between method
variability in the interests of improved clinical outcomes and patient safety. Dr Graham Beastall wasappointed Chairman of the JCTLM WG-TEP.
JCTLM Members’ and Stakeholders’ Meeting: A meeting of JCTLM Members and Stakeholders washeld November 30-December 1, 2015 at BIPM, Sevres, France.
JCTLM Database: In February 2015, 13 entries for certified reference materials, 9 reference measurement
methods, and 30 reference measurement services were published in the JCTLM Database following theapproval by the Executive of nominations reviewed during WG1 cycle 11 and WG2 cycle 9.
The current status of the database as of December 2015 was as follows:-- 295 certified reference materials (CRMs) amongst which 33 are in List II (i.e. Reference Materials
value assigned using an internationally agreed protocol), and 3 are in List III (i.e. Reference Materials
for nominal properties),-- 176 reference measurement methods covering 80 analytes, and-- 133 reference measurement services covering 39 analytes. These services were delivered by
14 reference laboratories accredited for compliance against ISO 15195 and IEC/ISO 17025 ascalibration laboratories, and by 2 National Metrology Institutes (NMIs).
• Joint Committee for Guide in Metrology (JCGM)
A new version of GUM is in development that has more of a focus on users. Graham White has been
taking the lead on this. A key issue is to find the right balance between exactness and simplicity.
The strategy selected by WG1 is to keep the GUM as simple as possible and refer to other JCGM
documents for more complex cases.
A first draft for the VIM4 (WG2) is in development and a review of the so-called “VIM3 Annotations” isin process. Thirty informative annotations have been developed to go beyond the formal Notes andprovide more detailed description and definition of terms appearing in VIM 3. It is planned that theseannotations will be published on a new BIPM website. Further annotations will be developed, all of

19which will be incorporated into VIM. The proposed timeframe for producing a first draft of the VIM4 forcirculation to the JCGM Member Organizations for comment is 2018 (ten years after publication of theVIM3).
• Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)
Close collaboration with IRMM continues through a number of joint ventures involving SD Committees
and Working Groups.
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) (formerly NCCLS)
An up dated 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.
• 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 and services available
today.
• National Institute of Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC)NIBSC, previously part of the Health Protection Agency (HPA), is now a new Center of the Medicinesand Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alongside the Clinical Practice Research Datalink(CPRD). The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health, UK. C. Burns has agreed tojoin the SD as an Observer.
• European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM)
The EFLM Scientific Committee and SD leadership agreed there should be close liaison andcommunication between the two groups. The purpose is to share information on activities and look forareas of mutual interest. It was agreed the leadership of the SD and the EFCC Science Committee
should meet formally once per year, preferably at a major conference.
The Current EFLM president finishes his term at the end of 2015 and Professor Sverre Sandberg will be
the successor. The current EFLM SD chair is also finishing his term and a new chair will be appointed.
Professor Elvar Theodorsson outlined the following key areas of interest to the EFLM SD: 1. The
Milan conference “Defining analytical performance goals, 15 years after the Stockholm Conference”
last autumn has vitalized working groups within the EFLM, in particular the one on biological variation;
2. A task and finish group on Total Error created after the Milan conference under the leadership ofWytze Oosterhuis continues; 3. The working group on preanalytics under the leadership of Ana-Maria
Simundic continues; 4. A task and finish group on the laboratory testing for dyslipidemias under theleadership of Michel Langlois and in collaboration with European Atherosclerosis Society is ongoing.
Their consensus report was submitted for publication in November.
• World Health Organization (WHO)WHO meetings occur each Fall. Philippe Gillery attends and participates as the liaison from the SD.
The SD decided that there were no new projects or collaborations to propose in 2015. PG participatedat a meeting with the Expert Committee on Biological Variation Standardization in October in Geneva.
There were relatively few topics relevant to the SD.
• Congresses (WorldLab, Regional and other congresses)
EuroMedLab 2015 – 21st IFCC-EFLM European Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine – Paris, France, June 21-25, 2015:
Philippe Gillery was co-president and chair of the Scientific Programme Committee of the Congress.
SD had one session: IMPROVING PATIENT OUTCOMES THROUGH ASSAY STANDARDIZATION
Chair: Ian Young
Reducing variability between Troponin I assays and its potential impact on clinical care (J Tate, Australia)
Improved Haemoglobin A2 measurement and its impact on the diagnosis of thalassemia (A Mosca, Italy)
Serum parathyroid hormone - pre-analytical and analytical factors and their impact on measurement(C Sturgeon, UK)
CSF-proteins - clinical utility and potential benefits from standardization (K Blennow, Sweden)

20

COLABIOCLI 2015 - XXII Congreso Latinoamericano de Bioquímica Clinica, Quito, Ecuador September 24 – 26, 2015:
SD had one session: Title: Benefits of standardization of laboratory tests
Standardization of laboratory tests – why it is needed (G Beastall)Standardization of laboratory tests – how to do it (G Miller).
Benefits of standardization – the example of Thyroid Function Tests (L Thienpont)
Standardization – what does it mean for my laboratory? (I Young).
• Congresses with IFCC Auspices
ROCHE BERGMEYER CONFERENCE
The next Roche Bergmeyer Conference will be held on March 7-9, 2016. The topic chosen is Biomarkers
in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cancer.
Listed on web pages for information only (http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-congresses-and-conferences/)

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), by Robert Flatman, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards C-NPU terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Provide advice for the management, updating and publishing of the NPU
terminology. Accomplishments include: 1. The newly created NPU Steering Committee met for
the first face to face meeting in Copenhagen in April 2015. Key NPU stakeholders (including IFCC,
IUPAC and national representatives from Denmark and Sweden) agreed on proposal for future NPU
governance. Key issues remaining include number of representatives on the SC, shared financial
support, website development and details of Governance; 2. Sweden and Norway have committed
to the NPU terminology and have both applied for national release center status; 3. NPU Steering
Committee website prepared by Insoft with assistance from Graham Beastall, now ready for content;
4. Regularly updated versions of the NPU terminology continue to be available from the IFCC website.
Term of Reference 2. Make recommendations on NPU for reporting clinical laboratory data that
conform to or adopt current standards of authoritative organizations and that will improve their utilization
for health care. Accomplishments include: 1. New project on Molecular Biology terms for the NPU
terminology in progress, Chaired by Ulla Magdal Petersen; 2. On-going project for better definitionof poorly identified NPU terms - Project for Establishing definitions for non-referenced terms in the
NPU terminology ongoing (IUPAC Project 2010-035-700 ) (Chair: Helle Moller Johannessen); 3. Silver
Book revision 2 (Compendium of Terminology and Nomenclature of Properties in Clinical Laboratory
Sciences) in final review.
Term of Reference 3. To provide a connection with other organizations concerned with NPU, such as
the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), the European Committee for Standardization(CEN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and, by extension, clinical laboratory
sciences societies, such as the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), and the invitro diagnostics industry, to ensure that problems encountered by health care professionals in the areaof NPU are considered by those organizations. Accomplishments include: 1. Primary accomplishment
has been progression of the proposed NPU Steering Committee from being outlined in an MOU signedby all parties, to an actively functioning entity.

21• C-Molecular Diagnostics (C-MD), by Deborah Payne, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards C-MD’s terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Foster dynamic exchanges between IFCC and molecular diagnostic laboratories
and industry. Accomplishments Include: A. Included representatives of industry to participate in a
meeting on reference materials for molecular testing; B. Collaborated with Cancer Genetics working
group and their industrial partners; C. Focus Group on expanding Latin American participation
Term of Reference 2. Produce guidelines on clinical validation of tests, conduct and report on moleculardiagnostic tests. Accomplishments Include: Two manuscripts have been submitted.
Term of Reference 3. Provide reference materials; and create a network of locus-specific IFCC
Molecular Diagnostics Centers. Accomplishments Include: Edited and revised the application forms
for the Network Laboratories and Expert Centers which were posted on the website. Invited additional
individual laboratories to participate.
• C-Reference Systems for Enzymes (C-RSE), by Ferruccio Ceriotti, Chair 		
During 2015 ongoing progress towards C-RSE terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. IFCC Enzyme Reference Measurement Procedures: New 37°C IFCC enzyme
reference procedures are being developed on the basis of the existing 30oC IFCC. Accomplishments
include: Development of a reference measurement procedure for Pancreatic Lipase: The interlab
experiment results from Japan, Italy and Germany were comparable, and those on frozen pools werepromising in terms of imprecision. However, data from two labs was problematic. The results of thesecond interlab exercise were somewhat confounding: good within run reproducibility was confirmed,
but the between day imprecision increased significantly, especially in Germany. The absorbance of thereaction solution was clearly identified as the cause for the differences in results, but it was not clear
why different laboratories or even the same laboratory obtained reaction solutions with so different
absorbance values. These results will be the bases for future activity.
Terms of Reference 2. Network of Enzyme Reference Laboratories: Coordination of a group ofreference laboratories from hospitals, academy and industry, which are able to perform adequate
measurements according to a list of stated requirements. Accomplishments Include: Some of theactivities are in term 3.
Terms of Reference 3. Enzyme Reference Materials: Evaluate reference materials provided by IRMM
within the network of reference laboratories prior to certification. The materials are available as primaryreference materials for calibration and/or validation of lower order procedures for the measurementof the catalytic concentration of enzymes. Accomplishments include: Value assignment to IRMM
materials for ALT, CK and LDH:
A feasibility experiment was performed on two lyophilized materials (in August, September). After
positive results of this preliminary exercise (ten participating laboratories), the value assignment
campaign started in November. Final results will be available at the beginning of 2016.
• C-Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM), by Lothar Siekmann, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards C-TLM terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. 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 theWGs of the Joint Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM), concerning identificationof reference measurement procedures, reference materials and reference laboratories.
Accomplishments include: The JCTLM structure has been modified during the recent year. Two
Working Groups have been established: 1. JCTLM Working Group 1 deals with the Data Base: The
JCTLM every year accepts nominations for listing of reference measurement procedures, referencematerials and reference measurement services. These are evaluated by Review Teams which areresponsible for different groups of measurands (e.g. metabolites & substrates, electrolytes, hormones,
therapeutic drugs, etc.). The review teams report to WG-1. Based on the proposals of the review
teams and the working group chairs the JCTLM Executive decides on the listing of reference materials,
methods and services. 2. JCTLM Working Group 2: Conducted its first meeting in December 2015. The
working group focuses on the project of “Education and Promotion”.
Term of Reference 2. Establish an External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for reference22

laboratories and act as an advisory committee. Accomplishments include: RELA ring trials are
currently provided for 38 measurands. The results of RELA 2014 were published on the website (www.
dgkl-rfb.de:81) in July 2015. 59 laboratories participated in RELA2014 and the organizer received 351
results from these laboratories. LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and free Thyroxine were offered
as measurands for the first time. For these measurands lyophilized control materials are available.
The organizer received 2 results for HDL-cholesterol and none for free thyroxine and LDL-cholesterol.
The reason why there were no results for LDL-cholesterol is that the control materials did not behave
like patient samples. Therefore, additional pre-investigations have to be performed in future to ensurethat the control material used is commutable. Only then the survey for LDL-cholesterol will be offeredagain. For CK, a large dispersion of the results was observed. The samples seem to be very sensitive
with regard to light and temperature. The participants should be advised to pay attention to these
aspects. The key measurands for RELA 2015 are total cholesterol, magnesium, ALT, HbA1c, total
protein, testosterone, digoxin, total triiodothyronine, and 25-OH-Vitamin D3.
Term of Reference 3. Promote the establishment and maintenance of IFCC reference laboratory
networks for clinically relevant measurands. Accomplishments include: As in previous years, theHbA1c Network organized 2 intercomparison studies with participation of all approved and candidate
network laboratories as well as all laboratories of the designated comparison method networks in the
US, Japan and Sweden, respectively. All IFCC network laboratories met the quality criteria and kept
their status of approval. The BCCL (Beijing Center Clinical Laboratory) gained the status of approved
network laboratory.
• C-Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL), by Kiyoshi Ichiara, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards C-RIDL terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Review current concepts of establishing reference intervals (RIs) and decision
limits and to prepare state-of-the-art position statements regarding new avenues. Accomplishments
include:Methodological issues for establishment of reference intervals (RIs) have been controversial especiallyover the use of parametric and latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) methods. During the Paris’
C-RIDL meetings held in June, discussions took place on results from the global multicenter study onreference values (RVs), which included national studies from 12 countries. There were very consistenttendencies regarding the use or non-use of those methods. The results were fully reported in part oneof two key note papers submitted to the SD in October as well as in the papers reported by Chineseand Saudi Arabian groups (see Publications).
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: Country-specific RIs for the populations of Philippines, South
Africa, and Pakistan were newly derived and related analyses on RVs were carried out. The traceabilityof test results was confirmed by common measurement of a serum panel. When found biased, the test
results were recalibrated according to the traceable values assigned to the panel. Comparison of the
RVs across 12 countries after alignment based on the panel test results was fully described in part oneof the key note paper.
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 anticipated. Accomplishments
include: The measurands based on a priority list for establishing RIs have all been targeted in theongoing global multicenter study. Therefore, a relevant issue for this TF is exploration of biologicalsources of variation (SV) of measurands. By merging RVs from 12 countries, SVs were harmoniously
analyzed by use of multiple regression analysis and ANOVAs. The most intriguing finding in 2014 wasdifferential effects by ethnicity of body mass index (BMI) on test results. The finding was reinforced byinclusion of 12 countries in this year’s analysis. Gender and age related changes in RVs were nearlyconsistent across the countries. The analyses of SVs across the countries were fully described in parttwo of the key note paper.
Term of Reference 4. To monitor and evaluate currently proposed reference intervals for selected
measurands (analytes) in the light of the concept of traceability and of the identification of the uncertainty.

23

Accomplishments include: No primary action was taken on this so far.
Term of Reference 5. Establish transferability protocols of reference intervals and decision limits, whichtake into consideration inter-routine laboratory method variations and achieve better applicability inclinical practice. Accomplishments include: The Data Management System was built, which enablesalignment of entire results from the global study through flexible conversion of test results from one
laboratory to another based on common test results for a serum panel.
Term of Reference 6. Collaborate with other organizations and/or to undertake establishment ofreference intervals or decision limits for measurands (analytes) identified as a priority. Accomplishments
include: No action was taken on this so far.
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 and decision
limits. Accomplishments include: The specimens in the new serum panel lot were value assigned for
12 biochemical analytes (creatinine, urea, uric acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, AST, ALT, LDH, ALP,
GGT, CK, AMY) with the support of the C-TLM. Full test reports with certificates were obtained in March
2015 and the panel was actively used in the ongoing global multicenter study.
• C-Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (C-STFT), by Linda Thienpont, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards C-STFT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. To develop reference measurement systems for free thyroid hormones andTSH. Accomplishments include: Free thyroid hormones already accomplished in 2011.
For TSH a reference measurement system based on the “all-procedure trimmed mean (APTM)”
calculated by Factor Analysis (FA) was established in 2013. Both reference measurement systems
were implemented in C-STFT phase IV, the final method comparison intended to technically recalibrate
the FT4 and TSH assays. All measurements (by immunoassays and the ED-MS reference method
for FT4) are complete. For TSH the statistical all-procedure trimmed mean (APTM) was calculated.
A first report was presented/discussed in Atlanta at the 2015 AACC meeting. In total 12 companies
participated. The outcome of the evaluation was positive. Manufacturers were meanwhile asked torecalibrate their assays (note for TSH they will calibrate against the APTM from all immunoassays).
Reporting on the recalibration is ongoing; data will be qualitatively evaluated by C-STFT.
Term of Reference 2. To establish a network of laboratories competent to offer reference measurement
services for thyroid hormones. Accomplishments include: FT4 concentrations were assigned to 20
frozen sera from healthy subjects by UGent already in 2014. These samples will be made available tothe partners within the Network for validation of their performance.
Term of Reference 3. To provide an infrastructure for procurement of serum panels. Demonstrate thatthe traceable assays can use a common reference interval; use this as a basis for further elaborationof the reference intervals by the IVD manufacturers; consult with clinicians about the need for ethnic,
age- or sub-population-specific reference intervals in co-operation with C-RIDL.
Accomplishments include: In order to collect samples for the final method comparison (phase IV) andthe samples for the reference interval study, the committee worked together with clinicians in collecting
clinical samples. Besides this, the Committee contacted commercial sources to provide samples andprepare the sample sets for the participants. The committee also started collection of samples for a FT4
follow-up panel, this panel is ~80% complete. It will be assigned values with the RMP, probably in 2016.
The reference interval study is initiated, samples (2 panels of 120 samples) will be distributed to theparticipants by the end of 2015; deadline for reporting samples is early 2016.
Term of Reference 4 and 5. Liaise with key stakeholders to implement the use of the traceable
assays in routine clinical practice. Through collaboration with IFCC EMD, provide educational
materials for manufacturers, clinicians and patients which will support the implementation of traceable
assays. Accomplishments include: The Committee is currently preparing the implementation of thestandardized/harmonized assays. The committee wants to prepare for standardization/harmonizationfrom a technical point of view (phase IV method comparison) and in the meantime seeks answers to all
open questions which need to be addressed before implementation can be realized. As furthered by the
FDA, a thorough risk-benefit analysis is on-going. The C-STFT ran several projects in parallel to complete
this task at all levels of stakeholders. A dedicated C-STFT website is online (http://ifcc-cstft.org/).
The FDA also expressed the need for a monitoring system for the stability of the standardized/harmonized24

assays. The committee has also contacted other regulatory agencies to define their requirements
towards implementation of the newly standardized/harmonized assays.

Working Groups• WG-Standardization of Hemoglobin A2 (WG-SHbA2), by Renata Paleari, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-HbA2 terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. To promote the standardization of hemoglobin A2 measurement through thedefinition of an international reference system, including a reference measurement procedure andprimary and secondary reference materials. Accomplishments include: Development of a reference
method procedure:
The HbA2 candidate reference measurement procedure based on isotope dilution-mass spectrometry
and calibration with recombinant hemoglobins (HbA0 and HbA2) has been implemented in thereference laboratories of INSTAND e.V. and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). First
results show good correlation of the HbA2 values from the two IDMS labs. Additionally, measurement
results obtained by the candidate LC-IDMS/MS reference method were well correlated with resultsfrom several routine systems.
Term of Reference 2. Development of a secondary certified reference material for hemoglobin A2 (incooperation with the IRMM). Accomplishments include: A collaboration with ICSH has been proposedwith the first objective to assess the possibility to use the existing WHO International Reference Material
for HbA2 (held at the NIBSC, UK) to find an interim solution during the period necessary for completionof the IFCC WG activities. As the reference method will be fully validated and approved, the referencematerial for HbA2 will be prepared.
• WG-Standardization of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (WG-SCDT), by Jos Wielders, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-CDT terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Establish a network of CDT reference laboratories that perform the HPLC
candidate reference method. Accomplishments include: A set of blinded samples was sent to allreference labs in autumn, asking them to send in their results before end 2015. Performance of the labs
will be evaluated in January-February 2016
Term of Reference 2. Development of a reference material for CDT. Accomplishments include: The
reference material was developed in 2014.
Term of Reference 3. To appoint the HPLC reference method, the reference interval and measurement
uncertainty in a formal publication (this item was addressed in 2013 and 2014 contacts with the SDof the IFCC). Accomplishments include: A manuscript has been prepared about validation of thecandidate reference method plus practical aspects of the use mainly in clinical settings.
• WG-Standardization of Albumin Assay in Urine (WG-SAU) (a joint committee with the Laboratory
Working Group (LWG) of the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP), USA), byLorin Bachmann, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-SAU terms of reference included:
Terms of Reference 1. Physiologic variability of UA in stable mild kidney disease (funded by NKDEP).
Accomplishments include: John Lieske at Mayo Clinic and John Eckfeldt at U of Minnesota haveexpressed interest in conducting the project and are investigating the feasibility with clinical colleagues.
Terms of Reference 2. Status of harmonization among commercial immunoassays for UA (fundedby NKDEP). 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 albumin measurement
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 candidatereference materials for use in standardization of routine measurement procedures.
Accomplishments include: Findings include: a) Bias was greater than ± 10 percent for 14 of 16
quantitative methods vs. ID-LCMS indicating that standardization is needed; b) Several methods had
non-constant bias with concentration suggesting that calibration technique needs investigation; c)25

Dilution caused changes in bias for some methods; d) CV total was greater than 10 percent for fivemethods showing that improvement in precision is needed for those assays; e) In general, sample
specific effects were not clinically significant. A joint meeting including NKDEP and representatives
from each major manufacturer was held on Feb 5th, 2015 at the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. The
goals of the meeting were to discuss the need for improvement of method performance to accomplish
standardization and to plan for implementing standardization of the routine methods in the next several
years. The next step is to perform a freeze-thaw study to assess the ability to use frozen samples forthe commutability study. The freeze-thaw study has been submitted to the NKDEP for review.
Term of Reference 3. Establish a reference procedure and reference materials for the measurement ofalbumin in urine. Accomplishments include: The Mayo reference method was used to assign albuminvalues for CAP and CEQAL urine samples. The NIST (David Bunk) has developed and performed an
in-house validation of an ID-LC-MS/MS reference measurement procedure for urine albumin. It is
anticipated the NIST procedure will enable assessment of the molecular forms of albumin in urine that
may be of importance in the specificity requirements for routine measurement procedures.
Terms of Reference 4. Reference materials for UA and urine creatinine (funded by JSCC and NIST)
Accomplishments include: SRM 2925 Human Serum Albumin is a primary certified reference material
for use with higher order reference measurement procedures for albumin. SRM 3666 is currently being
prepared based on the specifications developed by the WG-SAU and the LWG of the NKDEP.
• WG-Standadization of Pregnancy-associated Plasma Protein A (WG-PAPP A), by Saara
Wittfooth, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-PAPPA terms of reference included:
Term of Reference: Develop a reference system for standardization of PAPPA measurement employed
as marker for prenatal screening. Accomplishments include: The group is essentially restarting
activities again with a new chair - Saara Wittfooth. The chair submitted a revised project plan to the
SD including schedule and cost estimates. The WG previously used purified material to assess ability
to standardize assays, but this did not work for all assays. The group will assess the potential of
harmonization and the goal of making assay results more comparable. Therefore, the group name will
be changed to Harmonization.
• WG-Standardization of Insulin Assays (WG-SIA), by Mike Steffes, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-SIA terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Establish a reference system for serum/plasma insulin measurement to achieve
standardization of all commercial methods to assay insulin. Accomplishments include: Continued todevelop plans to sustain this program. Develop continuing resources and components of reference
systems based on results from feasibility information.
Term of Reference 2. To develop a continuing program to collect new serum samples (and serum
pools) for assignment of IDMS values. These materials will be applied to sustain the program toharmonize results from manufacturers of insulin assays. Accomplishments include: The Work Grouphas completed the latest phase to procure single donor and pooled aliquots. In 2015 the aliquots
were transferred from Solomon Park in WA to the University of Minnesota. An inventory is currently inprocess.
Term of Reference 3. To establish availability of pure recombinant human insulin as a Reference
Material (RM) for insulin assays and have the RM listed by JCTLM. Accomplishments include:
Collaboration with Dr. C. Burns and colleagues at NIBSC assures availability of a recombinant insulin
candidate reference material that would be integrated with a program to harmonize preparations frommanufacturers of insulin as treatments for diabetes mellitus. NIBSC continues to proceed to sustain
materials for the Insulin Assay Standardization Program.
Term of Reference 4. To establish and validate in at least one additional laboratory for a procedure to
the LC-MS/MS candidate reference measurement procedure implemented by Prof L. Thienpont andcolleagues. This step is a necessary prerequisite to submitting the procedure to JCTLM for review andlisting. Accomplishments include: Continuing discussions with the laboratories of Prof R. Little at
University of Missouri (USA) and Prof D. Stein at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York (USA)as well as Dr. Michael McPhaul of the Nicols Institute CA. Secure commitment to establish a reference

26method at the University of Minnesota.
Term of Reference 5. To determine the feasibility of a joint approach to standardization with the
C-peptide Work Group. Accomplishments include: Active discussions with the C-peptide group(Chair Prof R. Little),with regard to delineating common approaches and the establishment of a cRMP
for C-peptide. Continued emphasis on how both groups can achieve their goals by sharing plans,materials and activities.
• WG-Standardization of Troponin I (WG-TNI), by David Bunk, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-TNI terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Develop a candidate secondary reference measurement procedure and candidate
secondary reference material for cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Accomplishments include: A protocol forthe preparation of a serum-based CRM for cTnI was drafted. A protocol has also been drafted to thevalue-assignment of the CRM through a consensus process using manufacturer’s routine assays. This
protocol will also include the commutability assessment of the CRM.
Term of Reference 2. Testing for cTnI standardization and clinical validation by comparison withvalidated commercial assays in a round robin study. Accomplishments include: A manuscript
describing the round robin study and the study’s outcomes has been published (see Publications). A
publication is planned for 2016 which discusses the commutability assessment of candidate referencematerials that were part of the round robin study.
• WG-Harmonization of Autoantibody Test (WG-HAT), by Joanna Sheldon, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-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 certification process for IgGanti myeloperoxidase antibodies revealed some striking differences between methods and these willbe the basis for further investigation into the causes of variability for autoantibodies.
Term of Reference 2. To identify autoantibodies where a common calibrator could reduce the interassay variability. Accomplishments include: Diagnostic companies are becoming more receptive tothe concept of proper standardization for autoantibodies. The WG-HAT will continue with the planned
program but also have asked for companies to highlight analytes where they think standardization isimportant. The WG will consider options for producing material with the IRMM.
The WG has been asked to consider production of reference materials for more autoantibodies but
believe that the group should continue with the plan to generate a robust process and to concentrateon IgG anti MPO, PR3, GBM, B2GP1 and CCP.
Term of Reference 3. To identify or produce commutable materials that could be used as interim
calibration material for autoantibody assays. Accomplishments include: The report and certificate
for ERM Da 476 for IgG anti MPO was released in April 2015 and this material is now available fromthe IRMM. IgG anti PR3 antibodies: preliminary studies are complete and it is planned that the
protocol for value assignment developed for IgG anti MPO will be used. The material is in the final
stages of evaluation, value assignment and hopefully certification. IgG anti cardiolipin and IgG anti
beta-2 glycoprotein I antibodies: some of the validation testing has shown a possible issue with thecommutability of the material. Therefore a further commutability study is needed in order to select anappropriate material. This is in progress.
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: ERM Da 476 is now a certified reference material.
• WG-Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Proteomics (WG-cMSP), by Sylvain Lehmann, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-cMSP terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1: To define appropriate operating procedures to perform quantitative mass
spectrometry analyses for peptides and proteins from biological fluids. Accomplishments include:
Different members of the WG contributed to the submitted article (see Publications) and suggested
recommendations to perform quantitative mass spectrometry analyses for peptides and proteins from
biological fluids.

27

Term of Reference 2: To evaluate the specification and the need for reference materials for quantitative
proteomics applied to clinical biology. Accomplishments include: With an additional contribution of
the LNE an important section regarding this issue has been included in the submitted publication. A
more practical work in relation with term of reference 3 below is also ongoing with the LNE. In fact the
LNE is currently performing an analysis of a large batch of synthetic hepcidin to verify its amino-acidcomposition and purity.
Term of Reference 3 and 4: To design of a Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) Program andto select a small series of analytes to be the subject of a future multi-site validation study and to To
test the implementation in clinical laboratories of quantitative mass spectrometry analyses for peptides
and proteins, using the examples of hepcidin and apolipoproteins. Accomplishments include: Threelaboratories were involved in a QA/QC hepcidin assay. In parallel there is a working group of theFrench society (SFBC) which also generated pools of samples with different concentrations of hepcidin(these samples are integrated into this IFFCC work).
• WG-Parathyroid Hormone (WG-PTH), by Cathie Sturgeon, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-PTH terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Collaborative educational effort to encourage worldwide implementation of
PTH IS 95/646 and to assess the effect of this on between-method agreement. Accomplishments
include: There has been further discussion regarding the importance of implementing an internationallyrecognised standard for PTH (preferably IS 95/646 if commutable) and how best to demonstrate
the commutability of this standard. Several UK NEQAS distributions have again confirmed the clear
relationship between method bias and recovery of highly purified PTH(1-84). Presentations at a Vitamin
D Standardization Programme (VDSP) meeting in Cambridge (June 2015) and at the AACC Annual
Conference in Atlanta (July 2015) provided opportunities to disseminate this to a wider audience.
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 withsupport from the clinical community and diagnostics manufacturers. Accomplishments include:
Inclusion/exclusion requirements based on results of the systematic review previously undertaken by
the Working Group have yet to be finalised but were considered in some detail at an open meeting of
the Working Group held during the AACC conference (July 2015) and also at the VDSP meeting (June2015). A symposium presentation at EuroMedlab in Paris (June 2015) also provided an opportunity todisseminate some of these issues to a wider audience.
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: Relevant developments in mass spectrometric methods were discussed
in detail at the open meeting of the Working Group (July 2015). The possibility of undertaking thework on the reference measurement procedure at the Mayo Clinic, NIST and/or CDC was discussed.
The analytical sensitivity of currently available mass spectrometric procedures is also problematic as
the mass spectrometric procedure evaluated is 10 times less sensitive than routine automated PTH
immunoassays.
• WG-CSF Proteins (WG-CSF), Chair: by Kaj Blennow, Chair 		
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-CSF terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1. Develop an international reference material for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The project aims to: 1. Collect a CSF material, test stability, and assign values, to establish a Certified
Reference Material (CRM); 2. Establishment of Reference Measurement Procedure (RMP) for the key
measurands (Aβ1-42 and tau) for assignment of values to the reference material. Accomplishments
include: 1. Collection of CSF material and preparation of the Certified Reference Material (CRM): a.
University of Gothenburg, Sweden has collected a large (5 litre) pool of CSF to be the basis for thereference material; b. A first commutability study has been done, comparing the candidate CRM as
well as spiked variants and pools containing detergents. The analyses show high correlations between
the SRM method and the immunoassays, and also very good commutability of the candidate CRM,
but not for different variants of artificial CSF, or for samples containing detergents; c. Based on theseresults, a second commutability study has been performed. The analyses show high correlations

28

between the SRM method and the immunoassays, and also very good commutability of the candidate
CRM, but less good commutability for spiked variants; d. Studies are ongoing to test the stability andhomogeneity of the candidate CRM; e. A common calibrator for Aβ1-42 is undergoing quantification byamino acid analysis in certified laboratories
2. Establishment of reference methods for the key measurands for assignment of values to thereference material: a. This part of the project is focused on developing a SRM mass-spec method forAβ 1-42 in CSF, to qualify as a reference measurement procedure (RMP); b. The assays have been
compared in a detailed Round Robin study in which both human CSF samples and the calibrators havebeen analyzed in all labs. The results show very good correlations and agreements between assays;c. A second Round Robin study has been performed in which the master calibrator is used, to test acommon procedure for calibration in preparation of the value assignment of the CRM. Data from thisstudy showed linear correlations and good agreement between the five methods with a variation <4%.
• WG-Standardization of Bone Marker Assays (WG-SBMA), by Howard Morris, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-SBMA terms of reference included: This is a joint activity
with the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
Term of Reference 1: Standardize or harmonize (as technically feasible or appropriate at this time)clinical assays available for routine and research use for the serum assay for C-telopeptide fragmentsof collagen type I α1 chains containing the epitope Glu-Lys-Ala-His-Asp-s-Gly-Gly-Arg in an isomerised
form (also known as serum Crosslaps (CTx)). Accomplishments include: The protocol for an assay
comparability study of the two major clinical assays for CTX-1 has been prepared. The study will be
conducted at four European centers. The protocol has been optimised to provide a cost-effective,
clinically relevant study and funds have been promised by the two IVD companies involved.
Term of Reference 2: Standardize or harmonize (as technically feasible or appropriate at this time)clinical assays available for routine and research and the serum assay for N-terminal Propeptide ofType I Procollagen (P1NP). Accomplishments include: Same as in Term of Reference 2.
• WG-Commutability (WG-C), by Greg Miller, Chair
During 2015 ongoing progress towards WG-C terms of reference included:
Term of Reference 1: Establish operating procedures for the formal assessment of the commutabilityof a reference material intended for use as a calibrator, trueness control or EQA sample, taking into
account different measurement procedure properties and categories of traceability described in ISO
17511. Accomplishments include: A draft recommendations document is approaching completion.
The recommendations address qualification of measurement procedures, qualification of clinicalsamples, criteria for commutability based on medical requirements for using a laboratory test results
and fraction of uncertainty that can be assigned based on the intended use of a reference material, two
new statistical approaches for assessing commutability, and use of a correction for non-commutability
to make non-commutable reference materials more useful for achieving agreement of results among
different measurement procedures.
Term of Reference 2: Establish how to define the degree of commutability which is required for a givenreference material, taking into account its intended use and the intended use of the measurand. The
degree of commutability becomes the criteria used in the assessment process. Accomplishments
include: Described in term of reference #1.
Term of Reference 3: Propose standard terminology to describe the degree of commutability of areference material, taking into account its intended use. Accomplishments include: Described interm of reference #1.
Term of Reference 4: Provide guidance to manufacturers and laboratories about what information should
be provided by manufacturers in relation to the commutability of reference materials used to establish thecalibration traceability of a measurement procedure. Accomplishments include: Not addressed.
Term of Reference 5: Develop educational materials regarding commutability for manufacturers,
laboratories and users of laboratory results. Accomplishments include: Not addressed.
Additional Information: The chair has discussed publication approaches with Nader Rifai, EIC Clinical
Chemistry, for the quantity of material likely to be in the final recommendations. An approach of several
papers with substantial use of supplemental data will be considered.

29

Publications by Committees and Working Groups:
C-NPU:			
Ferard G., Dybkaer R. The NPU format for clinical laboratory science reports regarding properties,
units, and symbols. Chemistry International. Vol 37 (3), p 24-25, May 2015
Nordin G. Before defining performance criteria we must agree on what a “qualitative test procedure”
is. Clin Chem Lab Med., 2015 May; 53(6):939-41
Silver Book 2 revision – in final review:
Férard G., Dybkaer R., Fuentes-Arderiu X., Compendium of Terminology and Nomenclature of Properties
in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine& International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2016 (in final review pre-publication)
Campbell C, Caldwell G, Coates P., Flatman R, Georgiou A., Horvath AR., Lam Q., Schneider H.
Consensus Statement for the Management and Communication of High Risk Laboratory Results, Clin
Biochem Rev, 2015, 36(iii): 97-105
C-RIDL:
Published:
1. Borai A, Ichihara K, Masoud A, et al. on behalf of the Committee on Reference Intervals and Decision
Limits, International Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Establishmentof reference intervals of clinical chemistry analytes for adult population in Saudi Arabia: a study
conducted as a part of the IFCC global study on reference values. Clin Chem Lab Med 2015; DOI:
10.1515/cclm-2015-0490.
Submitted to CCA:
2. Ichihara K, Ozarda Y, Barth JH, et al. on behalf of the Committee on Reference Intervals andDecision Limits, International Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. A global
multicenter study on reference values: 1. Assessment of methods for derivation and comparison ofreference intervals.
3. Ichihara K, Ozarda Y, Barth JH, et al. on behalf of the Committee on Reference Intervals and Decision
Limits, International Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. A global multicenter
study on reference values: 2. exploration of sources of variation across the countries.
Other articles directly related to the C-RIDL projects.
1. Shimizu Y, Ichihara K. Sources of variation analysis and derivation of reference intervals for ALP,
LDH, and amylase isozymes using sera from the Asian multicenter study on reference values. Clin
Chim Acta 2015; 446: 64–72.
2. Qin X, Tang G, Qiu L, et al. A Multicenter Reference Intervals Study for Specific Proteins in China.
Medicine 2015; 94:e2211. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002211.
3. Masuda S, Ichihara K, Yamanishi H, et al. Evaluation of menstrual cycle-related changes in 85
clinical laboratory analytes. Ann Clin Biochem 2015 in press. doi: 10.1177/0004563215617212
4. Xia L, Qiu L Cheng X, Chen M, et al. Nationwide multicenter reference interval study for 28 common
biochemical analytes in China. Medicine, in press.
C-STFT:
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Standardization of FT4 and harmonization of TSH measurements - A
request for input from endocrinologists and other physicians. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2015 Jul 23. [Epubahead of print].
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Standardization of FT4 and harmonization of TSH measurements - A
request for input from endocrinologists and other physicians [Opinion]. Endocr J 2015;62:855-6.
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Standardization of FT4 and Harmonization of TSH Measurements- A Request for Input from Endocrinologists and Other Physicians. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2015
Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print].

30

Thienpont L, Faix J, Beastall G. Standardization of free thyroxine and harmonization of thyrotropin
measurements: A request for input from endocrinologists and other physicians. Thyroid 2015 Sep 28.
[Epub ahead of print].
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Standardization of FT4 and harmonization of TSH measurements:a request for input from endocrinologists and other physicians. Endocrine 2015; 50:826-7.
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Standardization of free T4 and harmonization of TSH measurements:a request for input from endocrinologists and other physicians. Eur Thyroid J. DOI:10.1159/000440614.
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Inquiry: Standardization of thyroid tests. The future standardizationof FT4 and harmonization of TSH measurements in serum. A request for input on benefits and risks
from Thyroid Foundations. ThyroWorld Newsletter 2015;18:13-4.
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Standardization of FT4 and harmonization of TSH measurements- A request for input from endocrinologists and other physicians. Endocr Pract 2015, accepted.
Thienpont LM, Faix JD, Beastall G. Standardization of FT4 and harmonization of TSH measurements- A request for input from endocrinologists and other physicians. Endocr Pract 2015, accepted.
WG-SHbA2: 		
Arsene CG, Kaiser P, Henrion A, Paleari R, and Mosca A. Candidate reference measurement procedure
for the determination of HbA2 fraction in human blood using mass spectrometry. Proceedings of the
14th International Symposium on Biological and Environmental Reference Materials, October 11-15,
2015, Maryland (USA), page 33.
Paleari R, Caruso D, Kaiser P, Arsene CG, Schaeffer-Reiss C, Van Dorsselaer A, Bissé E, Ospina M,
De Jesús VR, Wild B, Mosca A. Developing a reference system for the IFCC standardization of HbA2
(submitted for the publication on the special issue of CCA dedicated to contributions from IFCC WGs).
WG-TNI:			
“Evaluation of standardization capability of current cardiac troponin I assays by a correlation study:
results of an IFCC pilot project” Tate, J.R., Bunk, D.M., Christenson, R.H., Barth, J.H., Katrukha, A.,
Noble, J.E., Schimmel, H., Wang, L., and Panteghini, M., Clin. Chem. Lab. Med., 55 (5), 2015, 677 –690.
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-CSF:
Bjerke M, Andreasson U, Kuhlmann J, Portelius E, Pannee J, Lewczuk P, Umek RM, Vanmechelen E,
Vanderstichele H, Stoops E, Lewis J, Vandijck M, Kostanjevecki V, Jeromin A, Salamone SJ, Schmidt
O, Matzen A, Madin K, Eichenlaub U, Bittner T, Shaw LM, Zegers I, Zetterberg H, Blennow K. Assessing
the commutability of reference material formats for the harmonization of amyloid beta measurements.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2015, in press.
Pannee J, Gobom J, Shaw LM, Korecka M, Chambers EE, Lame M, Jenkins R, Mylott W, Carrillo MC,
Zegers I, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Portelius E. Round robin test on quantification of amyloid-β 1-42 in
cerebrospinal fluid by mass spectrometry. Alzheimers Dement 2016;12(1):55-59.
Ian Young, SD Chair and Joseph Passarelli, SD Secretary31

EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EMD)
A three year strategic plan was produced by the EC on the 16th of January 2015 and was finalised andagreed at the EMD-EC meeting on 20th June 2016. All Chairs of Committees, Working Groups andSpecial Projects submitted their work plans for 2015 by the 3rd of February 2015.
• Clinical Molecular Biology Curriculum (C-CMBC); by Evi Lianidou, Chair
1. Updated the C-CMBC website where general Information about the Course can be found:
http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-education-division/emd-committees/c-cmbc/
2. Organised and held the 7th Course on “MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS FOR BEGINNERS” on 12th
– 17th of July 2015, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ms Liucija Bikauskaitė, medical geneticist, Departmentof Human and Medical Genetics, Vilnius, Lithuania was nominated as the IFCC Junior member
from Lithuania.
Publications:• Article for the IFCC newsletter electronic edition on the C-CMBC course in Manila, 2014: “C-CMBC:
Beginner’s Course in Molecular Diagnostics - Manila, Philippines: A short Overview” by Madelein
Hoffman, Verena Haselmann, Parviz Ahmad-Nejad, Atsushi Watanabe, Andrea Ferreria-Gonzalez,and Evi Lianidou• Analytical Quality (C-AQ), by Egon Amann, Chair
1. In February 2015, the “Directory of EQA Services” database was placed on the C-AQ website
in the “Resources” section. Information on proficiency testing organisations, website and e-mailcontacts, and areas of expertise/clinical chemistry fields are provided. In October 2015, a PDF
version was placed on the website for easier access.
2. A “Minimum requirement list” has been prepared to assist countries to plan and design an EQA
scheme. This list is available in the “Resources” section of the C-AQ website under the title “EQA
Setup Checklist”.
3. An additional document entitled “Procedure for Planning an EQA Scheme” was placed on the
C-AQ website in the “Resources” section in 2015. This document was developed by Annette
Thomas and contains more detailed procedures for the planning of a new EQA scheme.
4. “Resource table for EQA” was finalised and placed in the C-AQ section of the IFCC website in
December 2015.
5. 5. The presentation “The Principles of External Quality Assurance” (originally prepared by JaniceGill) was reviewed and placed in the “Teaching Materials” section of the C-AQ website and wasprovided to C-DL within 2015.
6. The presentation “The Principles of External Quality Assurance”, developed by Otto Panagiotakis
and Alexander Haliassos of the ESEAP-Greek Proficiency Testing Schema for Clinical Laboratories,
was reviewed and placed in the “Teaching Materials” section of the C-AQ website within 2015.
7. Annette Thomas and Egon Amann were invited speakers at the 1st Educational Workshop of
the Croation Society for Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine in Zagreb, held on April
24, 2015. Presentations given were: Egon Amann: General introduction on the role of EQA inlaboratory quality management. Annette Thomas: 1) How to organise National EQA. 2) How toestablish participant performance (including acceptance criteria).
Publications:• E. Amann “Quality assurance in medical laboratories. Paths to global competence standards” inq&more, For excellence in laboratory and process quality, 01.15, pages 2-7 (2015).
• E. Amann “Divisional Reports: IFCC Committee of Analytical Quality (C-AQ): Education andtraining of laboratory professionals in international standards and practices of analytical quality” in
IFCC eNews, November – December 2015, pages 3-4 (2015).

32

• Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine (C-EBLM), by Chris Florkowski, Chair
1. Work is on-going with members of the committee for distance learning (C-DL) and thecommunications and publications division (CPD) to advance the establishment of an on-line
learning resource in EBLM.
2. Formulation of an EBLM Curriculum, with input from individual members of the committee andconsultants is largely done. Individual topics have been allocated to committee members to do
podcasts or similar formatted presentations for review at the IFCC general conference in Madridin March 2016 and for eventual inclusion in the IFCC e-Academy resources.
3. Guideline reviews has been put forward as a proposal, may be targeting endocrine guidelines witha view to undertaking a critical appraisal using the AGREE (+/- other) instruments. In particular,
we are looking for opportunities to write as a group EBLM-focused articles for scientific journals –regionally and internationally, may be through the facility of the IFCC journal (and others).
4. It was suggested that we could circulate a questionnaire about knowledge and awareness of
EBLM. Dr N Gimenez already has the nucleus of such a questionnaire that could be adapted by
the group and circulated globally in many languages. As a group, we have the opportunity to makethese connections and to gather a data set that would be of considerable interest.
5. Dr Hernan Taie (Argentina) continues to contribute his excellent Iberian Laboratory Medicine Radio
Station that is broadcasted in Spanish. C-EBLM members have contributed to the programming of
this effort and have provided several lectures.
6. It was also proposed that C-EBLM should have a presence on Facebook and other social media
to provide broader access to relevant groups, such as younger scientists, and to advertise on-line
courses and websites. It was agreed that this should be explored further.
7. Chris Florkowski has been invited to speak on POCT and EBLM in Warsaw, Poland 2016.
Publications:• Coenzyme Q10 and congestive heart failure: An evolving evidence base. Christopher M Florkowski,
Sarah L Molyneux, Joanna M Young. Kardiologia Polska 02/2015; 73(2):73-79. DOI:10.5603/KP 2015.
• Demand management: An audit of Pathology test rejections by an Electronic Gate-keeping System
at an Academic Hospital in Cape Town. Ida Smit, Annalise E Zemlin, · Rajiv T Erasmus. Annals ofClinical Biochemistry 12/2014; 52(4). DOI:10.1177/0004563214567688.
• Clinical Laboratory Management (C-CLM), by Sedef Yenice, Chair
1. A meeting was held at EuroMedLab 2015 in Paris with Professor Dr Ganna Lunova, Presidentof Association of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine of Ukraine (ACCLMU), Tanya
Kheylomska, Head of Young Scientists Division and Kheilomsky Oleksandr, Head of Council andSubcommittee on Accreditation in Medicine of NAAU. It was discussed whether a training activity
on the essentials of laboratory quality management and guidance on the preliminary aspectsof accreditation based on ISO 15189 Medical Laboratories – Requirements for Quality andCompetence could be arranged in association with the next national meeting of ACCLMU in April
2016 where around 1000 delegates are expected to participate. It was concluded that to have
C-CLM assist the ACCLMU by providing training on setting up and implementation related to theclinical testing laboratory quality management programme ACCLMU should initiate an application
for training support directly to IFCC EMD EC.
2. A workshop on “The Essentials of Quality Management in Clinical Laboratories” at the 4th AFCC
Congress, Victoria Falls, ZW, was held on 27th April 2015 in Harare, Zimbabwe and approximately
50 delegates participated in the workshop. The faculty consisted of senior laboratory professionals
from Australia and South Africa (V. Steenkamp, R Bais, T Pillay and RT Erasmus).
3. C-CLM teamed up with C-AQ to produce a joint publication on “Developing Quality Systems in theClinical Laboratory”. The target audience of the monograph to be published by the end of 2016 arefrom the developing countries.
4. A laboratory questionnaire focusing on the assessment of quality management system in medical
and clinical laboratories is in progress and will be finalised in January 2016.
5. The development of training modules was discussed during the meeting of C-CLM on 21st June2015 in Paris. Dr. Graham Beastall suggested that C-CLM should develop training modules logically,33

step-by-step and start first with the contents of “Leadership” and “Team Work”. In accordance withDr Graham Beastall’s advice, a training module on “Leadership” will be designed.
6. Existing educational power point presentations to supplement the courses of the e-Academy
were provided to Prof Edgard Delvin, Chair of C-PR on 16th February 2015. Details of thesepresentations are as follows:• Rajiv T Erasmus
Method Validation – Practical
					
POCT Method Validation
					Role of Laboratory in Implementing POC in Africa
					
Section of POCT Devices• Modupe Kuti		
Overview of Strengthening Laboratory Management					Toward Accreditation• Tjan Sian Hwa		
Introduction of Sigma Metric in Clinical Laboratory
7. Sedef Yenice and Egon Amann (Chair of C-AQ) will be jointly conducting an interactive workshop
on “What is the best strategy to achieve compliance with QMS- and QC-requirements in theclinical laboratory?” at the next IFCC General Conference scheduled on 20 March 2016.
8. Sedef Yenice organised a symposium entitled “Current Advances on Clinical Laboratory
Management” during the 27th National Biochemistry Congress of Turkish Biochemical Societythat was held on November 4, 2015, Susesi Luxury Resort, Belek, Antalya – Turkey. C-CLM full
member, Dr Matthias Orth delivered a lecture on “Benchmarks: value versus the cost of laboratory
testing”. Title of Sedef Yenice’s lecture was “Impact of proactive solutions on quality management
in clinical laboratories”.
Publications:• Highlights of C-CLM’s activities, November/December 2015 issue of IFCC’s eNews, pages 4-5.
Distance Learning (C-DL), by Janet Smith, Chair
1. Approval of material for the website is on-going.
2. Curriculum development is on-going.
3. e-Academy development is going well and the first phase was launched during the EuroMedLab
Congress in Paris. It is hoped that the second phase will be available for the General Conferencein Madrid.
4. The mass spectrometry module continues to be developed by Dr Ronda Greaves and material
is gradually being added to the e-Academy on this topic and on others. The C-EBLM is actively
working to prepare a series of present-me presentations for the EBLM module. UK colleagues arepreparing modules on basic clinical laboratory concepts and techniques, a need identified by thecommittee.
5. Janet Smith met with other EMD Committee Chairs during the EuroMedlab Congress and in thefirst instance will work with the C-EBLM and the C-AQ in developing present-me modules.
6. The joint C-DL / C-IeL Symposium at the EuroMedLab Paris meeting was successful, with very
positive feedback. Peter Vervaart will give an update on the e-Academy development during
the General Conference in Madrid and both committees will be involved in a workshop there toshow how the e-Academy might help national member societies and individuals in the laboratory
medicine field.
7. The funding provided by Siemens for activities of C-DL is much welcomed and some of the funding
has already been used to record symposia at the AACB Congress in September 2015. C-DL isactively Identifying IFCC symposia for recording and this will be discussed further at the General
Conference in Madrid in March 2016.
8. Liaison with IFCC Office continues over permission from authors.

34• WG-Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety (WG-LEPS), by Laura Sciacovelli, Chair
1. Continuous management of an External Quality Assurance Programme (EQAP) concerning thefollowing Quality Indicators (QIs).
- 45 QIs of Key Processes: 28 to monitor the pre-analytical phase; 6 the intra-analytical phase;;
11 the post-analytical phase.
- 5 QIs of Support Processes- 3 Outcome Measures
The EQAP includes:- registration of laboratories that require participation in the Programme;- collection of QIs results through a dedicated website;- elaboration of QIs results;- evaluation of results using the Sigma metric;- preparation of a periodic report for each participant;- distribution of the report to all participant through the issuing in the dedicated website.
Participation is free and is open to all laboratories all over the world. Moreover, confidentiality ofdata is assured.
2. Analysis of Quality Indicators (QIs) data collected in EQAP in order to define a Model, consensuallyaccepted, to be used in laboratories all over the world. The definition of the QIs Model includes
the use of the same quality indicators, a uniform method of data collection and a centralised
elaboration.
3. Identification of Quality Specifications (goals to be achieved) for each Quality Indicator to makeeasier the interpretation of QIs results and identify the action priorities.
4. Encouragement of laboratories all over the world to enrol in the project. Identifying national leaders
to coordinate the participation in the project of laboratories of its country, contribute to the results
management of their laboratories and of the information provided in the reports.
5. Arrangement of a Consensus Conference in order to release a Model of Quality Indicators fully
accepted by laboratories, if possible in October 2016.
Publications:• Sciacovelli L, Aita A, Padoan A, Pelloso M, Antonelli G, Piva E, Chiozza ML, Plebani M.
Performance criteria and quality indicators for the post-analytical phase. Clin Chem Lab Med.
2015 Dec 10. pii:/j/cclm.ahead-of-print/cclm-2015-0897/cclm-2015-0897.xml. doi: 10.1515/cclm2015-0897. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26656613.
• Plebani M, Sciacovelli L, Aita A, Pelloso M, Chiozza ML. Performance criteria and quality indicators
for the pre-analytical phase. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2015; 53: 943-8.
• WG-Cancer Genomics (WG-CG), by Jason Park, Chair and Paolo Fortina, Co-Chair
1. Symposium for 14th APFCB Congress 2016 was accepted on Clinical Cancer Genomics.
a. Paolo Fortina, Emerging Technologies for Clinical Cancer Genomics
b. Dr David H Wang, Using Clinical Genomics to Manage and Treat Patients with Cancer
c. Jason Park, Standards for Cancer Genomic Clinical Laboratories
2. A presentation to the IFCC General Conference will be made on March 19, 2016.
Jason Park and Paolo Fortina will present on “Cancer Genomics: Revolution in Medical Practice”.
3. The second meeting of the working group is scheduled to be in conjunction with the IFCC General
Conference 2016 on Friday, March 18 in Madrid, Spain where the summary draft manuscript ofexisting cancer genomics standards will be reviewed for consensus prior to publication.
4. Financial support for the working group has been received from Softgenetics and Affymetrix.
5. Publications• IFCC eNews on Cancer Genomics, March – April 2015, written by Jason Park and Paolo
Fortina.
• Draft manuscript on Cancer Genomics Standards is in preparation.

35

• WG-Harmonisation of Interpretive Comments External Quality Assurance (WG-ICQA)
Established in 2015, by Samuel Vasikaran, Chair
1. To bring together representatives of current and potential organisers of national EQA schemes forInterpretative Comments (IC) and experts in the area.
2. Develop harmonised goals for EQA of IC. Goals of EQA of interpretative comments have been
discussed among the WG.
3. Devise standard methods of assessment, nomenclature and marking scales for EQA of IC.
Methods of assessment, nomenclature and marking scales for EQA of interpretative commenting
have been discussed among the WG.
4. Seeking input from similar schemes in other Pathology disciplines such as Histopathology. This isunderway with the RCPA histopathology EQA group.
5. A first draft of a paper canvassing the issues under activities 2 and 3 is being prepared by the
Chair as a tool for seeking input from and stimulating discussion among WG members.
Publications:• Vasikaran S. IFCC Working Group for Harmonisation in the Operation of Interpretive Comments
External Quality Assessment Schemes (WG-ICQA). IFCC e-Newsletter May-June 2015; 7-8.
IFCC Visiting Lecturer Programme (IFCC-VLP), by Elizabeth Frank, Chair
Sixteen VLPs took place in 2015.
• WG-Working Group on Flow Cytometry (WG-FC), by Ulrich Sack, Chair
1. The annual flow cytometry workshop took place from October 27 to 29 2015 in Athens, Greece.
The established principle was continued: intense interaction between participants and trainers;
3 topics a day with short introduction and extensive practical exercises; 3 days duration; andemerging and relevant scientific topics with clinical impact for daily practice.
2. International flow cytometry courses are being prepared outside Europe. Contacts with colleagues
from Rio de Janeiro (BR), and Sao Paulo (BR), and Cordoba (ARG) ended up with the option of afirst Latin American Course in Argentina in March 2016.
3. In 2015, an additional workshop was offered under IFCC auspices in Krems, Austria. From May
7 to 8, “Extracellular Vesicles in Inflammation“ was the topic of a meeting. Speakers were Philip
D. Stahl (St. Louis, USA), Ciro Tetta (Torino, IT), Eva Pállinger (Budapest, HU), Christoph Binder(Vienna, A), Giovanni Camussi (Torino, IT), Peter Altevogt (Heidelberg, D), Johannes Thaler(Vienna, A), Carla Tripisciano (Krems, A), Alain Brisson (Bordeaux, F), Gerd Schmitz (Regensburg,D), Lukas Wisgrill (Vienna, A), Andreas Spittler and René Weiss (Vienna, A). Besides cutting edge
presentations on this topic, practical exercises were offered to the attendees.
4. An Italian scientist, Alessandro de Stefano from Rome was awarded an IFCC educational grantand spent 3 months in Ulrich Sack’s institute for professional training in immunodeficiency analysis.
Developing Quality Competence in Medical Laboratories (DQCML), by Michael Thomas, Chair
1. Support was provided to the President of the Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Bioquímica, Ecuador forthe delivery of a 2-day Quality Control workshop in February 2015. A second workshop was heldin Riobamba, Ecuador on 28th and 29th February 2015. The course was presented in Spanishby Ana Lucia Aguirre-Mejia, from Quality Consulting Co. and organised under the auspices of
SEBIOCLI by former president Cecilia Paula.
2. The presentations associated with the Ecuador Workshops were provided in Spanish and therefore
inappropriate to go on the main IFCC web site. A request to publish them under the Spanish
Section of the IFCC website, Rincón Iberoamericano has not been realised.
3. Support was offered for the EQA Zambia Project being led by Dr Renze Bais. Funding of EQA
material (AUD 3,400) to support the project from the DQCML budget was granted for one year.
4. The IFCC Past President, Dr Graham Beastall, is to undertake a DQCML-funded scoping visit to
Malawi to assess the needs of improving quality in laboratory medicine. The visit will also assess
the potential for and practicability of a pilot EQA scheme similar to that in Zambia. Hilary Lumano
from Zambia will join Dr Beastall on the visit.

36

IFCC Mentoring Programme, by Donald Young, Chair
There are currently 16 mentors and 26 mentees (Associates) in the programme. Several pending
mentors are from Spanish-speaking Latin America who were nominated by Rosa Sierra Amor, butmore potential mentors and mentees are needed to enable good matches based on interests. A
SurveyMonkey survey conducted early in 2015 indicated general satisfaction with the programme. A
report of the mentoring programme was published in IFCC eNews early in 2015. The burden on any
one mentee remains small so Prof Young will raise the number of mentees that can be managed byany one mentor to 5 (instead of the current 3). Prof Young has been promoting WHO-AFRO’s SLIPTA
programme to the countries in which the mentoring programme has been operating as a resource toprovide a guide towards accreditation.
Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes (C-EUBD), by Garry John, Chair
A new committee on Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes (C-EUBD) was approved by the
IFCC EB in 2015. The Committee is operational from 1st January 2016.
Leslie Lai, EMD Chair

37

COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DIVISION (CPD)
During 2015, the following members served on the CPD Executive Committee: Khosrow Adeli (CA,
Chair), Edgard Delvin (CA, Vice Chair/Public Relations Coordinator), Peter Vervaart (AU, Publications/Distance Learning Coordinator), Tahir Pillay (ZA, News Editor), G. L. Kovács (HU, Editor eJIFCC), andBruce Jordan (CH Corporate Representative). Janine Grant (AU, Website Editor), Maria del Carmen
Pasquel (EQ, WG- IANT Chair), Ellis Jacobs (US, IFCC Labs are Vital representative) and Anthony
Newman (NL, Publications consultant) were invited to attend the CPD meeting in Paris, on occasionof EuroMedLab 2015.
• Two face-to-face committee meetings were held in 2015: Paris, (FR) in June, Quito (EC) in
September• CPD organized a very successful journal editors and publishers meeting during the recent IFCC
EuroMedLab congress with more than 25 journal representatives in attendance from several IFCC
member countries• New agreement with Insoft is for eAcademy, released in Paris, cost supported by Siemens andshared with EMD• Major improvements have been implemented to both the IFCC eNews and the eJournal. Publication
formats as well as news/scientific content have been enhanced considerably over the past year
• Diagnostico in Vitro - DiV, was re-styled completely by the WG IANT and was successfully launched• A CPD symposium was organized at the EuroMedLab 2015 in Paris, on “Value and impact oflaboratory medicine in patient care: what is the evidence?”• A joint C-IeL and C-DL symposium was organized at the EuroMedLab 2015 in Paris, on “The IFCC
eAcademy?”• A CPD symposium was organized at the COLABIOCLI 2015 in Quito, on “Advances in PaediatricLaboratory Medicine”• Proposal to EB on TF ICO findings, further to the eJIFCC themed, to include developing studies
of clinical utility of e.g. biomarkers; the slide presentation based on Dr Hallworth paper in Clinical
Chemistry “The value of laboratory medicine” is now posted on the IFCC website.
• A new Publications Guidelines document was developed and presented at the Paris Editors
meeting for discussion: it was well received and will soon be finalized for distribution.
• A new web maintenance contract has been signed with Insoft Digital to ensure support andmaintenance of the IFCC website• The 2015-2017 version of the Handbook has been completed and made available on both a USB
stick and the IFCC website.
Committee on Public Relations (C-PR), by Edgard Delvin, Chair
There has been one C-PR meeting in Paris in June, to which all the Committee Members, as well assome of the Corresponding Members and Federations Advisors were in attendance; in May 2015 after
a call for nominations, Dr Krintus (PL) replaced Dr Zemlin, who became member of the C-EBLM.
Two Advisors for the AFCC and NAFCC are now part of the C-PR. They are Prof. Okesina, from Nigeria
and Dr Kinniburgh from Canada.
PR DELIVERABLES
Thanks to the cooperation of many National Representatives and of Dr Jordan, CPD Corporate
Representative, the IFCC Brochures are now available in 13 languages. The PR brochure “Understanding
Laboratory Medicine” is under revision.
The IFCC presentation is continuously updated by the IFCC office. The “Understanding Laboratory
Medicine” slide kit has been revised and published on the website. Contact with C/WG Chairs to ask
documents produced by their respective Functional Units that could serve as material for PR purposes
The IFCC handbook has been updated and a print version was available for the EuroMedLab. The
electronic version is also available on the IFCC website.
A draft of Proposal, accepted by the C-PR members, for a worldwide promotion of IFCC documents
and activities has been discussed during the CPD-EC meeting in Quito.
A CPD Annual Survey has been planned for year 2016.

38

LABS ARE VITAL CONSORTIUM
The Board will hold regular conference calls for the Board Meeting, to which the C-PR Chair will
participate as Clinical Editor on behalf of the IFCC.
THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON PERSONALIZED HEALTH CARE
This event will be held in Montreal in June 2016. It may be a good forum to promote the added value oflaboratory medicine in a rapidly expanding field. An abstract will be submitted for oral presentation at asession aiming on Education to Public, Professionals and Decision Makers. The opportunity to include
some pamphlet on IFCC is also envisaged.
• Committee on Internet and e-Learning (C-IeL), by Peter Vervaart, Chair
The C-IeL continues to work closely with the Committee for Distance Learning and Insoft in developing
electronic/distance learning materials and access for IFCC members utilising the ‘e-Academy’. Jointly
the C-IeL and C-DL continue to work on the development of the eAcademy, whose Stage 1 has beenrelease at the EuroMedLab meeting in Paris.
The Facebook group is now growing at a rapid pace and has >7500 members and the company pagehas >5400 likes. The Twitter feed has 333 followers and the Social Media Coordinator continues totweet about IFCC activities. E. Freggiaro, P. Kocna and H. Sakamoto have been proposed to extend
their position for a second term.
PUBLICATIONS
The database (available on the website) continues to be updated as publications are forthcoming.
SILVER BOOK
The “Silver Book” draft: Compendium of Terminology and Nomenclature of Properties in ClinicalLaboratory Sciences (IUPAC and IFCC Recommendations) underwent public review and it’s almost
ready for release.
WEB SITE
The website continues to develop under the tutelage of Insoft, our website vendor. After the new Events
calendar format to optimise the features available including download of events to major calendar
clients (eg iCal), the next enhancements will be the production of an App.
Updates to look of the IFCC Media front page buttons to RIA, elMicroscopio, eJIFCC and eNews. New
front page button linking to Regional Federations to reflect the enhanced relationships.
eAcademy: Added all topics from C-DL survey. Added 3 new events (Vietnam CPC 2015, AACB ASM
Bone seminar 2015, EFLM e-seminars). Added associated content files (10 webinar video files and 5
external links) and added authors including photos.
Updates to RIA pages ongoing in conjunction with WG-IANT.
The Policy and Procedure guidelines for IFCC functional unit web pages are currently in preparation
and will be soon available.
Review of the most recent 12 months to date continue to indicate an increase Web traffic (sessions +19%) over the previous period. Google Analytics now provides more information on user demographics.
• Working Group on Electronic Journal of the IFCC (WG-eJIFCC), by Gabor Kovacs, Chair
New position of an assistant editor: Bhattoa Harjit Pal (HU) was co-opted in the editorial board as theassistant editor of the e-journal. New editorial board members: Mike Hallworth (UK), Peter Vervaart(AU), Andrea Rita Horvath (AU), Maria del Carmen Pasquel Carrera (EC
INDEXING EJIFCC IN PUBMED CENTRAL
A number of technical questions (e.g. sequential numbering, past issues, etc.) with the PMC upload
had to be decided internally; these issues have been solved by INSOFT and SUNTEC. The upload
process will take place in January 2016.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEETINGAn EB meeting was organized in Paris. It was well attended, with more than 50 % of the memberspresent. The EB has discussed the content of the future issues and the structure of the journal.
Volumes of the eJIFCC in 2015/2016
VOLUME 1/2015: This themed issue of the journal is focused around the impact of laboratory medicine
on clinical management and patient outcomes. (Guest editor: Mike Hallworth). The issue deals with39

the systematic evidence of the contribution of laboratory medicine to the clinical process, in view of themultitude of factors that are involved in reaching a diagnosis or planning treatment for an individual:
http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-communications-publications-division-(cpd)/ifcc-publications/ejifcc-(journal)/ejournal-volumes/ejifcc2015vol26/ejifcc-vol-26-no-1/:• Measuring the impact of laboratory medicine on clinical management and patient outcomes. Mike
Hallworth• Diagnostic errors and laboratory medicine – causes and strategies. Mario Plebani• Towards better test utilization – strategies to improve physician ordering and their impact on patient
outcomes. Danielle B. Freedman• Collaborating with international clinical organizations. Howard A. Morris• The impact for patient outcomes of failure to follow up on test results. How can we do better?
Joanne Callen, Andrew Georgiou, Julie Li, Johanna I Westbrook• The clinical and health economic value of clinical laboratory diagnostics Bruce Jordan, Cheryl
Mitchell, Andy Anderson, Norbert Farkas, Richard Batrla• Evaluating biomarkers for guiding treatment decisions. Patrick M. Bossuyt, Parvin Tajik
VOLUME 2/2015: regular (non-themed) issue: http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-communications-publicationsdivision-(cpd)/ifcc-publications/ejifcc-(journal)/e-journal-volumes/ejifcc2015vol26/ejifcc-vol-26-no-2/:• Prostate cancer genetics: a review. Christopher J.D. Wallis, Robert K. Nam• Metabolomics and its application to the development of clinical laboratory tests for prostate cancer.
Jonathan E. McDunn, Steven M. Stirdivant, Lisa A. Ford, Robert L. Wolfert• Testosterone deficiency – establishing a biochemical diagnosis. Yonah Krakowsky, Ethan D.
Grober• Clinical relevance of trace bands on serum electrophoresis in patients without a history of
gammopathy. TanYa Gwathmey, Monte Willis, Jason Tatreau, Shaobin Wang, Christopher
McCudden
VOLUME 3/2015: FOCUSING ON GUIDELINES FOR LABORATORY MEDICINE AND BIOMARKERS.
Guest editor of the issue: Andrea Rita Horvath (AU): http://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-communicationspublications-division-(cpd)/ifcc-publications/ejifcc-(journal)/e-journal-volumes/ejifcc2015vol26/ejifccvol-26-no-3/:• Are guidelines guiding us on how to utilize laboratory tests? Guest Editor: Andrea R. Horvath• Defining the path forward: guidance for laboratory medicine guidelines
Stephen E. Kahn, Patricia M. Jones, Alex C. Chin, Robert H. Christenson• Grading evidence for laboratory test studies beyond diagnostic accuracy: application to prognostic
testing Andrew C. Don-Wauchope, Pasqualina L. Santaguida• Evidence and cost effectiveness requirements for recommending new biomarkers. Paul Collinson• How useful are laboratory practice guidelines? S. Misra, K. Moberg-Aakre, M. Langlois, J. Watine,
P.J. Twomey, W.P. Oosterhuis, J.H. Barth
VOLUME 4/2015 “LABORATORY MEDICINE PERSPECTIVES FROM LATIN AMERICA”.
The CPD decided to introduce to the readership major ongoing regional developments in the field oflaboratory medicine in Latin America. As a unique exception, a bilingual issue (in English and Spanish)
was presented to help publicize the journal among laboratory specialists in Latin American countries.
Guest editors: Rosa Sierra-Amor (MX) and Maria del Carmen Pasquel Carrera (EC): http://www.
ifcc.org/ifcc-communications-publications-division-(cpd)/ifcc-publications/ejifcc-(journal)/e-journalvolumes/ejifcc2015vol26/ejifcc-vol-26-no-4/:• Foreword of the editor. Gábor L. Kovács• Prólogo del editor. Gábor L. Kovács• Laboratory medicine in Latin America. Guest Co-editor: Rosa I. Sierra-Amor• El laboratorio clínico en América Latina. Co-editor invitado: Rosa I. Sierra-Amor• The XXII COLABIOCLI Congress. Guest Co-editor: María del Carmen Pasquel Carrera• XXII Congreso COLABIOCLI. Co-editor invitado: María del Carmen Pasquel Carrera• Quality management systems in the clinical laboratories in Latin America. Alba C. Garzon• Sistemas de gestión en el laboratorio clinico en Latinoamérica. Alba C. Garzon40• External quality assessment schemes in Latin America. Gabriel Alejandro Migliarino• Esquemas de evaluación externa de la calidad en América Latina. Gabriel Alejandro Migliarino• Laboratory accreditation in Argentina. María Amelia Acuña, Cesar Collino and Gustavo A.
Chiabrando• Acreditación de laboratorios clinicos en Argentina. María Amelia Acuña, Cesar Collino and Gustavo
A. Chiabrando• The accreditation experience of clinical laboratories and blood banks in Mexico. Sandra Quintana• Experiencia en la acreditacion de laboratorios clinicos y bancos de sangre en Mexico. Sandra
Quintana• Experience of implementing ISO 15189 accreditation at a university laboratory. Patricia SolisRouzant• Experiencia en la implementación de la acreditación ISO 15189 en un laboratorio universitario.
Patricia Solis-Rouzant• Quality control in screening for infectious diseases at blood banks. Rationale and methodology.
Amadeo Sáez-Alquezar, Pedro Albajar-Viñas, André Valpassos Guimarães and José Abol Corrêa
• Control de calidad en el tamizaje para enfermedades infecciosas en bancos de sangre. ¿Por qué?
y ¿cómo? Amadeo Sáez-Alquezar, Pedro Albajar-Viñas, André Valpassos Guimarães and José
Abol Corrêa
• Recent advances in the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis. Rommy Teran and Jacobus H. de
Waard• Recientes avances en el diagnóstico de tuberculosis en el laboratorio clinic. Rommy Teran andJacobus H. de Waard• Neonatal screening - Its importance and impact in Latin America. Graciela Queiruga• Pesquisa neonatal - Porque es importante hacerla y su impacto en América Latina. Graciela
Queiruga• Working Group on IFCC News (WG-eNews), by Tahir Pillay, Chair
There are currently 25 representatives in the working group with 9 national society liaisons.
A working group meeting was held in Paris at Palais des Congrès dè Paris on 22 June 2015. The next
meeting of the eNews working group is likely to take place during WorldLab 2017 in Durban, althoughdepending on how many members attend the IFCC general conference, we will attempt to schedule ameeting then.
At the last working group meeting in Paris, the following items were discussed.
1. Report-back from the CPD executive committee.
2. Format and presentation of the newslettera. There was a discussion of the uniformity of the layout of the newsletter. We have tended todivide the articles into section based on feedback received and this has been kept constant.
b. Occasional articles have also been published in Spanish and French.
c. Content: The newsletter now provides regular updates of the structure and strategy of the IFCC.
Working groups and divisions and several of these have now appeared.
d. Issue of Book reviews: There have also been several book reviews in the journal.
e. We also discussed the issue of limiting the length of articles for future newsletters.
3. Corporate opinion is also being sought for the working group. Bruce Jordan is currently the
corporate representative and will be invited to join the next meeting of the WG eNews.
4. There was a discussion of whether companies should be profiled. Many corporate members either
advertise or are profiled when they become corporate members.
The newsletter is published bi-monthly and there is always a steady flow of articles; there is always
a substantial number of items to publish and this often requires considerable editing. Requests forarticles are sent out to all eNewsletter WG members, National Societies liaisons, Division Chairs
and National Representatives. A regular and popular feature of the newsletter is still the IFCC
Young Scientists task force, PSEP reports, as well as the IFCC Travel Scholarships. This helps tohighlight the contribution of the IFCC to international clinical chemistry across the world and has
also ensured that contributions from members continue to come to the newsletter.

41

RELATIONSHIP WITH LABMEDICA INTERNATIONAL
Arda Turac at LabMedica International (LMI) receives a regular supply of newsletters- LMI prints a
selection of the articles. The eNews editor is on the editorial board of LabMedica which includes othermembers such as Jocelyn Hicks, Gerard Siest, Christopher Price, Bernard Gouget, Claus Christensen,
Rosa Sierra-Amor and Andreas Rothstein. Membership in the board carries no obligation, but facilitatescommunication or input regarding various aspects of the publication’s and website’s editorial content.
LabMedica is also starting a series of viewpoint columns where, a few times a year areas of significancecan be addressed.
ENEWS FLASH
The WG will launch a bimonthly eNews flash to be sent to the IFCC mailing list subscribers to increase
the flow of communications. It will include short news briefs and 1-line items with a hyperlink referringto the specific news item.
Working Group – Spanish (Ibero-American) Nomenclature and Translations, by Maria delCarmen Pasquel, Chair
The WG activities were focused on the update of the RIA section of the website, on the successful
COLABIOCLI congress held in Quito, Ecuador, in September 2015. The logo was restyled and it ispublished on the IFCC home page.
DIAGNOSTICO IN VITRO (DIV)The first issue was successfully launched in October 2015. It is completely in Spanish, it has the sameformat as the IFCC eNewsletter and eJournal; there will be two or three issues/year. Among its sections
it will feature the best El Microscopio Radio interviews.
EL MICROSCOPIOThe online radio programmes are regularly broadcasted and some of them are in English, for a broader
circulation.
Corporate Member Activities – Bruce Jordan
Bruce Jordan (Roche Diagnostics) is a very active participant in the CPD EC and has provided great
support for development and design of PR tools/documents such as slide kits and brochures. He will
help out with several communication tools for the IFCC GC such as posters on promotion of eAcademy
and IFCC History.
Khosrow Adeli, CPD Chair42

TASK FORCES
Task Force on Ethics (TF-E)
Achievements during 2015:• Survey of teaching of ethics published Clin Chim Acta 2015;442:115-118• Updated white paper on publications ethics on the IFCC website with more links to regional andlocal resources link.
• Produce a draft chapter on Ethics for the IFCC Handbook, in final editing stages now• Created a symposium proposal on Ethics for the General Conference (Madrid, ES) and the next
Euromedlab Congress (Greece 2017)• Creating 3 ethics teaching modules “Pearls” for Clinical Chemistry Trainee Council website. One
is completed, two are in progress.
Plans for 2016:
Create Ethics “toolbox” for Member Societies
Points for attention of IFCC Executive Board:
The TF requests feedback from the EB on its implementation of the EB’s new Policy on Conflictof Interest.
Ann Gronowski, Chair

Task Force on Paediatric Laboratory Medicine (TF-PLM)
Achievements for 2015
1) Planning for XIV ICPLM in Durban ZA: venue, Symposia topics, chairs and co-chairs determined2) Circulation of Survey Monkey regarding laboratory management of paediatric critical risk results.
Report to be presented in Madrid 2016.
3) Further discussion regarding Alkaline Phosphatase replacement therapy.
4) Discussion with Prof. Ichihara of Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL) regarding
collaboration in regard to reference interval development held in Paris 2015.
5) Discussion with Communications and Publications Division (CPD) regarding p(a)ediatric focusedissue of eJIFCC.
6) Discussion of preparation of webinars for eAcademy of the IFCC.
Michael Metz, Chair

Task Force on Pharmacogenomics (TF-PG)
ACTIVITIES 2015
Organisational: 1. Filling TF-PG vacancy by Prof Dr Mark Linder, Louisville, USA (approved by IFCC); 2.
Establishment European Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (Eu-PIC): 106 participants, 37
Institutes covering 18 European Countries (www.eu-pic.net); 3. Participation in the AACC Personalized
Medicine Division; 4. European Medicine Agency (EMA) participation at the Pharmacogenetic Working
Group: the IFCC/ESPT/Eu-PIC initiative was presented (June and December meetings); 5. IFCC
representation at the ESPT Budapest meeting (http://www.esptcongress.eu/espt_auspi.php); 6.
Representation of IFCC TF-PG at the IATDMCT Rotterdam (www.iatdmct.org); 7. Starting of a PGx
network in the Netherlands (www.pgx-net.nl); 8. Participation in the KNMP Dutch Pharmacogenetic
working Group on generating PGx dosing guidelines. This initiative will be broadend to Europe.
Education: 1. Organizing International PGx symposium under auspices of IFCC in Istanbul (April
1-3, 2015); http://www.appm2015istanbul.org/scientific.html; 2. Establishement of a TF-PG Session at
IFCC EuroMedLab in Paris 2014 (130 attendees)

43Research: 1. HORIZON2020 grant application for PGx implementation in Europe (€ 15 million),with IFCC as partner. Budget for IFCC use: € 150.000. Was not funded; 2. Another HORIZON2020
application for implenting Pharmacogenetics was approved (U-PGX) (€ 15 million), and is lead by TF-PG
Task Force member Prof Dr Guchelaar (NL) .
Guidelines: 1. Contacts with President of European Psychiatry Association for guideline PGx testingfor Psychiatry; 2. Invites to the Presidents of the European Society for Cardiology, Oncology andInternal Medicine were sent in April and May for drafting guidelines with IFCC on PGx implementation.
No reply received yet; 3. Drafting letter to the editor on the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines
regarding PGx testing for clopidogrel; 4. Participation as IFCC TF-PG in the international Nomenclature
Committee ADME gene, published in 2015: Kalman et al CPT
ACTIVITIES 2016
Organisational: 1. Organzing Eu-PIC/IFCC/ESPT network meeting (Rotterdam (May 26-27); 2.
Further collaboration with the IFCC C-MD (chair: dens Payne) on Expertcenters Pharmacogenetics anddissemination of knowledge; 3. Investigating organization of a PGx seminar in Washington, involving/
accessible for US Congress members (with AACC PM Division); 4. Extend the TF-PG with one young
scientist; 5. TF-PG meeting in Madrid during General Assembly (March)
Education: 1. Organize a PGx Workshop at the IFCC 2016 Madrid meeting; 2. Organizing speakers
and topics for Athens 2017 EuroMedlab and Durban 2017 Worldlab for updating IFCC members onlatest PGx developments
Research: 1. Investigate 2016 grant opportunities with IFCC as partner (Eu-PIC May 26)
Guideline development: 1. Publish guideline paper on CYP2D6/psychiatry in collaboration with EPA;
2. Publish a guideline paper on standards for PGx testing; 3. Investigate the feasability of a guideline
paper of CYP2D6/tamoxifen and with the European Society for Oncology; 4. Reevaluate and update
TPMT guideline for publication; 5. Investigate the feasability of a guideline paper as follow up to the ESC
guidelines on clopidogrel/CYP2C19 testing recommendations; 6. Investigating further collaborations
with IUPHAR, Genomic medicine Alliance and IATDMCT (guidelines)
Expected publications 2016: 1. Comment EHJ on ESC guidelines involving CYP2C19 testing/clopidogrel; 2. Guideline for Capecitabine/DPYD testing with the European Soc Oncology; 3. Guideline
for TPMT/azathioprine testing; 4. Guideline on PGx testing procedures
Points for attention of IFCC Executive Board: Approval to extend the TF-PG with one additional member,being a young scientist, currently missing from this committee.
Publications
1. Pharmacogenetic Allele Nomenclature: International Workgroup Recommendations for
Test Result Reporting. Kalman LV(, AgÃndez JA, Appell ML, Black JL, Bell GC, Boukouvala S,
Bruckner C, Bruford E, Bruckner C, Caudle K, Coulthard S, Daly AK, Del Tredici AL, den Dunnen
JT, Drozda K, Everts R, Flockhart D, Freimuth R, Gaedigk A, Hachad H, Hartshorne T, IngelmanSundberg M, Klein TE, Lauschke VM, Maglott DR, McLeod HL, McMillin GA, Meyer UA, MÃller
DJ), Nickerson DA, Oetting WS, Pacanowski M, Pratt VM, Relling MV, Roberts A, Rubinstein WS,
Sangkuhl K, Schwab M, Scott SA, Sim SC, Thirumaran RK, Toji LH, Tyndale R, van Schaik RH,
Whirl-Carrillo M, Yeo KJ, Zanger UM. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Oct 19. doi: 10.1002/cpt.280.
2. European Society Cardiology (ECS) Guidelines for management of ACS on clopidogrel:a conflict with FDA and EMA recommendations? RHN van Schaik, M Ingelman-Sundberg, J
Stingl, A Llerena, GI Patrinos, M Ferrari, M Pazzagli, G Siest , M Paulmichl (submitted).
Ron van Schaik, Chair

44

Task Force on Chronic Kidney Disease (TF-CKD) (joint with WASPaLM)
No activites carried out in 2015; new Chair appointed in 2016: Flavio F. Alcantara (BR)Task Force for Young Scientists (TF-YS)
ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 2015:
1. Members Meeting: TF-YS has a network of representatives in 30 countries, including 7 Core and
25 Corresponding members. They meet regularly ‘online’ to review progress and plan activities.
2. Education and Training: TF-YS organised and presented sessions at five conferences during
the year: 1. AFCC Congress in Harare - ‘Training the next generation’; 2. Three sessions during
EuroMedLab in Paris – ‘Workforce preparation: invitation to contribute’; ‘Collaboration between
industry and research in the laboratory’; ‘Youth network and social dinner’; 3. COLABICLI
Congress in Quito – first networking session in Latin America; 4. Two sessions at ACBICON 2015
in Chandigahr – ‘Medical writing and CME’; ‘ACBI-IFCC Awards for research, based on papers
presented by YS’; 5. WASPaLM Congress in Cancun – ‘Young specialists in lab medicine of
the future: preparing together.’; 6. In addition a webinar was organised in collaboration with the
Croatian Society for Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
3. Web-based Activities: The TF-YS webpage has been updated throughout the year to reflect the
recent and forthcoming activities.
4. Networking: To increase participation between TF-YS and IFCC activities and promote exchange
of information networking has been undertaken, including: 1. Social Media for networking:yahoo group, twitter, facebook, LinkedIn; 2. Article, Newsletters published in IFCC, LabMedica,
APFCB, ACBI news; 3. Regular meetings and exchange of information; 4. Team Online: www.
infobioquimica.com
5. Other Projects: Global “IFCC TF-YS Survey”: An online questionnaire has been distributed
globally to YS to learn about the diversity of opportunities and challenges in the profession. Results
will be published in 2016; TF-YS Mentorship Programme: A phase I interview has been published.
This project aims to emphasise the importance of mentorship and give examples of good practice;
Research Booklet: A research booklet is in preparation with senior members of IFCC & APFCB
to promote good practice in research in laboratory medicine. It will be published in both text andPowerPoint format in early 2016.
PLANS FOR 2016:
1. Education and Training: TF-YS educational sessions will be presented at: 1. Two sessions at the
IFCC General Conference in Madrid – ‘Research as a career - YS perspective’; ‘TF-YS meeting’;
2. ACBICON in India; 3. AMBICON in Guwahati, India; 4. In addition a session has been proposed
for the APFCB Congress in Taipei
2. TF-YS Webinars: A series of webinars to be initiated in education commencing before March2016.
3. Website Update: Second phase plans include an experts directory among YS; job opportunities;
e-platform
4. EI Microscopio Radio: The TF-YS team will give an interview
5. Interview: The TF-YS and YS in Latin American will give an interview that will be published YS to
be published in DIV (Latin American magazine)
6. Financial Support: TF-YS will examine ways to raise financial support for YS to enable more
visibility and appreciation to their work. Considerations include travel support and registration
fees.
Pradeep Kumar Dabla, Chair

45

Task Force on Clinical Applications of Cardiac Biomarkers (TF-CB)
Report of activities, year 2015
Following the topics contained in the previously redacted documents (Apple FS et al. Clin Chem 2012;
58:54-6; Apple FS et al. Clin Biochem 2015; 48:201-3), the TF-CB discussed and drafted a document that
reviews the main features of both the high-sensitivity and the so-called “contemporary” cardiac troponin(cTn) assays. The aim of such document was to summarize in a very short format the existing evidence
on the characteristics and clinical utilities of all currently existing cTn assays. The document is in its final
round of discussion and once the content was fully agreed, it will be posted on the IFCC website.
At the same time, the TF-CB will discuss during the 2016 IFCC GC the appropriateness of developing a
document, useful for diagnostic companies and laboratory professionals, which include the characteristics
that a population should fulfill for being used in the calculation of a cTn 99th reference percentile. Up todate, this is a very confusing topic that could deeply affect the clinical utility of cTn assays.
Finally, two members of the TF-CB participated as speakers in the “IFCC PoCT International Symposium”
held in Mexico on November 2015.
Jordi Ordoñez Llanos, Chair

Task Force on Point of Care Testing (TF-POCT)
Achievements in 2015: A POCT meeting was held as a satellite to the XXVIII World Congress of
WASPaLM. This meeting was organised by TF-POCT in association with the IFCC Cardiac Biomarker
Task Force, Mexican Association of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and the Federación Nacional deQuímicos Clínicos (CONAQUIC). Although numbers were low the presentations will be uploaded to
IFCC POCT web page making them available to all people interested in POCT. Excellent support
was provided by industry making the meeting possible. Discussions have taken place on providing
education for POCT Blood Gases and safe the use of POCT troponin assays. Regular teleconferenceson improving POCT education and support for IFCC members.
Plans for 2016: Deliver comprehensive education on IFCC website on blood gases and how to set
up a quality POCT framework. Publication on work performed by the How glucose meters should be
evaluated in critical care working group. Establish guidelines on how POCT troponin should be used.
Set up a group to establish a POCT adverse events database.
Rosy Tirimacco, Chair

Task Force on Proficiency Testing (TF-PT)
Achievements during 2015: 1. Second TF meeting during EuroMedLab 2015 congress in Paris; 2.
Production of two draft documents: one entitled “Exploration and Clarification of Specifications for the
TF-PT Project” containing analytically the terminology of the project and one entitled “Webpage IFCC
Market Place Forum Supply and Demand EQA” describing the basic workflow diagram of the proposed
application-database with various examples in a table form. 3. Meeting with EQALM in order to discuss
our request of cooperation, to present the progress made from the TF-PT on his various projects, andto decide more common projects.
Plans for 2016-2017: 1. To continue the implementation of the online database - web application,
which for planning and implementation purposes, will be developed as two separate components: a.
Database “P”roviders – the list of all the Proficiency Testing (PT) providers’ information, entered directlyby them or collated with help from the C-AQ, EQALM and maybe other partners (IVD companies etc).
b. Database “A”nalytes – comprising all the (orphan or not) analytes (i.e. parameters, tests) alongwith the corresponding matrixes (samples), measuring assays, instrumentation and methodologies, as
updated, added and deleted from time to time. 2. To co-organize along with EQALM a symposium on
EQA issues at the next EuroMedLab Athens 2017. 3. To further develop working relationships with
the IFCC committees for Analytical Quality (C-AQ), Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM) and
Nomenclature, Properties and Units (C-NPU).
Alexander Haliassos, Chair

46

FEDERATIONSAPFCBAsia-Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry
and Laboratory Medicine

The APFCB has 17 Ordinary members, 4 Affiliate members and 19 Corporate members as of 1
January 2016.
Summary of APFCB activities
I. APFCB Education and Laboratory Management Committee (C-ELM)
Chair: Dr Tony Badrick (Australia)
i. IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lecturer for 2015 and 2016: Prof Howard Morris
Prof Howard Morris delivered his talks on vitamin D and bone disease in Hong Kong, Taiwan andNanjing (China) in 2015.
ii. APFCB Travelling Lecturer for 2015 and 2016: Associate Prof Graham Jones
In 2015, Associate Prof Graham Jones spoke on the topic of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in
Singapore, Vietnam, India, China and Mexico (WASPaLM World Congress). He delivered his
lectures in Hong Kong in January 2016 and will deliver a plenary lecture at the 14th APFCBCongress in 2016.
iii. Travel Scholarships
a. Two APFCB-AACB Travel Scholarships were awarded to attend the AACB meeting in Sydney
in 2015.
b. Five APFCB-Siemens Travel Scholarships will be awarded to attend the 14th APFCBCongress in Taipei in November 2016 (see Young Scientists Competition).
iv. Future Courses and Congress Symposia and Workshops
a. At the 14th APFCB Congress there will be a joint WASPaLM-APFCB Accreditation workshop,
an APFCB Pre-analytical workshop and a hypothetical entitled “The Value of Pathology”
organised by C-ELM and Roche to raise awareness of the importance of pathology testing.
b. APFCB-Roche workshops/courses on Lean-Six Sigma for member societies, the first of which
will be in Vietnam in 2016.
c. Chemical Pathology Course, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2016.
d. APFCB-sponsored symposium at the AACC 2016 Annual Meeting entitled “Addressing preand post analytical issues in developing countries”.
v. Interpretative comments programme
There were six cases in 2015. Another six cases are planned for 2016.
vi. Young Scientist Competition (coordinated by Dra Endang Hoyaranda)
This competition is open to all scientists under the age of 40 on 26 November 2016. Fiveshort-listed young scientists based on their submitted scientific papers will be awarded APFCBSiemens Travel Scholarships to present their papers orally at the 14th APFCB Congress. There
will be first and second prizes awarded, sponsored by Siemens.
II. Scientific Committee (C-Sci)
Chair: Prof Kiyoshi Ichihara (Japan)i.

Regional reference interval study (chaired by Prof Kiyoshi Ichihara)Teams in Nepal, Malaysia and Bangladesh have begun to conduct a study for derivation ofcountry-specific reference intervals. A web-site was developed in June 2015 which provides

47

interactive viewing of information on sources of variations of reference values for 72 analytes:
http://c-sci-apfcb.net/eblm/index.html
ii. New regional project on building a case record database of haematological malignancy(chaired by Prof Kiyoshi Ichihara)
A new project of building a well-defined, case-record database of hematological malignancy incollaboration with four Asian countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Japan is being planned to
explore possible country-specific differences in clinical and laboratory test results of the disorders.
iii. Urine steroid metabolomic studies by gas chromatography mass spectrometry to aid the
diagnosis of disorders of sex development in Vietnamese children (chaired by Dr Ronda
Greaves)
The project with the National Hospital of Pediatrics (NHP) is progressing well. From July 2015
NHP has been enrolled in the SKML programme for urine steroids and the 2015 material supplied
has been used for evaluation of the method. The 2016 SKML enrolment will be used as a formal
EQA to confirm on-going method performance. Once this has been established the reference
interval and ratio studies will be performed.
iv. Annual Vietnam Chemical Pathology Course conducted under APFCB auspices (organised
by Dr Ronda Greaves)
The 7th Vietnam Chemical Pathology Course (CPC) was conducted on 6th June 2015 in Ho Chi
Minh City and on 9th June 2015 in Hanoi.
v. Annual Vietnam Point of Care Testing Workshop (organised by Dr Ronda Greaves)
The 3rd Vietnam Point of Care Patient Testing Workshop was conducted in Ho Chi Minh City on
11th June 2015 at the RMIT Vietnam Campus in District 3. On 12th June 2015 a POCT half-day
seminar was conducted to present quality management solutions for POCT to senior hospital
officials.
vi. Regional project for harmonisation of mass spectrometry-based steroid assays (chaired
by Dr Ronda Greaves)
The establishment of the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) pilot programme within the RCPAQAP
Endocrine programme was the primary focus of the 2015 harmonisation initiative. The working
group obtained help from Prof Stefan Wudy (University Giessen Germany) to establish targets for
DHT and other steroid analytes using GC-MS. These targets were successfully applied to DHT forthe second cycle of 2015. This is the first EQA scheme to offer DHT to our knowledge worldwide.
vii. APFCB Chronic Kidney Disease (chaired by Associate Prof Graham Jones)
Amongst the countries where Associate Prof Graham Jones delivered his lectures on chronic
kidney disease (CKD) it was noted that there is a great need for action in the area of CKD. In manylaboratories, creatinine assays are not standardised, although doctors are calculating the eGFR
based on the assumption of standardisation. While there appears to be excellent co-operation
between some laboratories and their local clinical renal colleagues, there does not seem to be
as much activity at the national organisation level. It is hoped that some of the presentations anddiscussions obtained through the APFCB Travelling Lectureship may promote these activities.
III.
Communications Committee (C-Comm)
Chair: Prof Praveen Sharma (India)
APFCB website
The APFCB website (www.apfcb.org) is regularly updated with comprehensive information on theorganisation and activities of APFCB and its member societies. There was an on-line live telecaston the APFCB website of the Vietnam CPC on 6th June 2015 which was viewed by almost 200
people across the Asia-Pacific Region.
ii. APFCB e-News:The APFCB e-News is published online on the APFCB web-site.
i.

IV.
Congress and Conferences Committee (C-CC)
Chair: Joseph Lopez (Malaysia)i. 14th APFCB Congress

48

The 14th APFCB Congress will be held in Taipei from 26 till 29 November 2016. The theme of thecongress is “Laboratory Medicine in Cloud”. There will be symposia and workshops sponsored by
the APFCB, IFCC, WASPaLM, EFLM, NACCCA, AACC and APFCB member societies.
ii. Turning Science into Caring (TSIC)
Abbott Laboratories has held TSIC meetings in the Asia-Pacific region in conjunction with the IFCC
and APFCB with the aim of bringing laboratory and other healthcare professionals together toexchange information on trends in laboratory medicine. The 2015 TSIC was held in Bali, Indonesia
from 2nd till 3rd December with the theme “Elevating the standard of patient care”.
iii. Asia Pacific Federation for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (APFCB)Beckman Coulter (BC) Scientific Symposia
These scientific symposia were held in Ho Chi Minh City on 8 October 2015
Prepared by Leslie Lai, President

49

COLABIOCLI
Latin American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry

JANUARY – MARCH
Several business meetings of the COLABIOCLI Board were conducted. Visits to Uruguay for reviewing the financial resources at the COLABIOCLI Bank Account to develop the Third Educational Forumfor the region.
APRIL
III Forum of Faculties of Chemistry Sciences for preparing Biochemists with equivalent titles from
Latin America and the Caribbean.
This event was part of the “XIX Scientific Conference of the Venezuelan Society of Bioanalysts Specialists”, held in Caracas - Venezuela, on April 23 and 24, 2015. It was sponsored by COLABIOCLI
with the participation of speakers from Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras and Argentina. A considerable progress was made based on the agenda of the first and second forums that took
place in Argentine and in Colombia. As a result, a document was elaborated entitled “Declaration of
Caracas” including all the Universities integrating the network and in charged of teaching and training
Clinical Biochemistry and equivalent qualifications from Latin America and the Caribbean.. A follow
up activity on this topic was discussed during the XXII Latin American Congress of Clinical Biochemistry “Quito - Ecuador on September 2015.
MAY
VII Congress o Clinical Biochemistry- VIII Congress of Chemical Sciences.
This event was held between 7 and 9 May 2015, in Asunción, Paraguay, being organized for the Federation of Paraguayan Chemists and the Association of Paraguayan Biochemists. Carlos Navarro,
President of COLABIOCLI was invited to lecture the plenary conference: “Biochemistry in Latin America” There were many attendees with the participation of lecturers from Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia,
Spain, Chile and Argentine.
AUGUST
Art. 55 of the Statutes were accomplished and the COLABIOCLI Hymn creation was enabled, under
Dr. Felix Acuña´s initiative. Artists and musicians from Santiago del Estero Province were invited tohelp; joining disinterestedly and with great pleasure developed a Hymn for COLABIOCLI. Lic. Carlos
Alberto Artayer and Prof. Rodolfo Martín Bunge were the lyrics and music authors. The COLABIOCLI
Hymn Project was reviewed during the meeting of the Executive Committee, where the COLABIOCLI
Audit Commission also attended, and was held in Caracas – Venezuela during the “XIX Scientific
Conference of the Venezuelan Society of Bioanalysts Specialists” (Abril 2015). Changes to the lyrics
were made and implemented immediately.
On August 22nd, in the Auditorium of the Bicentennial Cultural Center of the city of Santiago delEstero Republic of Argentina, in the context of an important cultural event, the official presentation of
the COLABIOCLI Hymn was achieved, being declared of a municipal interest throughout ordinance
No. 5132/15. Provincial and municipal authorities, as well as directives of professional Argentinianorganizations were present. Congratulation and support notes from several areas were received andcommunicated to the General Assembly in Quito, Ecuador.
SEPTEMBER
XXII LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY SCIENCES - COLABIOCLI 2015”
From September 24 to 26, 2015, and with great success “XXII Latin American Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry and Laboratory Sciences - COLABIOCLI 2015” took place.
The following activities were developed:50

PRE-CONGRESS WORKSHOPS
It was held on September 19-20 in Cuenca, Ecuador.
1”Advanced analytical techniques”
Lecturers: Gabriel Migliarino (AR), Benjamin Fernandez (CL) and Evangelina Hernandez (AR).
Participants: 90 Ecuadorian with representation of several other countries of the region.
And a replica of this WK was also organized during the COLABIOCLI Congress in Quito from September 22-23, and with the participation of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico and Ecuador
colleagues.
2”Biomarkers in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases - Risk factors. Lecturers: Lidia
Morisoli (AR) and Stella Daniele (AR). With the participation of attendees from Ecuador, Cuba, Venezuela and the United States.
CONGRESS WORKSHOPS:
1“New concepts, immune diagnosis and associated diseases” Lecturers: Lasta Maria (AR) And
Liliana Roquel (AR)2 Quality assurance in Stage Pre – Analytical Lecturers: Graciela Pennacchiotti (AR.) Silvia Benozzi (AR) Unger and Gisela (AR)3 Preparation of Internal Auditors PNCQ• For Auditors in the analytical phase for the clinical laboratories (Accreditation of clinical laboratories
by ISO 15189) Conducted by Gabriel Lima Oliveira (BR), José Abol (BR), Andrea Piazza (BR),Karina Chavez of Aban (BO).
• For internal auditors. Computerized tool for quality management and accreditation (PNCQ Manager)• Theoretical and practical training of internal auditors.
4 Quality control in clinical laboratory equipment FBA - control instruments Lecturers: Rosana
Acheme Hometown (AR)5 Hematology Lecturer: Enrique de Jesús González Cruz (MX). The Workshop included the following topics:• Interpretation of histograms of automated equipment in the area of diagnostic hematology• Erythroid Series: anemias, hemoglobinopathies Thalassemias• White Series: Pathologies.
• Leukemias myeloid and lymphoid leukemias
REPORT OF THE XXII COLABIOCLI CONGRESS
During September 24- 26 , from 09h00 to 18h00 developed an extensive scientific agenda that
included round tables, symposiums, lectures, mini-courses and plenary sessions. Participants from22 COLABIOCLI confederated countries, in America, Europe, as well Africa and Asia, attended fiverooms simultaneously so had updated topics covering all sciences and laboratory medicine. It was
carried out with the scientific support of 70 foreign exhibitors and 30 prestigious professionals from
Ecuador. It was sponsored by international organizations as IFCC, PAHO / WHO, AACC, Wallace
Coulter Foundation, Foundation Wiener Lab, Argentina Biochemistry Foundation and COLABIOCLI.
National bodies like Ecuadorian Accreditation Service (SAE), Ministry of Public Health (MSP) andwas the Academic Endorsement of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the Central University of
Ecuador and the University of Cuenca. Within the agenda of the congress, a Symposium of Neonatal
Screening was also issued. This topic is part of the lines of work that COLABIOCLI has been promoting in its countries together with Quality, Accreditation, etc. In this opportunity the symposium took
place with the following contributions: “Neonatal Screening: Advances in Uruguay” Dr. Graciela Queiruga (UY), ”Metabolic Congenital Errors” . Dr. Tania Morales (EC). “Right Foot program – Ecuador” .
Dr. Indira Elizabeth Proaño. - Ministry of Health Representative.
OPENING CEREMONY
At the opening ceremony participants were welcomed. A letter from the Mayor of the Metropolitan
District of Quito, Dr. Mauricio Rodas was addressed the audience with the presence of Dr. Maurizio

51

Ferrari - President of IFCC, Dr. Carlos Navarro - President of COLABIOCLI, QF. Maria Saldarreaga President of National SEBIOCLI, Dr. Jean Marc Gabastou - PAHO / WHO Representative, Dr. Maríadel Carmen Pasquel. - President Organizing Committee.
Wiener Lab Award for the best research work was granted to Dr. Ana Isabel Sánchez Bermúdez (ES),with the topic. “RAD51C assessment as a predictor of genetic susceptibility in families withhereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome“. The award was delivered by Dr. John Thomas
Nesprías , Wiener Lab Manager Product Team .
Dr Maria del Carmen Pasquel declared officially opened the XXII Latin American Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry and Laboratory Sciences COLABIOCLI 2015, “From Equator to the Biochemistry of the
new millennium”. In an emotional ceremony, COLABIOCLI Hymn was played and sang by all theattendees.
OTHER ACTIVITIESIV Forum of Universities: Representatives from the Latin American Universities and the Caribbean
Region attended the meeting that was chaired by Carlos Navarro - President of COLABIOCLI. –continuity was given to the previous agenda and topics of interest, such as curriculum career, accentcredits for courses, academic mobility and strengthening of the Latin American Network of Faculties ofBiochemistry or equivalent qualifications.
Workshop of Traceability, PTB and IFCC Committee for Traceability for laboratory medicine were
the sponsors of this important workshop that was attended by representatives from Latin America, theCaribbean and European countries, and chaired by Prof. Lothar Siekmann.
COLABIOCLI Assembly. The Executive Committee held its General Assembly on September 25,
presenting an activity report for the term 2013 to 2015; elections were also held during the Assembly,
being the URUGUAY delegation elected as the one to leader COLABIOCLI for the term 2016-2017.
COLABIOCLI CONGRESS 2019. Panama was the country voted to host the XXIV Congress
COLABIOCLI 2019. The delegates from Panama presented a preliminary scientific program, also they
had a stand for tourism and information from the Panama Chamber of Commerce. The Ambassadorof Panama in Ecuador accompanied the delegation to promote Panama to be chosen for the XXIVCOLABIOCLI congress.
CLOSING CEREMONYMaria Saldarreaga - President of National SEBIOCLI thanked all participants, exhibitors, industry for
their valuable support helping to achieve a successful event. Cecilia Paula. - President of SEBIOCLIChimborazo, thanked for the important contribution of the industry with the success of EXPOLAB
COLABIOCLI 2015, all companies in the category of Sponsor PLATINUM, GOLD, SILVER and
STANDARD were acknowledged. A special tribute was given to Dr. Roberto Chediak, for his national
and international contributions, he was SEBIOCLI President, and during his term, ECUADOR was
accepted as affiliated Member in COLABIOCLI, taking place 43 years ago.
Wiener Foundation awarded the best posters presentations and SEBIOCLI grants during the closing
ceremony. The winner was selected among 60 candidates. The Catholic University of Quito team was
the winner with the topic: “Molecular Epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing the blaKPC
gene in strains of invasive samples of Ecuador”, Authors: Carolina E. Satan, Cordova .D, Tama- yo,
Villacís. J, Villavicencio.F, Zabala.A, Reyes. J.
Special recognition received Anita Perez. - Executive Secretary of COLABIOCLI Congress andMaria del Carmen Pasquel for all their hard work that contributed to the success of the Congress, theappreciation was also for Rosa Velez. - Member of the Congress Scientific Committee.
The delegation of Uruguay introduced the new COLABIOCLI congress venue in Punta del Este, inviting
participants to attend the next Congress COLABIOCLI 2017.
As well, a Young Scientist, Santiago Fares Taie, member of the IFCC YS TF introduced Maria delCarmen Pasquel to officially declare the closing of the XXII Congress COLABIOCLI.
Social and Cultural Activities
COLABIOCLI dinner and International authorities developed a mini city tour in Quito by night. Exhibitors
and international authorities together with the Organizing Committee enjoyed the charm of the colonial
town.
Latin Night music, folk group and an environment full of light, was accompanied by typical Ecuadorian52

food being the Water Museum “YAKU” the most beautiful one for such a closing party.
OCTOBER- DECEMBERCOLABIOCLI Executive Board Meetings were conducted to delegate to the new elected board theinstitutional activities that remained.
DECEMBER 22nd, FIRST EXECUTIVE MEETING IN URUGUAY
A new Executive Committee came up with the following integration:
President: Dra. QF. Graciela Queiruga, PhD (UY)
Vice President: Dra. Q.F. Stella Raymondo, PhD (UY)
Secretary: BC Cecilia Queijo (UY)
Treasurer: Mc BC Paola Audicio, MSc (UY)
Vocal I : Dr. Alvaro Justiniano (BO)
Vocal II: Dra. Rosa Isabel Sierra Amor, PhD (MX)
Vocal III: Lic. Angelita Angeles (DO).
This Regional Confederation is currently composed by 21 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela
In the Agenda the following items are to be addressed: COLABIOCLI Status revision, website
management, online platform for internet based courses, activities of National Societies, IFCC
relationship, and OPS collaboration, among others.
Prepared by Stella Raymondo, Vice-President
Carlos Navarro, former President
in conjunction with Graciela Queiruga, actual President

53

EFLM
European Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine
GENERAL MEETINGEFLM held its Eight General Meeting (GM) during the Euromedlab in Paris (France) on Sunday 21
June 2015. During the GM EFLM President, Mauro Panteghini (MP), provided an overview of therecent EFLM activities since the last GM held in Liverpool. The importance of the EFLM’s ongoingprogram supporting the presence of Executive Board (EB) members at NSs national congresses wasemphasized as an excellent opportunity for EFLM to strengthen its connections with EFLM NSs. MP
briefly reported on the outcome of the 1st EFLM Strategic conference held in Milan, 24-25 November
2014, and the subsequent formation of the Task Force on Performance Specifications in Laboratory
Medicine and Task and related Finish Working Groups.
The role of young scientists in EFLM was promoted by opening full member positions in EFLM working
groups (WG) and granting bursaries to support their attendance at EFLM meetings. For instance,
EFLM had received 76 applications for bursaries for the Euromedlab 2015 congress, out of which 10
best applicants were granted EFLM bursaries. MP also provided an overview of the progress of the
2014-2015 EFLM Strategic Plan. At the end of his presentation, MP thanked all EFLM officers for their
hard work.
Huib Storm (HS), EFLM Treasurer, gave financial report. Audit of the EFLM financial matters had been
done in accordance with GAAP (General Accountant Audit principles). Two subsequent years wereaudited (2013 and 2014) by the certified auditor who checked whether the financial operations were inaccordance with the existing legal rules and principles. The audit was successful and EFLM obtained
a certificate proving that EFLM accounts were maintained fully in accordance with the Belgian law and
GAAP. HS presented the balance sheets for 2013 and 2014 and explained each balance line. EFLM
GM approved the balance sheet for 2013 and 2014 and the internal budget for 2014 and 2015.
During the GM elections were held and following EB members were elected:• Mauro Panteghini re-elected as EFLM President• Sverre Sandberg re-elected as EFLM Vice President• Huib Storm elected for a second two-year term as EFLM Treasurer• Ana-Maria Simundic elected for a second two-year term as EFLM Secretary• Grazyna Sypniewska and Tomas Zima elected as Members-at-Large
The next GM will be held in Madrid in conjunction with the IFCC General Conference on 21st of March,
2016.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Through the EFLM program entitled EFLM Presence at NS meetings, during 2015 EB members
participated in three EFLM NS meetings hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland and Croatia.
EB has recently launched a call for nominations for the EFLM President and EFLM Vice President.
Voting for these two EB positions shall take place in Madrid at the ninth GM.
EFLM EB has discussed on several occasions the IFCC proposal on the selection of regional
representatives in the IFCC EB. EFLM EB in principle believes that an individual representing a Region
should be selected and participate in the policies and actions of a Region, and should be elected
within that Region using the Region agreed electoral process. This ensures a meaningful contextual
representation of the Regional EB at the IFCC EB.
COMMITTEES
Committee – Communication (C-C)
A major effort of C-C during 2015 was dedicated to a re-arrangement of the EFLM website, where agreat care was devoted to improve the document retrieval in the EFLM publication list and to a betterorganization of the educational material. Following the publication of the EFLM corporate policy, anagreement has been reached with a number of IVD companies to host in the EFLM web site their logo54

and some news. To improve the services for the Member Societies, the Table of Content of Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) is regularly sent through the EFLM mass mailing list that
includes now more than 4000 addresses. To increase the presence of EFLM within the professional
community, a Linkedin group was created to promote discussions on relevant themes.
Committee – Education and Training (C-ET)
EFLM has entitled C-ET to establish the EFLM continuing professional development (CPD) crediting
system. To perform this task EFLM has decided to establish a specific Task and Finish group.
C-ET has been involved in the organization of 15th EFLM Postgraduate Course, 11th Symposium ofBalkan region and in selection of the venues of 5th EFLM-UEMS Congress and 22nd EuroMedLab.
WG-Distance education (WG-DE) produced five e-seminars in 2015.
Committee – Profession (C-P) and EC4 Foundation
Version 5 of the EC4 Syllabus for education and training of specialists in laboratory medicine across the
EU community has reached its penultimate draft for circulation to EFLM EB and EC4 representatives
early in 2016. Having accomplished this remit and the production of a Common Training Framework(CTF), the C-P WG on Syllabus/CTF was dissolved at the end of 2015.
WG on Recognition of professional qualifications continued its lobbying of the EU Commission forrecognition of specialists in laboratory medicine under the EU Directive 2013/55/EU. EFLM and EC4agreed to continue their subscriptions to CEPLIS (Council for the Liberal Professions in the EU) during
2016 as well as EU Commission lobbying activities on behalf of the profession. This second WG was
also dissolved at the end of 2015, but its key leads has been invited to join an expanded C-P for 2016.
Concern was expressed at C-P and EC4 meetings in 2015 of the diminishing infrastructure aroundEC4 as more and more Europe-wide leadership for laboratory medicine transfers to EFLM. This wasnoted to be manifested through decreasing numbers of individuals seeking to join the EC4 Registeras specialists in laboratory medicine and decreasing numbers of “hits” on an out-of-date EC4 website. There is broad agreement that the leadership for achieving recognition of specialists throughpresentation of a CTF supported by 10 EU member states should now come from EFLM. C-P chair
was requested to seek to dissolve the current EC4 Foundation and create an EFLM Foundation by
end 2016 to which the necessary human, capital and organizational resources could be dedicated toachieve recognition of specialists in laboratory medicine through a register across the EU.
Committee – Quality and Regulations (C-QR)
C-QR performed a survey on the accreditation status in the different European countries. C-QR
members published a paper on flexible scope approach for accreditation. At the end of 2015, C-QR
was restructured by closing the WG-IVD and adding one WG-IVD member into the WG-A/ISO.
Committee – Science (C-S)
The nine WGs under this C (Biological Variation, Cardiac Markers, Guidelines, Harmonization of the Total
Testing Process, Patient Focused Laboratory Medicine, Personalized Laboratory Medicine, Postanalytical
Phase, Preanalytical Phase and Test Evaluation) and the three Task and Finish Groups (Laboratory
Testing for Dyslipidemia, Critical Results and Standardization of the Color Coding for Blood Collection
Closures) constitute the backbone and substance of the C-S. All groups have been active in pursuingtheir terms of reference, by performing studies, publishing original research reports, reviews and position
papers. Members of the groups have also lectured at numerous international conferences and courses.
MEETINGSEFLM has organized five meetings during 2015:
1. 3rd EFLM-BD Conference on Preanalytical Phase, 20-21 March, 2015, Porto (Portugal)
2. EFLM Symposium on Education in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 24-26 April, 2015,
Prague (Czech Republic)
3. 11th EFLM Symposium for Balkan Region, 14-15 May 2015; Belgrade (Serbia)
4. EFLM Symposium Cutting Edge of Laboratory Management in Europe (CELME), 1-2 October
2015, Prague (Czech Republic)
5. 15th EFLM Continuous Postgraduate Course in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 2425 October, 2015, Zagreb (Croatia)

55

PUBLICATIONS
1. Boursier G, et al; Working Group Accreditation and ISO/CEN standards (WG-A/ISO) of the EFLM.
Accreditation process in European countries - an EFLM survey. CCLM 2015, in press
2. Topic E, et al. How to assess the quality of your analytical method? CCLM 2015;53:1707-18.
3. Thelen MH, et al; Working Group Accreditation ISO/CEN standards (WG-A/ISO) of EFLM. Flexible
scope for ISO 15189 accreditation: a guidance prepared by the European Federation of Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group Accreditation and ISO/CEN standards(WG-A/ISO). CCLM 2015;53:1173-80.
4. Watson ID, et al; EFLM Working Group on Patient Focused Laboratory Medicine. European viewson patients directly obtaining their laboratory test results. CCLM 2015;53:1961-6.
5. Ajzner É, et al; Joint Working Group on Postanalytical Phase (WG-POST) of the European
Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) and European Organisation
for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine (EQALM). An international studyof how laboratories handle and evaluate patient samples after detecting an unexpected APTT
prolongation. CCLM 2015;53:1593-603.
6. Bartlett WA, et al; Biological Variation Working Group, European Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM). A checklist for critical appraisal of studies of biological variation.
CCLM 2015;53:879-85.
7. Malentacchi F, et al; European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM);
European Society of Pharmacogenomics and Personalised Therapy (ESPT) Joint Working Groupon Personalized Laboratory Medicine (WG-PLM). Is laboratory medicine ready for the era of
personalized medicine? A survey addressed to laboratory directors of hospitals/academic schoolsof medicine in Europe. CCLM 2015;53:981-8.
8. Simundic AM, et al. Compliance of blood sampling procedures with the CLSI H3-A6 guidelines: An
observational study by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine(EFLM) working group for the preanalytical phase (WG-PRE). CCLM 2015;53:1321-31.
9. Lippi G, et al; European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Groupfor Preanalytical Phase. Preanalytical quality improvement. In pursuit of harmony, on behalf ofEuropean Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working group for
Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE). CCLM 2015;53:357-70.
10. Mancini I, et al; European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM)–
European Society of Pharmacogenomics and Theranostics (ESPT) joint Working Group
Personalized Laboratory Medicine (WG-PLM). Implementation of a companion diagnostic in theclinical laboratory: the BRAF example in melanoma. Clin Chim Acta 2015;439:128-36.
11. Simundic AM, et al. Colour coding for blood collection tube closures - a call for harmonisation.
CCLM 2015;53:371-6.
Mauro Panteghini, President
Prepared by Ana-Maria Simundic, Executive Board Secretary56

NAFCC
North American Federation Of Clinical
Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine
The North American Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (NAFCC) representing
the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists(CSCC) was formed in 2014 and was recognized as a Federation in 2015. The NAFCC was formedin response to proposed changes to the procedure for election to the IFCC Executive Board and toallow for representation and participation from North America in the IFCC. The NAFCC also serves
to formalize greater communication and cooperation between the AACC and CSCC at the executive
level. Dr. David Kinniburgh is the NAFCC Representative to the IFCC EB for 2015-2017.
The AACC and CSSC were active in a number of initiatives in 2015, some of which, while independent,
are complimentary.
AACC:• 2015 AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Establishing of a Universal Sample Bank, with more than 700 healthy donors.
• Continued success and growth of the Lab Tests Online web site with increased usage and major
reviews, updates and additions.
• Announcing a new Journal, The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine. An international, peerreviewed publication that will showcase applied research on clinically relevant laboratory topics.
• Supporting the multinational effort to develop a model to define the value proposition for laboratory
medicine in different national healthcare systems.
• AACC’s US advocacy program covers a wide range of topics important to laboratory medicine,including the harmonization of clinical laboratory test results, laboratory developed tests, pediatrictesting, and participation in payment deliberations that shape the direction of healthcare. AACC
strategically identifies and takes action on issues of global significance and actively works within
the legislative and regulatory realms to influence public policies affecting clinical laboratories;
most recently the Association urged government officials to grant laboratory professionals
access to residual specimens to develop new assays and improve the quality of testing. AACC
collaborates with industry and other laboratory partners to promote policies that advance science,
best practices, and the adoption of newer technologies worldwide.
• The AACC President (2015) Dr. David Koch, CSCC President (2015) Dr. David Kinniburgh and
CSCC President Elect (2015) made presentations at the AACC Rocky Mountain Section Meetingin Calgary, April 27, 2015.
CSCC:• 2015 CSCC Annual meeting with CAP in Montreal, Quebec.
• Supporting Appropriate Laboratory Utilization through presentations by CSCC members andworking with partners such as the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP), the Canadian
Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (CADTH), and Choosing Wisely Canada.
• Participation on the Canadian Leadership Council on Laboratory Medicine (CLCLM) to advocate
in the areas of education, workload and quality assurance.
• Working with other laboratory medicine organizations and industry partners to identify a strategy
to promote the value of laboratory medicine and bring stakeholders together in a unified response.
• Supporting the EPOCC initiative (Educating People on Clinical Chemistry) in its efforts to promote
the CSCC and it members.
• Supporting initiatives in Alberta and Ontario to achieve regulation under provincial Health Professions
Act, whereby clinical biochemists would be legally recognized as members of the healthcare team andbetter able to regulate their profession and maintain the highest standards of quality and patient safety.
• The CSCC modified its bylaws to allow for stronger continuing education requirements within the
Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry in anticipation of more stringent government requirements.
• The CSCC signed an MOA with the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine(ACB) to enhance the relationship and promote education exchanges between the two associations.
David W Kinniburgh, Representative57

FULL MEMBER SOCIETIESARGENTINACONFEDERACIÓN UNIFICADA BIOQUÍMICA DE LAREPÚBLICA ARGENTINA (CUBRA)National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

“CUBRA XIII”

October, 07 – 10
(Catamarca, Argentina)

Biochemical National Congress.

”II Patagonian Workdays of Biochemistry”

November, 26 – 28
(Río Negro – Argentina)

Biochemical Workdays.

Education• Some topics of CUBRA XIII: Hematology, Hemostasis, Clinical Chemistry, Endocrinology, Microbiology,
Immunology, Molecular Biology, Quality Management and Toxicology.
• Some topics of the Patagonian Workdays: Celiac - Integral study of the infertile couple - Bacterial gastroenteritis-Parasitic zoonoses in Patagonia - Zoonotic intestinal parasites in Patagonia - Molecular epidemiologyof echinococcosis in Argentina - The Third World intestine and environmental enteropathy - Preanalyticalvariables in the laboratory of endocrinology - Pediatric biochemistry - Latest developments of Hemolytic
Uremic Syndrome - Detection of cardiovascular risk of arteriosclerosis.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting”Official presentation of the institu- August, 22
tional hymn of COLABIOCLI”(Santiago del Estero –Argentina)

Give institutional endorsement and support,
disseminate information among our associates members.

”XXII Latin American Congress ofClinical Biochemistry”

September, 25th
(Quito – Ecuador)

Provide our facilities for meetings of Executive Committee of COLABIOCLI in order toorganize this Congress.

”Handover Ceremony Executive
Commitee (term 2016-2017)”

December, 17th
Shared ceremony with the last annual meet(Buenos Aires – Argentina) ing of CUBRA.

ndRegional relations
Full Member of COLABIOCLI (Confederación Latinoamericana de Bioquímica Clínica)
International relations
Full Member of IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine)
Additional information“Unique Biochemical Nomenclature integrated by Biochemical Practices” - Law Nº 27.232
The Permanent Technical Commitee of Unique Biochemical Nomenclature (CTP-NBU), integral part of CUBRA,
celebrated ten years of existence.
CTP-NBU has created the Unique Biochemical Nomenclator, which is continuously evaluated and updated.

This project has been presented at the Congress of the Argentine Nation and promulgated under the
law Nº 27232.

58

AUSTRALASIAAUSTRALASIAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL
BIOCHEMISTS (AACB)National meetings
Name of the meeting
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Workshop
Harmonisation Workshop - Sydney

Date (2016)
14 -15May
18May

Topic
Update on TDM
Various Harmonisation topics
including reference interval forchemistry and endocrine assays
AACB Scientific Education Seminar - Sydney 14 September
Update on POCT in Australia
AACB Annual Scientific Meeting - Sydney
15 -17 September Clinical Chemistry and Endocrinology – Partnerships in Testing
Keynote speakers included Prof Graeme Eisenhofer (Germany), A Prof Graham Jones(AUS, APFCB Travelling Lecturer) Prof
Richard MacIssac (AUS), Prof Tony Badrick(AUS), Prof Chris Florkowski (NZ), Prof Ken
Ho (AUS), Prof Aidan McElduff (AUS)
Satellite Meeting post AACB Annual Con18 September
Quality Control Workshop - Part 3
ference – Sydney
Education• RCPA AACB Chemical Pathology Course – Wellington, New Zealand, 9 – 13 February – covered
exam curriculum topics for both the AACB and RCPA.
• Monthly State Branch based CPD tutorials for MAACB and FAACB exam candidates• State Branch based monthly scientific meetings• Roman Lectures – Dr Penny Coates MAACB – Cases in Calcium Metabolism and PTH activity• Monthly webinars from February – December 2015 covering AACB Curriculum related topics
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

4th African Federation of Clinical Chemistry 27 – 30 April 2015
(AFCC) Congress, Harare, Zimbabwe

Society’s contribution for the
meetingSponsored Ms May Siew to speak
on POCT topics

Regional relations
APFCB – 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
Ronda Greaves – Member
Graham Jones – Member59Congress and Conferences CommitteePeter Graham – Secretary
Communication and Publications
Sandra Klingberg – Corresponding Member
International relations
AACB members contributing to IFCC in 2015:
Executive Committees
Awards Committee (Chair)Peter Vervaart Communications & Publications Division, Publications &Distance Learning Coordinator
Task Force Membership
Graham Jones
Michael Metz
Rosy Tirimacco

Task Force on Chronic Kidney Disease (Chair)
Task Force on Paediatric Laboratory Medicine (Chair)
Task Force on PoCT (Chair)Committee Membership
Chris Florkowski
Robert FlatmanPeter Vervaart
Janine Grant
Ronda Greaves
Cyril Mamotte
Lindsey Mackay
Jill Tate

Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine
Nomenclature, Properties & Units (Chair)Internet and e-Learning (Chair)Internet and e-Learning (Web-editor)
Distance Learning
Molecular Diagnostics
Traceability in Laboratory Medicine
Standardisation of Cardiac Troponin I

Working Group Membership
Graham Jones
Standardisation of Albumin Assays in UrineJohn Whitfield
Standardisation of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (Secretary)
Howard Morris
Standardization of Bone Markers Assays (Chair)
Samuel Vasikaran
Standardization of Bone Markers Assays (Secretary)
Harmonisation of Interpretive Comments EQA (Chair)
Ken Sikaris
Harmonisation of Interpretive Comments EQA
Rita HorvatheJournal IFCC
Corresponding MembershipJames Davidson
WG-Standardisation of Growth Hormone
Standardisation of Albumin Assays in Urine
Graham Jones
C-Reference Intervals & Decision Limits
David Gillis
WG-Harmonisation of Autoantibody Tests
Paul Glendenning
WG-Standardisation of Insulin Assays
Greg Ward
WG-Standardisation of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A
Dorothy Kouzios
WG- Standardisation of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin
Paul Williams
C-Standardisation of Thyroid Function Tests
May Siew
Task Force - Young Scientists
Dale Kunde
C-Clinical Molecular Biology CurriculumJohn Whitfield
C-Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine
National Society Liaison
Sandra Klingberg

WG-IFCC eNews

Additional information
AACB member Rita Horvath, is also currently a member of the AACC Board of Directors

60

BULGARIA

BULGARIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL LABORATORY
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

9th National Meeting of Clinical Laboratory

10-12 September 2015

Various

Education
1 one day course
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

23rd BCLF Meetinf

7-9 October 2015 Sarajevo

posters

International relations
Participation in EUROMEDLAB in Paris 2015

CANADACANADIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTS (CSCC)
SOCIETÉ CANADIENNE DE CLINICO-CHEMISTSNational meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Canadian Laboratory Medicine Congress

June 20-24, 2015

Annual Meeting”Clinical Biochemistry on the Move: Theinteraction between clinical biochemists
and the community”

Education2015 Travelling Lectureship Series
Speaker: Dr. Robert A. Kyle, Professor of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine,USA
Topics:• Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM): What my patients have taught me• Management of Multiple Myeloma in 2015
• An Overview of Amyloidosis
Dr. Kyle gave presentations in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Bromont (Montreal), and Halifax inthe period October 5 – October 22, 2015
The lectureship is sponsored by Bio-Rad Laboratories

61

CSCC Webinar Lectureship on Critical Care Medicine
Speaker: Colleen S. Kraft, MD, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of
Medicine for the Emory Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU), USA
Topic: Laboratory Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease
February 12, 2015
Lectureship sponsored by Instrumentation Laboratory
CSCC Webinar Lectureship on Cardiovascular Disease
Speaker: Todd J. Anderson, MD, Director, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta Clinical and Academic
Department Head, Cardiac Sciences Professor, University of Calgary
Topic: The Canadian perspective on the ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guidelines
February 26, 2015
Lectureship sponsored by Alere
2014-15 Webinar Series
14 CSCC “Education Roundtable” in webinar format were held twice a month from October 2014 to May 2015.
Besides single participants, many members formed groups at their institution to attend the webinars. Sessions
averaged about 50 phone lines and 200-250 participants.
Regional relations
CSCC 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 reportannually to the Society Council. A Provincial Grant is available for each section to help fund their activities.
International relations
CSCC paid the IFCC membership dues of the Cuban Society.
CSCC, with AACC, formed the North American Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine (NAFCC of IFCC. The NAFCC was represented at the IFCC Executive Board meetings in Parisand Quito in 2015.
Additional information
CSCC had a number of interactions with other Canadian pathology and lab medicine groups including:• Canadian Leadership Council on Laboratory Medicine & Laboratory Utilization Sub-Committee• Participation in ‘Choosing Wisely Canada’ http://www.choosingwiselycanada.org/• Participation in ‘Lab Tests Online’ with AACC https://labtestsonline.org/
CSCC supports MEDEC, the national association for the Canadian medical technology industry, in their efforts
to promote the value of laboratory medicine.
CSCC is celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.
CSCC has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association for Clinical Biochemistry andLaboratory Medicine (ACB). The two societies have established a reciprocal lectureship and Dr. Callum Fraserof ACB will be the first Canada/UK International Visitor at the 2016 CSCC annual conference to take place June
19-22 in Edmonton Alberta.
CSCC held a Trainee Review Course to help trainees prepare for their final oral exam leading to certificationand fellowship. CSCC also provides support and professional encouragement for Trainees and Young Scientists, such as a special reception at the annual conference, an increase to the number of grants available, anda recent survey to determine their needs.

62

CHINA –PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC)

CHINESE SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINE (CSLM)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

The 11th National Conference of Laboratory
Medicine

Sep.9-12, 2015better tests, better care

The 12th Chinese Laboratory Medicine Conference

Sep.10, 2015

New technologies
laboratory medicine

National Congress of Clinical Chemistry

Oct. 30-31, 2015

Clinical Symposium on virus hepatitis

National Congress of Laboratory Management

April. 21, 2015

High-end forum on total quality management

National Congress of Microbiology

April. 11, 2015

Automation solutions for microbiology
laboratory

and

ideas

for

Education
Management training course for Chinese young directors of the department of clinical laboratory:
1. Aug.14-16, 2015 <Effective communication skills for medical personnel>
2. Nov.6-8, 2015 <Across-departments multidisciplinary optimization of management procedure and continuous improvement of medical quality>
Training course for doctors and technicians from primary hospitals;
1. Oct. 18, 2015 <Education plan on the laboratory diagnosis for urgent heart diseases in primary hospitals >2. Oct. 31, 2015 <The prevention and control of chronic diseases in China>
IFCC visiting lecturer programs in National Conference of Laboratory Medicine
1. Sep.9-12, 2015 < Bone Markers and Their use>,<Standardisation and Harmonisation in Laboratory Medicine >Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Training course for morphology of Nov.14-15, 2015
blood test

Hosted by the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi
Medical University, co-hosted by Chinese Society ofLaboratory Medicine (CLSM). CLSM is responsible
for the development of teaching plan and theorganization of teaching experts.

US-China clinicalhigh-end forum

microbiology Jul.6-7, 2015

Jointly hosted by Chinese Society of Laboratory
Medicine (CLSM) and Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military
Medical University. CLSM is responsible for thedevelopment of teaching plan and the organization ofteaching experts.

Chinese Clinical Biochemistry Zijin Dec.4-5,2015
Forum

Jointly hosted by Chinese Society of Laboratory
Medicine (CLSM) and Jiangsu Medical Association.
CLSM is responsible for the development of teachingplan and the organization of teaching experts.

63Regional relations
Good relationships with AACC, WASPaLM and APFCB.
International relations
During the 11th “National Conference of Laboratory Medicine 2015” hosted by the Chinese Society of Laboratory
Medicine, we have invited IFCC VLP speaker, Dr. Howard Morris to give lectures. Prof. Looi Laimeng, presidentof WASPaLM, Mr Jagdish Butany, secretary of WASPaLM, Mr David Donald Koch, president of AACC, andother leading experts in this field coming from United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Malaysia and othercountries and regions, attended to share their latest research findings. There were 1,655 participants in thisconference.
During the 2015, CSLM also sent representatives to attend the AACC annual meeting(July. 26-30, Atlanta
Georgia, USA), the 21st IFCC-EFLM Euromedlab Congress(June. 21-25, Paris, France), the IFCC PoCT International Symposium(Nov.16-17 ,Cancun, Mexico) and the 2015 WASPaLM biennial congress(Nov. 18-21,
Cancun, Mexico).

Additional information
Chinese Medical Association experts have drafted the <Proposal for standardization of critical value
reporting system of the department of clinical laboratory > and compiled an undergraduate textbook< clinical immunology testing > in 2015.

CROATIA

CROATIAN SOCIETY OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRYAND LABORATORY MEDICINENational meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Symposium LOKUS 2015

April 10-11, 2015

Project management

26th CSMBLM symposium

May 30, 2015

Laboratory
diagnostics
ofblood-borne
infections associated with blood transfusions
and transplants

8th CSMBLM Congress with inter- September 22-26, 2015 An overview of various relevant developments
national participationin the area of laboratory medicine in nine
symposiums, three plenary meetings, industrial
workshops, a poster presentation and an
exhibition
Education
CSMBLM Committee for education provides free e-seminars for all CSMBLM members. Participants of
e-seminars can earn credits granted by the Croatian chamber of medical biochemists (CCMB).
In 2015 CSMBLM provided 7 e-seminars granted by the CCMB:
Implementation of requirements from Standard HRN EN ISO 15189 in laboratory practice; 5.6 Ensuring qualityof examination results
1. CLSI guidelines for evaluation of the linearity of quantitative measurement procedures64

2. Implementation of requirements from Standard HRN EN ISO 15189 in laboratory practice; 5.9 Release of
results
3. Interlaboratory comparison
4. Implementation of requirements from Standard HRN EN ISO 15189 in laboratory practice 5.10, Laboratory
information management
5. Laboratory diagnostic of autoimmune diseases in clinical laboratories in Croatia
6. National recommendations for capillary sampling
In the 2015, CSMBLM Committee for the scientific and professional development performed their activities
through several working groups for the specific areas in the laboratory medicine.
1. WG for preanalytical phase conducted a nation-wide survey on practices for samples with interferences(hemolysis, lipemia and icteria) and published results in the scientific journal (CCLM).
2. WG for blood gas testing worked extensively on drafting the national recommendation for blood gas testing.
3. WG for extravascular body samples conducted a nation-wide survey on laboratory practices for pleural,pericardial, peritoneal, synovial, amniotic fluid, sweat and bronchoalveolar lavage.
4. WG for laboratory diagnosis of autoimmune diseases presented results from the nation-wide survey onpractices employed in the autoimmune disease testing on a national congress and e-seminar.
5. WG for capillary sampling has issued a national recommendation for capillary blood sampling and publisheda document in the Biochemia Medica journal.
6. WG for harmonization of instructions for patients has published results of a nation-wide survey on patient
preparation in the scientific journal (CCLM).
7. WG of CSMBLM and CCMB for uncertainty of measurement worked extensively on drafting the national
recommendation for uncertainty of measurement.
8. WG of CSMBLM and CCMB for chronic renal disease has published results of a nation-wide survey onlaboratory diagnostics of chronic renal disease in the scientific journal (Biochemia Medica).
9. New WG for coagulation testing was formed. WG has conducted a nation-wide survey on practices incoagulation testing.
10. A new WG for postanalytical phase was formed.
11. A new WG for point of care testing was formed.
CROQALM workshop - CSMBLM and Croatian Centre for External Quality Assessment CROQALM havejointly organized an educational workshop on 24 April, 2015 in Zagreb (Croatia) with international lecturers,who
were experts in quality assessment: Annette Thomas, Barbara de la Salle, Egon Amann, Wim Coucke and Piet
Meijer.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

15th EFLM Continuing Postgraduate October 24-25, 2015 Host Society and main organizer
Course in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine “How to assess the quality ofyour method?”
Regional relations
CSMBLM provided travel grants for members of regional laboratory medicine societies for best poster
abstract authors at Symposium LOKUS. In 2015 4 grants were granted to members of Association of Medical
biochemists in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2) and Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia (1) and Society of
Medical Biochemists of Macedonia (1).

65International relations
CSMBLM representatives in international associations within new mandate
IFCC & EFLM national representative: Daria Pasalic, PhD, Associate Professor
CSMBLM representative in EQALM: Jasna Lenicek-Krleža, PhD, specialist in laboratory medicine
CSMBLM representative EC4 Register of the European specialist in laboratory medicines: Ivana Rako, PhD,
specialist in laboratory medicine
Representative CSMBLM in European Association of Science Editors (EASE), Council of Science Editors(CSE), Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): Prof. Ana-Maria Simundic, PhD, specialist in laboratory
medicine, Biochemia Medica-Editor-in-chief
Representative CSMBLM in European co-operation for accreditation (EA): Ines Vukasovic, PhD, specialist inlaboratory medicine
During 2015 CSMBLM national representative in EFLM and IFCC, and Committee for information and public
relations, with support of CSMBLM Executive board regularly informed the membership about and IFCC andEFLM activities and forwarded all calls for nominations in EFLM and IFCC working groups and committees.
Representatives in working groups and correspondent members active till the end of the mandate which isdefined by the particular international body
Secretary of the EFLM Executive Committee: Prof. Ana-Maria Simundic, PhD, specialist in laboratory medicine
Member of the EFLM Science Commitee: Prof. Ana-Maria Simundic, PhD, specialist in laboratory medicine
Chair of the Working group Preanalytical phase at EFLM Science Committee: Prof. Ana-Maria Simundic, PhD,
specialist in laboratory medicine
Member of the Working group Postanalytical external quality assurance at EFLM Science Committee: Prof.
Dunja Rogic, PhD, specialist in laboratory medicine
Corresponding member of the Working group Cardiac markers at EFLM Science Committee: Ana StavljenicRukavina, Full Professor
Member of the Working group ISO/CEN and Accreditation at EFLM Quality and Regulations Committee: Ines
Vukasovic, PhD, specialist in laboratory medicine
Corresponding member of the IFCC Commission for evidence based medicine: Prof. Dunja Rogic, PhD,
specialist in laboratory medicine
CSMBLM representative and corresponding member of the IFCC and World Association of Societies of
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Task force for chronic renal diseases (TF-CKD): Vanja Radisic Biljak, PhD
Corresponding Member of the EFLM Working Group on Promotion: Adrijana Dorotić
Corresponding Member of the IFCC Task force for young scientist: Ivana Lapić
Additional information
Journal BIOCHEMIA MEDICA continues with activities for improving the quality and position of the journalamong international scientific publications. Impact factor for 2014 was 2.667. Until the beginning of 2016
Biochemia Medica will be cited in Current Contents
Committee for information and public relations
Regularly cooperated and promoted CSMBLM in international associations with preparing newsletters andnotifications for IFCC and EFLM bulletins.
Organised activities related to promotion of the CSMBLM activities in the public: promotion of the symposium
LOKUS 2015, 26th CSMBLM symposium and 8th CSMBLM congress with international participation at the web
portals, in daily newspapers and on radio stations.
Croatian Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine (CROQALM), member of EQALM, in 2015
performed three cycles of external quality control and introduced new module (sweat chloride test).
New members are involved and working groups were formed for the improvement of the quality of the sample,
to create a new program of data processing, website and training.
Set up a new website in English and Croatian language (ink: https://croqalm.com )In cooperation with the Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine, control samples for module of laboratory
hematology were started preparation and were conducted in two cycles. Also, the “home made” samples for
sweat chloride test was conducted in all three cycles same like modules for extra-analytical phase.
Applications for national program for quality control in 2016 (three cycles) is opened from December 20th, 2015.

66

CUBA
CUBAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGISTS
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

XXII Congreso COLABIOCLI
2015, Quito, Ecuador.

September 24-26

Delivering a lecture.

XXVIII Congress WASPaLM,
Cancun, Mexico.

November 24-29

Participation.

XVII National Congress ofLaboratory Professionals, Punta
Cana, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

November, 26 – 29, 2015

Participation

Regional relations
The Society participated in the Workshop “Exchange of Experiences about the interpretation of ISO
15189:2012”, organized and sponsored by PTB in Guatemala, May 12-15, 2015.

CZECH REPUBLICCZECH SOCIETY OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY (CSKB)National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

RANK 2015

4 – 5 February 2015, Pardubice

Routine analysis of nucleic acids
by molecular biological methods

INDC 2015 – 15th International
5 - 8 October 2015, Prague
Nutrition & Diagnostics Conference

Nutrition and human health

Atherosclerosis 2015

9 - 10 September 2015, Prague

Atherosclerosis – diagnostics,
treatment and prevention in adults
and children

XIIth National Congress of Czech
Society of Clinical Biochemistry

20 - 22 September 2015, Brno

Advances in clinical chemistry andlaboratory medicine

XIVth Conference on Monoclonal
Gammopathy

13 October 2015, Hradec Kralove

Monoclonal gammopathy

Pathobiochemistr y of metabolic
pathways - laboratory diagnostics

5 November 2015, Olomouc

Metabolic syndrome67Education
Co-operation on study courses of clinical biochemistry at 8 Medical Faculties in Czech Republic, cooperation
with Institute of Postgraduate Training in Prague.
Co-operation with Ministry of Health in transformation of postgraduate education of medical doctors: Medical
Faculties have been responsible for this education (instead of Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Prague)since the beginning of the year 2012, new educational programme was developed in 2015.
Active participation on the project Lab Tests Online – education of patients and their relatives as well as nonlaboratory workers in health care in problems of laboratory medicine; finalization of translations (see web
pages: http://www.labtestsonline.cz). All items from US web pages were translated and are available for Czech
readers.
National E-learning project on clinical biochemistry “E-biochemistry” for students of medical schools (40chapters, multimedial, bilingual) finished and finalized in 2015.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting
8th Central-Moravian
Days

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Regional 22 – 23 January 2015, Varia, Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry
Kouty nad Desnou
was the principal guarantor

Regional meeting of clinical bio- 26 March 2015, Plzen Varia, Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistrychemists – West Bohemia
was the principal guarantor
Working day of section of laborato- 29 April 2015, Prague
ry technicians

Varia, Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry
was the principal guarantor

XIth Regional conference Nejedly´s 8 April 2015, Kladno
KladnoClinical chemistry and complex diagnostics,
Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry was theprincipal guarantor

33rd Regional meeting of clinical 22 – 23 May 2015, Interdisciplinary cooperation, Czech Society ofbiochemists (South and Eastern Hradec Králové
Clinical Biochemistry was the principal guarantor
Bohemian region)
Regional meeting of Moravian-Sile- 8 – 9 June 2015, Zer- Varia, Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistrysian Region
manicewas the principal guarantor
Working day of section of laborato- 7
Octoberry technicians
Prague2015, Preanalytical phase, Czech Society of Clinical
Biochemistry was the principal guarantor

34th Regional conference of clinical 2 – 4 December 2015, Varia, Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry
biochemistry
Karlova Studanka
was the principal guarantor
International relations• Our representatives (Prof. Zima and Prof. Racek) participated at IFCC and EFLM General Assembly in Paris• Prof. Racek participated at the EC4 Register Commission• Prof. Zima worked as Member-at-Large, EFLM Executive Board• Prof. Zima, prof. Jabor, prof. Prusa, Dr. Kocna, Dr. Kotaska, Dr. Cibicek, Dr. Rajdl, Dr. Franekova and Ing.
Sprongl worked as members of various IFCC and EFLM committees and working groups• EFLM symposium Education in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Prague, April 24-26, 2015
• Symposium CELME, Cutting Edge Laboratory Management in Europe, Prague, October 1-2, 2015
Additional information
Approval of four new various national clinical biochemistry guidelines in 2015.
Editing the national scientific journal “Klinicka biochemie a metabolismus”, co-editing journal “FONS”, publishing news in clinical biochemistry and activities of the Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry.
Expert guaranty of EQA system in Czech Republic.

68

ECUADOR
SOCIEDAD ECUATORIANA DE BIOQUÍMICA CLÍNICA(SEBIOCLI)National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Extraordinary General Meeting

7/02/2015
Guayaquil- XII Ecuadorian Congress of Clinical Biochemistry Inform

Extraordinary General Meeting

7/02/2015
Guayaquil– 1. Progress of Activities of the Scientific Committee ofCongress COLABIOCLI 2015.
2. Final adoption of the Rules of Procedure of PEEC

Extraordinary General Meeting

13/06/2015
Machala– 1. Annual report of the activities of the Presidency, period
2013-2015 by QF. Maria Saldarreaga Z
2. Annual Report of the National SEBIOCLI financial situation by the treasurer QF. Amalia Suarez.

Extraordinary General Meeting

29/08/2015
Quito– Progress in the XXII Congress COLABIOCLI 2015.Dr.
Maria del Carmen Pasquel. President of the organizing
committee

Extraordinary General Meeting

12/12/2015
Guayaquil- 1. Economic Report of the financial situation of SEBIOCLINATIONAL by the treasurer QF. Amalia Suarez.
2. Report of the Interim Committee PEEC
3. Reports of travel to Istanbul and Caracas by QF. María
Saldarreaga, National President and International Representative IFCC.

Education
PICHINCHA• Event: Conference
Date: February 12, 2015
Topic: Verification of Analytical Methods
Lecturer: Dr. Sergio Salazar• Event: Conference
Date: February 24, 2015
Topic: Integrated Waste Management biohazardous
Lecturer: Ing Carolina Paredes (EMGIRS).
• Event: Conference
Date: March 11, 2015
Topic: Environmental Registry Tab and Infectious waste generator
Lecturer: Ing Rosa Garcia.
• Event: Conference
Date: April 30, 2015
Topic: Menopause and Osteoporosis
Lecturer: Dr. Pilar Mosquera.
• Event: Conference
Date: June 3, 2015
Topic: chikungunya
Lecturer: Dr. Marcelo Chiriboga• Event: Conference
Date: July 14, 2015
Topic: amebiasis, current situation in Ecuador and diagnostic methods
Lecturer: M.Sc. Thamara Andrade69• Event: Conference
Event: Conference
Date: July 21, 2015
Topic: Incidence of HAI infections in the service of Neonatology Children’s Hospital Baca Ortiz in Quito.
Lecturer: Bioq. Roberto Arias• Event: Conference
Date: July 28, 2015
Topic: Item 3.5 of ISO 15189 laboratory equipment
Lecturer: Atty. Lourdes Álava
• Event: Pre Congress Workshop Seminar XXII COLABIOCLI CONGRESS 2015
Date: 22 and 23 September 2015
Topic: Cardiac Biomarkers
Lecturer: Dr. Lida Morisolli (Wiener Lab).
• Event: Congress
Date: from 22 to 26 September 2015
Topic: XXII Latin American Congress of Clinical Biochemistry COLABIOCLI 2015
Exhibitors: several national and international• Event: Conference
Date: November 26, 2015
Topic: Assessment Tools Analytical Quality measurement of thyroid hormones
Lecturer: Dr. Sergio Salazar
CHIMBORAZO
Event: Workshop Course
Date: February 28 to March 1, 2015
Topic: “Internal Control and External Quality in the Clinical Laboratory” under the auspices of theInternational
Federation of Clinical Biochemistry
Lecturer: Dr. Ana Lucia Aguirre Mejia - 28 February-1 March 2015.
EL ORO• Event: Conference
Date: March 6, 2015
Topic: Biosecurity and Hospital Waste Management
Lecturer: Dr. Maria del Carmen Santilllán (MSP).
• Event: Workshop
Date: March 7, 2015
Topic: Advanced Techniques for planting different biological liquids in microbiology
Lecturer: Dr. Ximena Villalba Valencia.
• Event: Conference
Date: May 2015
Topic: Clinical, epidemiological surveillance, prevention and control of Dengue and Chikungunya
Lecturers:- Atty. Janeth Eras (MSP)- Dr. Robinson Jaramillo (MSP)• Event: Conference
Date: May 2015
Topic: Best Practices in the clinical laboratory during the pre analytical phase in the area of microbiology.
Speaker: Dr. Patricia Ochoa.
• Event: Conference
Date: May 2015
Topic: Role of the clinical laboratory in the diagnosis of brain diseases and cardiovascular
Lecturer: Dr. Maria Alvarez Herrera.
• Event: Conference
Date: May 2015
Topic: Relationship of dyslipidemia and kidney disease
Lecturer: Dr. Rosa Velez Pazmiño

70• Event: Workshop Hematology
Date: May 2015
topics:- Cytology, morphology of peripheral blood elements- Interpretation of hematologic values- Haemostasis
Lecturer: Dr. Nardo Vivar• Event: Conference
Date: May 2015
Topic: Quality Control
Lecturer: Dr. Maria del Carmen Pasquel.
• Event: Conference
Date: November 2015
Topic: Quality control in clinical laboratory: Control Charts Commemoration eighteenth anniversaryof creation of the League
Lecturer: Dr. Maria del Carmen Pasquel.
TUNGURAHUA• Event: Workshop Theoretical - Practical
Date: May 16 to June 27, 2015
Topic: Verification of Analytical Methods and Planning Statistical Quality Control.
AZUAY• Event: VI Continuing Education Course
Date: From April 24 to June 6, 2015
Topic: Phase One: Microbiology / Second Phase: Hematology
Lecturers:- Dr. Ximena Villalba.
- Dr. Lourdes Jerves.
- Dr. Nardo Vivar- Dr. Zulma Zamora.
• Event: Pre Congress Workshop Seminar 2015 COLABIOCLI
Date: 19 and 20 September 2015
Topic: Advanced Techniques Analytical Quality
Lecturers:- Dr. Gabriel Migliarino (Argentina)- Dr. Benjamin Hernandez (Chile)- Dra. Evangelina Hernandez (Chile)
GUAYAS• Event: Conference update
Date: July 11, 2015
Topic: Operating Permits and licensing of medical laboratory
With the support of:- Ministry of Public Health- GADERE S.A.
XXII LATIN AMERICAN CONGRESS Clinical Biochemistry COLABIOCLI 2015
On 24, 25 and 26 September 2015, it was held in the city of Quito the XXII Latin American Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry COLABIOCLI 2015.
The event, organized by the Ecuadorian Society of Clinical Biochemistry with the help and support of the Latin
American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry, took place at the JW Marriott Hotel in the capital of the republic, with an excellent reception and extensive scientific agenda.
Five simultaneous rooms, one in English, presented 26 lectures, 23 symposia, 2 round tables, 4 plenary.
The conference presented: 3 pre congresses, 5 Intra congresses and two mini-courses with the scientific support of 70 foreign exhibitors and 30 prestigious professionals from Ecuador. As attendees and exhibitors from
Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and also of the 22 Latin American countries. They included nearly 1,000
professionals, scientists, entrepreneurs, exhibitors and students.

71

Auspices:• IFCC• COLABIOCLI• PAHO / WHO• AACC• Wallace Coulter Foundation• Foundation Wiener Lab• Argentina Biochemistry Foundation• Ecuadorian Accreditation Service• Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador
AEFA
Universidad Nacional del Sur (Argentina)
Academic Endorsements:• Central University of Ecuador• University of Cuenca
Pre Congress:• Advanced Techniques Analytical Quality
Location: Hotel Oro Verde Cuenca
Sponsorship: AACC, Wallace Coulter Foundation
Speakers: Dr. Gabriel Migliarino (Argentina)
Dr. Evangelina Hernandez (Argentina)
Dr..Benjamin Fernandez (Chile)• Advanced Techniques Analytical Quality
Location: JW Marriott HotelSponsorship: AACC, Wallace Coulter Foundation• Biomarkers in cardio and cerebrovascular diseases
Location: College of Chemical and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Pichincha
Speakers- Dr. Lida Morisolli ( Argentina)- Dr. Stella Daniele ( Argentina)
Intra Congress:• Celiac Disease
Location: JW Marriott Hotel, living Amazonas
exhibitors:- Dr. Maria Lasta.
- Dr. Liliana Roquel.
• Quality Assurance in Analytical Pre stage
Location: JW Marriott Hotel, living Amazonas
exhibitors:- Dr. Graciela Pennacchiotti.
- Dr. Silvia Benozzi.
- Dr. Gissela Unger.
• Preparation of Internal Auditors PNCQ
Location: JW Marriott Hotel, living Amazonas
exhibitors:- Dr. Gabriel Lima
- Dr. José Abol
- Dr. Andrea Piazza.
- Dr. Karina Chavez.
• Quality Control in Clinical Laboratory Equipment
Location: JW Marriott Hotel, Esmeraldas room
Speaker: Dr. Rosana Acheme.
Sponsor: Argentina Biochemistry Foundation• Hematology
Location: JW Marriott Hotel
Speaker: Dr. Enrique González Cruz•.COLABIOCLI Workshop“Implementation of the Concept of Traceability in Clinical Laboratories in Latin America”
Speaker: Lothar Siekmann, Germany;Gerhard Schumann, Germany, Anja Kessler, Germany; Raúl Girardi

72

(FBA, Argentina), Patricia Gatti (INTI Argentina) Sandra Quintana (México) Mauro Barrantes (Costa Rica) ,Leonardo Aguirre (Chile): Wagner Wollinger (INMETRO, Brazil), Melina Pérez (CENAM, México), Ana Inés
Silva Terra (LATU, Uruguay), Ana Piana (Asoc. Bioquímica Uruguaya, Uruguay) René Gómez (ISPCh., Chile)
Jeremías Gómez – ONAC – Colombia and Imilce Zuta (Peru)
Sponsor. IFCC/PTBRegional relations
The Ecuadorian Society of Clinical Biochemistry, represented by QF Maria Saldarreaga Zambrano, currently
ranks second vocalía of COLABIOCLI, representation that made possible their participation in the meetings of theexecutive board and constant communication with its members to discuss various topics of interest to the society..
International relations
Thanks to the ongoing work of its members, the Ecuadorian Society of Clinical Biochemistry has very good relations with active members of the IFCC and former representatives, who have collaborated actively in various
events organized by the society, such as COLABIOCLI 2015 congress.
It is also worth mentioning the representation of Ecuador by Dra. Maria del Carmen Pasquel as IFCC WG- IANT Chair
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

COLABIOCLI EXECUTIVE BOARD
MEETING

22/04/2015

Inform of progress about Latin American
Congress 2015

III FORUM - FORMING SCHOOLS BIO- 23-24/04/2015
CHEMICAL OR EQUIVALENT TITLESLATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN

Support in the name of biochemical titles –Ecuador experience

IFCC,CPD meeting

20,21/06/2015

EUROMEDLAB Paris 2015

WG-IANT/CPF/IFCC meeting

22 /06 /2015

EUROMEDLAB Paris 2015

IFCC Editors meetings

22/06/2015

EUROMEDLAB Paris 2015

eJIFCC Meeting

22/06/2015

EUROMEDLAB Paris 2015

IFCC CCC Meeting

21/06/2015

EUROMEDLAB Paris 2015

IFCC CPR Meeting

21,23 /06/07

EUROMEDLAB Paris 2015

IV FORUM LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITIES

26/09/2015

XXII Congress COLABIOCLI 2015 Quito

Workshop Traceability

25-26 /09/2015

XXII Congress COLABIOCLI 2015 Quito/
IFCC/PTBWG-IANT/CPF/IFCC meeting

24 /09 /2015

XXII Congress COLABIOCLI 2015 Quito

GENERAL ASSEMBLY COLABIOCLI.

25/06/2015

XXII Congress COLABIOCLI 2015 Quito

Additional information
XXII CONGRESS COLABIOCLI 2015 QUITO-ECUADOR73

Dr. Roberto Garcia, FBA President; Dr. Maurizio Ferrari, IFCC President; Dr. Carlos Navarro, COLABIOCLI President; Dr. Isabel Fierro Universidad Central del Ecuador, QF Maria Saldarreaga, SEBIOCLI Nacional Presient;
Dr. Maria del Carmen Pasquel, President of the organizing committee congress.COLABIOCLI 2015 Quito.

Part of the Organizing committee congress: Dr. Cecilia Paula, Dr. Sonia Dominguez, Dr. Isabel Fierro, Dr. Patricia Ochoa, Dr. Maria del Carmen Pasquel, Dr. María Alvarez, Dr. Ana Delgado, Dr. Reina López, Dr. Rosa
Velez, Dr. Hernán Silva, Dr. Myriam Granizo
AWARDS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
1)Prize for best research work WIENER LAB 2015:DRA. ANA ISABEL SÁNCHEZ BERMÚDEZ Topic: RAD51C ASSESSMENT AS PREDICTOR OF GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY IN FAMILIES WITH SYNDROME AND OVARIAN CANCER HEREDITARY BREAST
2) Poster Award
The Foundation Wiener Lab and SEBIOCLI Prize for research in the form posters presented at the closing
ceremony, the winner was selected from 61 participants work and won the group at the Catholic University of
Quito and the ISPI, with the theme “molecular Epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing the blaKPC
gene in samples of invasive strains of Ecuador”, authors: Carolina E. Satan, Cordova .D, Tamayo.Villacís. J,
Villavicencio.F, Zabala.A, Reyes.J, one of the reasons the jury considered for designation, was the immediate
application of research in the raised serious health problem.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES1)Dinner COLABIOCLI and International authorities, was the night of September 24 in Room Grade whichis part of the Company Church of Jesus emblematic church, baroque seventeenth century, impressive for its
coating with gold leaf almost all of its internal part,2) On September 25 took place “Latin American party”, presented music, folk group games and artificial lights,
there were snacks with food and drinks from Ecuador, from the Museum of Water “YAKU” place from which you
could enjoy an extraordinary view of the historic center and south of the capital city.

Authorities: IFCC, COLABIOCLI and the Organizing Committee in the YAKUEXPOLABexcellent expolab was presented with the best technology for clinical laboratory

74

EGYPT
THE EGYPTIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRYAND LABORATORY SCIENCES (ESCC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

58th Congress of ESCC

16th & 17th of September 2015

Laboratory Medicine Update

EducationWorkshop on Laboratory Accreditation in collaboration with
Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC)
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

The 14th Conferenceof Arab Federation ofClinical Biology (AFCB) at
Sudan

4th till 6th of December
2015

Plannery Lectures:
1. Genomics Medicine, Present and Future(Prof.M.Shaarawy)
2. Effect of Long-term Use of DPMA as Hormonal Contraceptive on BMD and Biochemical Markers of Bone
Remodeling (Prof. Samira El Mallah)

Regional relations
Arab Federation of Clinical Biology
International relations• IFCC• WHO EMRO
• EFLM (Euromedlab, Paris, 2015)• Royal college of Pathologist, London UK

75

FINLANDFINNISH SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (SKKY)
National meetings
Name of the meeting Date

Topic

Spring meeting

23.-24.4.2015

Newborn metabolic disorder screening, the methodology for metabolic screening, POC and e-learning, laboratory logistics, IT services for the laboratory and qc

Fall meeting

19.11.2015

SFS-EN ISO 15189 – From paper to practice, HbA1c from % tommol/mol, non-invasive trisomy screening from the mother’s blood
sample, recommendation for the drug testing in the health caresystem

Education
At spring meeting the topics of the lectures were: Newborn metabolic disorder screening, the methodology formetabolic screening, POC and e-learning, laboratory logistics, IT services for the laboratory and qc. The total
number of participants was 82.
At fall meeting the topics of the lectures were: SFS-EN ISO 15189 – From paper to practice, HbA1c from %to mmol/mol, non-invasive trisomy screening from the mother’s blood sample, recommendation for the drug
testing in the health care system. The total number of participants was 67.
During the year 2015 FSCC has continued to financially support the participation of its members in domestic
and international meetings. FSCC has also admitted grants to its members to be used for scientific research.
During the year 2015 FSCC has started preparations for the 2018 NFKK (the Nordic Society for Clinical
Chemistry) congress which shall be held in Helsinki, Finland.
Kllinlab is a journal published by FSCC. The journal published 6 issues in 2015 and it was freely distributed to
all members of the FSCC.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

NFKK Board Meeting

30.10.2015

Hosting the meeting in Helsinki

Regional relations
FSCC is a member society of the Nordic Society for Clinical Chemistry (NFKK = Nordisk förening för Kliniskkemi). Finnish members in the board of NFKK during year 2015 have been Tommi Vaskivuo and Petra Anttila.
Klinisk Biokemi i Norden is a journal published by NFKK. The journal published 4 issues in 2015 and it was
freely distributed to all members of the NFKK member societies.
International relations
Päivi Laitinen was the national representative of FSCC in IFCC.
Kari Pulkki was the national representative in the board of EFLM.

76

FRANCESOCIÉTÉ FRANÇAISE DE BIOLOGIE CLINIQUE (SFBC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

SFBC National congress integrating the
Journées Internationales de Biologie (JIB) – in conjonction with 2015 EuroMedLab IFCC/EFLM Meeting

June 21st – 25th,2015

European lab medicine event

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. Aimone-Gastin (Nancy)›› National Agreement SFBC as Validating Society for “EPP”›› Relations with the Federation of Medical Specialities (FSM)• Topics of EPP and CME actions in 2015: - New Generation Sequencing and Digital PCR
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Location and Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting2015 EuroMedLab IFCC / EFLM
Meeting “Revolution in Laboratory
Medicinie”

Paris (France), June
21st-25th, 2015

General organization
All sessions and meetings

6th International Symposium “Critical
Care Testing and Blood Gases

Versailles (France)
June 18-19th, 2015

Organization in cooperation with Association
pour l’Innovation en Science et Analyse (AISA)

HbA1c and Management of Diabetes
Mellitus in the 21st century

Reims (France)
June 26th, 2015

Organization in cooperation with Société Francophone du Diabète (SFD)

State of the art in the Biology ofTrace Elements and Vitamins

Paris (France)
June 26th, 2015

Organization in cooperation with Société Francophoned’Etude et de Recherche sur les Eléments Toxiques
et Essentiels (SFERETE) and Société Française desVitamines et Biofacteurs (SFVB)

2015 AACC Annual Meeting

Atlanta (USA), July
26th – 30th, 2015

Meetings with AACC and LTO

Satellite meetings

EFLM symposium, Education in Clini- Prague (Czech
Education and accreditation of the future specal chemistry and Lab Med
Republic), April 24th, cialist in Lab Medicine
2015
2015 LTO Europe

Paris (France) , June European LTO meeting
19th, 2015

3rd EFLM-BD European Conference
on Preanalytical Phase,

Porto (Protugal) ,French experience and International comparisonsMars 20th-22nd, 2015

11th EFLM symposium for BCLF

Belgrade (Serbia),
May 14th- 15th, 2015

Cutting Edge Lab management inEuropePrague (Czech Repub- Lab Medicine: economics, financing and orgalic), October 1st, 2015
nization in the French/ European environment

X Congresso Uruguayo de biochimica Clinica (IFCC-VLP)

Montevideo(Uruguay), October
23rd,2015

Celebrating the 60th anniversary

Automation, new developments and strategies
for implementation

77

Regional relations• Organization of EuroMedLab 2015 in Paris• Organization of 3 satellite meetings of EuroMedLab 2015 (Versailles, Reims, Paris)
International relations• Coordination by SFBC Committee on International Relations:- Prof.P. Gillery- Dr B. Gouget• SFBC representatives:- IFCC: Prof. P. Gillery- EFLM: Dr B. Gouget- WASPaLM : Prof. J. Goudable• Participation in the International Advisory Board of next IFCC/EFLM meetings:- EFLM/IFCC Paris 2015 : Organization- IFCC General Conference Madrid 2016
- EFLM / IFCC Athens 2017 (Dr B. Gouget (COC), Michel Vaubourdolle ( ISAB))- IFCC Durban WorldLab 2017( Pr P. Gillery)• SFBC: founding member of the FIFBCML : Fédération Internationale Francophone de Biologie Clinique etde Médecine de Laboratoire.
Participation in 4 meetings in 2015 :- Lebanon: Congrès des Biologistes Libanais (SBL), April 15th-18th, 2015
- Morocco: Journées Nationales de Biologie Clinique (SMCC), June 4th-6th, 2015
- France: Paris, June 21st-25th, 2015
- Algeria:1st National Congress ALAM,November 24th-25th, 2015
Additional information
Participation of SFBC members in IFCC Committees and Working Groups
IFCC-SD EC					IFCC-SD
Committees– Nomenclature, properties and units (C-NPU)(Silver book (WG))– Molecular diagnostic ( C-MD)– Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM)– Standardization of thyroid function tests (C-STFT)
Working groups– Clinical Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Proteomics (WG-cMSP)– Standardization of Carbohydrate-Deficient-Transferrin (WG-CDT)– Parathyroid hormone (WG-PTH)– Commutability (WG-C)– Standardization of Troponin I (WG-TNI)– Harmonization of antibody tests (WG-HAT)– Standardisation of Hemoglobin A2 (WG-HbA2)– Standardisation of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein(WG-PAPPA)– Standardisation of Albumin Assay in Urine (WG-SAU)

P. Gillery, Vice-Chair, 2014-2016

F. Scherrer, Member, 2015-2017(G. Férard, Chair)
K. Peoc’h, corresp. Member
A. Vassault, corresp. Member
P. Carayon, corresp. Member
S. Lehmann, Chair, 2014-2016
F. Schellenberg, Member
J.C. Souberbielle, Member
V. Delatour, Member
G. Lefèvre, corresp. Member
P. Carayon, corresp. Member
M. Arock, corresp. Member
R. Garnotel, corresp. Member
E. Caussé, corresp. Member

78

IFCC-EMD– Committee on Analytical Quality (C-AQ)– Committee on Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine(C-EBLM)

J. Wils, corresp. Member

IFCC-CPD– IFCC News and WG-IFCC NewsD Gruson, Member

A. Vassault, corresp. Member

IFCC-TF and IFCC-IP– Task force for Young Scientists (TF-YS)
G. Boursier, Member, 2014-2016– Task force on Proficiency testing (TF-PT)
A. Perret-Liaudet, Member, 2014-2016– Task force on point of care testing (TF-POCT)
P. Pernet, Member, 2012-2014– Task force on chronic kidney disease (integrated project)(TF-CKD)
J.P. Cristol, corresp. Member– Task force on implementation of HbA1c standardization(integrated project) (TF-HbA1c)
P. Gillery, SD Liaison– Task force on the impact of laboratory medicine on
Clinical management and outcomes (TF-ICO)
P. Gillery, SD Liaison
IFCC-CCC 					IFCC-Nominations Committee (2015-2017)

SFBC Board

2015

P. Carayon, corresp. Member
B. Gouget , chair

2016

Executive Board:• President• Vice-President• Past-President(s)		• General Secretary• Assistant General Secretary• Treasurer

Pr Joëlle GOUDABLEPr Marc DELPECH
Pr Philippe GAMBERT
Pr Alain LEGRAND
Pr Vincent SAPIN
Dr Véronique ANNAIX
Dr Philippe CHATRONPr Marc DELPECHPr Vincent SAPINPr Joëlle GOUDABLE

Scientific Committee :		Pr Sylvain LEHMANNDr Katell PEOC’H

Pr Sylvain LEHMANNDr Katell PEOC’H

Editor in Chief ABC :Pr Jean-Louis BEAUDEUXPr Jean-Louis BEAUDEUX

Educational Committee :					Dr Christine AUGEREAUDr Fabrice GUERBERDr Isabelle AIMONE-GASTIN

Dr Christine AUGEREAU-VACHERLab Test Online :		Dr Véronique DUCROSPr Jean-Pierre BALIDr Véronique DUCROSPr Jean-Pierre BALIInternational Relations :					Pr Philippe GILLERYDr Bernard GOUGETNational Relations : 					Dr Marie-Françoise GAUDEA-TOUSSAINTDr Carole POUPON

Meetings and Conferences :Dr Michel VAUBOURDOLLE

E-learning :		

Pr Damien GRUSON

Young Scientists : 		Dr Guilaine BOURSIER

Dr Véronique ANNAIX
Pr Bruno BAUDINDr Philippe CHATRON79

GERMANYDEUTSCHE VEREINTE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR KLINISCHECHEMIE UND LABORATORIUMSMEDIZIN e. V. (DGKL)National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Annual Meeting of the DGKL, Leipzig

Oct 14-17, 2015

Challenges of laboratory medicine inhealth maintenance and early disease
detection

Annual meeting of the DGKL Division June 11-12, 2015, Tutzing,
Molecular Diagnostics
Germany
Annual meeting of the DGKL Division April 24, 2015, Fulda, Ger- Mass spectrometry in endocrinology.
Endocrinological Diagnostics
many
Update proteo-hormones
Annual meeting of the DGKL Working November 26-27, 2015, Bad Traceability.
Group LC-MS/MS in Laboratory Staffelstein, Germany
Mass spectrometry in endocrinology
Medicine
Education
Revision course Clinical Chemistry, Hannover, November 11 – December 12, 2015
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

EuroMedLab, Paris (France)

June 22-24, 2015

Symposium Current status of the internal and external quality control in laboraotry medicine exemplified by diabetes mellitus, Chairs: B. Isermann, M.
Neumaier
Symposium lectures, exhibition

Regional relations
Active participation in EFCC (including Board Membership)
Active participation in the EC4 Register Commission (including Board Membership)“LaboratoriumsMedizin” (J. Lab. Med.), official journal of the German and the Austrian Societies of Clinical
Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
International relations
Active Participation in IFCC (including Working Groups, Task Forces, etc.)
Supporting Society of Mass Spectrometry Application to the Clinical Laboratory (MSACL) 2nd European Congress MSACL 2015 EU, Sept 8-11, 2015, Salzburg, Austria

80

HONG KONG
HONG KONG SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY(HKSCC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lec- 9 January 2015
ture

Is Vitamin D Critical for Improved Health Outcomes? When
to Assess Vitamin D Status?

IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lec- 10 Janurary 2015
ture /HKSCC Annual Scientific Meeting

1. Strategies for Interpretation and Commenting on ClinicalLaboratory Results.
2. Bone Markers and Their Use: 2015.
3. Vitamin D Analytical Service by Mass Spectrometry inHong Kong.

Dinner Lecture I

15 April 2015

Saving Children’s Lives and Improving Outcomes by Newborn Screening for Metabolic Diseases.

Evening Lecture II

9 July 2015

1. Practical Applications of Sigma-metrics in QC Design.
2. QC as the Corner stone of Quality Lab Results

Evening Lecture III

25 August 2015

Quality Control in Blood Gas Analysis and Its Relationshipwith Patient Safety at the Light of the Latest CLSI EP23 Laboratory Quality Control based on Risk Management.

Evening Lecture IV

8 September 2015

Risk Stratification of Your Laboratory Test Menu and Supportive QC Practices.

Evening Lecture V

10
2015

September Nature Has Arranged an Experiment.

Education
The year 2015 education activities kick-started with the Society’s first IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lecture on 9h
January 2015. The IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lecturer, Professor Howard Morris (Division of Health Sciences,
University of Australia) presented the lecture “Is Vitamin D Critical for Improved Health Outcomes? When toAssess Vitamin D Status”. The lecture was attended by over 60 members.
The 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting /Annual Geneal Meeting was held on 10 January 2015. The scientificevent was joint ventured with the second and third IFCC-Abbott Visiting Lectures with Professor Howard Morris
delivering two enlightening talks: “Strategies for Interpretation and Commenting on Clinical Laboratory Results”
and “Bone Markers and Their Use: 2015” Dr Jeffrey Kwok, Council Member, also presented on “Vitamin D
Analytical Service by Mass Spectrometry in Hong Kong”. The 13 industrial booth exhibitions and lectures were
well attended by over 155 members and guests.
Five scientific meetings were organized/co-hosted with other academic instutions in 2015:
1. On 15 April, Professor Michael Bennett of the University of Pennsylvania, USA presented a lecture entitled“Saving Children’s Lives and Improving Outcomes by Newborn Screening for Metabolic Diseases”. The
event was attended by 169 members and guests.
2. A seminar on Laboratory Quality Control, co-hosted with BioRad Pacific Ltd (Hong Kong) was held on 9
July, 2015. Two speakers: Dr Jeremie M Gras (Clinique Saint-Luc Bouge, Belgium), and Professor Michael
A Noble (University of British Columbia, Canada) presented on the topics “Practical Applications of Sigmametrics in QC Design” and “QC as the Corner stone of Quality Lab Results” respectively. The meeting wasattended by over 270 members and guests.
3. Werfen Hong Kong co-hosted with the Society on 25 August in presenting a lecture “Quality Control in BloodGas Analysis and Its Relationship with Patient Safety at the Light of the Latest CLSI EP23 - Laboratory
Quality Control based on Risk Management”. The speaker was Mr Franceso Ranieri, Critical Care Consultant,Werfen China. The lecture was attended by 150 members and guests.

81

4. BioRad Pacific Ltd (Hong Kong) organized a quality control seminar under the society’s auspices on 8
September, 2015. Dr Valerie Ng of the University of California, San Francisco, USA delivered the lecture
titled “Risk Stratification of Your Laboratory Test Menu and Supportive QC Practices”. The event was
attended by 180 members and guests.
5. A joint seminar with the Hong Kong College of Pathologists was held on 10 September, 2015 . The speaker
was Dr Penelope Coates of SA Pathology, South Australia. Dr Coates spoke on the topic “Nature Has
Arranged an Experiment”. The talk was attended by more than 60 members.

HUNGARYHUNGARIAN SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINE(MLDT)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

MOLSZE meeting

11-13 June, 2015, Bük

National Meeting of Medical
Technologists

National Training of MLDT,
Invited speaker: Prof. Marc Thelen, title ofhis talk: The development of quality management standards and accreditation for medicallaboratories in the Netherlands. Impact of theimplementation of ISO 15189:2012 standard.

4 September, 2015, Budapest

Quality Assurance‘Start-up and spin-off companies in the national health system – National Workshop

23 September, 2015, Budapest

Management, biotechnology

EGVE Symposium: Laboratory medicine in
focus

7-9 October, 2015, Debrecen

Management, general financial issues

Education
Education in laboratory diagnostics in allergology in association with the Hungarian Society of Immunology(MIT) (22 April, 2015, Budapest)
Postgraduate training program for laboratory medicine residents (2-4 November, 2015, Pécs)
There were several other national courses organized by in vitro diagnostic companies in different areas of laboratory medicine, such as laboratory diagnostics in sepsis.
Articles published in our national language in relation to laboratory medicine:
1. Hetyésy K., Kővári O., Ajzner É.
Laboratóriumi diagnosztika a csúcstechnológia és a hazai finanszírozás kettős szorításában (http://www.
imeonline.hu/article/2309/45_51.pdf )2. Medical Tribune Laboratóriumi Medicina szakmai különszáma (megjelenés MOLSZE Szakdolgozói Konferencián, 2015.06.11)
3. IME - 2015. október: Kővári Orsolya, Dr. Dózsa Csaba, Dr. Pál Miklós: A laborkassza helyzete Magyarországon.
4. IME – 2015. december: Dr. Ajzner Éva, Dr. Seres Erika: Egységes álláspont a nemzeti laboratóriumi koncepció készítői, a gazdasági és laboratóriumi vezetők között: a laboratóriumi diagnosztikai szolgáltatások
elégtelenül finanszírozottak hazánkban.

82

IRELANDASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTS IN
IRELAND (ACBI)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic
Men’s Health:Androgens + Type 2 DM, Male Osteoporosis

Mother and Baby:
Gestational Diabetes
Neonatal hypoglycaemia-screening
ACBI 38th annual conference, Dublin 16-17th October 2015 Pre-eclampsia
Femal Reproductive Health and Pathology:
Ovarian Cancer
AMH
Gestaional Trophoblastic Disease
Light and Health
Education
ACBI members attended national and regional meetings throughout the year
Tutorials were held for candidates preparing for Royal College of Pathologists examinations in Clinical Biochemistry.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

ACB Republic of Ireland region annual 16th January 2015
scientific meeting, Dublin

Dr Graham Lee, Principal Clinical Biochemist,
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, presented a case on Thyrotoxicosis Factitia

Association for Clinical Biochemistry and 24th April 2015
Laboratory Medicine (ACB) Northern
Ireland Region and Association of Clinical Biochemists in Ireland (ACBI) Joint
Spring Scientific Meeting, Belfast

Dr Ophelia Blake, Consultant Clinical Biochemist, Mid-Western Regional Hospital,
Limerick, presented on the National Cancer
Control Programme PSA harmonisation project

ACBI Margaret Sinnott memorial Confer- 12th June 2015
ence, Dublin

Ms Caroline Joyce, Principal Clinical
Biochemist, Cork University Hospital, presented on the genetics of Thyroid
CancerRegional relations
The ACBI liaised with other regional societies and participated in meetings and educational events hosted byother organisations e.g. Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory
Medicine, Irish Endocrine Society, National Cancer Control Programme, Irish national Accreditation Board, andthe Irish External Quality Assurance Scheme).
International relations
ACBI members continued to support the activities of the IFCC through participation in various Working
Groups e.g. POCT, CKD, Distance Education and e-learning

83

ITALYITALIAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND
CLINICAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (SIBioC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

47° CONGRESSO NAZIONALE SIBIOC- MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO - L’ARMONIZZAZIONE NELLA MEDICINA DI
LABORATORIOFIRENZE, 26-28
OTTOBRE 2015

• Point-Of-Care Testing: New Challenges;• Diagnosis of Liquid Biological Not Blood• Communication of the Value of diagnosis tothe citizen• Harmonization, Preanalytical Phase• Clinical cases selected by Poster• Laboratory and targeted therapy in ovariancancer• Harmonization, analytical phase• Harmonization in hematologic diagnostics• Mass Spectrometry: diagnostic applications
and innovations• Harmonization, post-analytical phase

Education
The ”School for continuous education in Laboratory Medicine” (SPML, Scuola di formazione permanente in
Medicina di Laboratorio) in 2015 organized 13 courses (practical and theoretical) on the following topics:
1. Point of care
2. Haematology
3. Mass spectrometry
4. Molecular biology
5. Thrombosis and haemostasis
6. Systematic Reviews: how to read a meta-analysis
7. Immunometric Technologies
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution
for the meeting

LA MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO NELL’ ETÀ FIRENZE SESTO FIORENTIGERIATRICA
NO (FI), 12 FEBBRAIO 2015
LA MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO IN SCENABERGAMO, 10 APRILE 2015

AGGIORNAMENTI IN TEMA DI CONTROLLO DI BARI, 24 APRILE 2015QUALITÀ E APPROCCI METODOLOGICI NEL
PROCESSO DI ARMONIZZAZIONE NEL LABORATORIO CLINICOLE TECNICHE CROMATOGRAFICHE E LA GENOVA, 8 MAGGIO 2015
SPETTROMETRIA DI MASSA NEL LABORATORIO DI ANALISI CLINICHEUP DATES IN AUTOIMMUNITY 2015: THE NEED MODENA,OF HARMONIZATION
2015

15-16

MAGGIO

30° CONVEGNO DI STUDIO: IL LABORATORIO VICENZA, 28 MAGGIO 2015
NELLA TERAPIA ANTICOAGULANTE

84

APPROPRIATEZZA PRESCRITTIVA DEGLI ESA- PERUGIA, 30 MAGGIO 2015
MI DI LABORATORIOIL RUOLO PROATTIVO DELLA MEDICINA DI ALESSANDRIA, 10 GIUGNOLABORATORIO NELL’APPLICAZIONE DEGLI 2015
ATTI COGENTI: L’APPROPRIATEZZA DALLATEORIA ALLA PRATICA
LE MATRICI NEL LABORATORIO DI PATOLOGIA AGRIGENTO, 24 SETTEMBRE
CLINICA2015
COME CREARE VALORE AGGIUNTO ALL’AGIRE MILANO, 7 OTTOBRE 2015
PROFESSIONALE: LA MOTIVAZIONE E IL RUOLO DELLE PROFESSIONI SANITARIE NELLAORGANIZZAZIONEXIX CONGRESSO REGIONALE MULTIDISCI- CHIETI, 13-14 OTTOBRE 2015
PLINARE DI MEDICINA DI LABORATORIOCORSO PRECONGRESSUALE - AGGIORNA- FIRENZE, 26 OTTOBRE 2015
MENTI SULLA SINDROME DA ANTICORPI ANTIFOSFOLIPIDILE TECNOLOGIE IMMUNOMETRICHEMILANO, 4 NOVEMBRE 2015

INDAGINI TOSSICOLOGICHE PER LA VALUTAZI- SARZANA,ONE DELL’ATTUALITÀ DI CONSUMO:SANGUE,- 2015
FLUIDO ORALE,ESPIRATO

12

NOVEMBRE

PERCORSI DI MIGLIORAMENTO DELLA ME- ROMA, 18 NOVEMBRE 2015
DICINA DI LABORATORIOTOSSICOLOGIA FORENSE NELL’AMBITO DEG- ROMA, 2 DICEMBRE 2015
LI INCIDENTI STRADALIARMONIZZAZIONE IN MEDICINA DI LABORA- ANCONA, 16 DICEMBRE 2015
TORIO
Regional relations
SIBioC has a permanent contact with the Italian Regions by means of a network of 20 Regional delegates.
The Regional delegates meet constantly with the Executive Board, at least twice a year.
International relations
Several speakers from all over the world attended the meeting in Florence in October, and gave oral presentations and took active parts to Educational Workshops.
Additional information
Besides the National Congress, SIBioC organized several regional or inter-regional events in Italy.

85

JAPAN
JAPAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (JSCC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

The 55th Annual Meeting of Japan
Society of Clinical Chemistry(JSCC)

2015/10/30-11/01

2 Special Lectures: The future of laboratory diagnostics, Omics sciences
Society Award Lecture: Science to Sphingosin-1P
4 Educational Lectures: Metabolomics, miRNA, Big
data analysis, Lipid metabolism
Project Report
6 Symposia: The future of clinical chemistry, Thesafety evaluation of drugs, Preventive healthcare
and biobank, Young researchers, Mass spectrometry, The development of human resources ingenomic medicine

Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Hokkaido branch : The 25th branch regular metting

2015/9/26

Tohoku branch : The 26th branch general meeting

2015/7/25

Kanto branch : The 32nd branch regular metting

2015/12/19

Society’s contribution
for the meeting

Koushinetsu branch : The 33rd branch general meeting 2015/6/6-7

Each branch supervises
the meeting of each region

Tokai & Hokuriku branch : The 26th branch general
meeting

2015/11/22

Kinki branch : The 68th branch regular metting

2015/9/26

Chugoku & Shikoku branch : The 11th joint regional
meeting

2015/2/21-22

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, clinical chemistry related companies held
various types of symposiums and educational meetings in all over Japan all the year round.
Clinical Chemistry Workshop on Medical technologists’ for Immunological and Clinical Chemistry: Nov 1, 2015
Board Examination on for Medical technologists’ for Immunological and Clinical Chemistry, Dec 12, 2015
Kyushu branch: The 26th branch general meeting

2015/3/7

Regional relations
Representative to APFCBCouncil: Masato Maekawa
Scientific Committee: Kiyoshi Ichihara (Chairs of Committees)
Education Committee: Susumu Osawa (Corresponding Members)
Communications: Hitoshi Chiba (Corresponding Members)
Congress and Conferences: Yuzo Kayamori (Corresponding Members)

86International relations
IFCC Activity
Scientific Division (SD), Executive Committee (EC): Tsutomu Nobori, Member
SD Committees:• Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL):
Kiyoshi Ichihara, Chair
Aki Takahashi corresp. Member, nominated by Corporate Members• Nomenclature, Properties and Units (C-NPU):
Donchon. Kang, Member
Masayuki Totani, corresp. Member• Molecular Diagnostics (C-MD):
Masato Maekawa, Member• Reference Systems of Enzymes (C-RSE):
Shigeru Ueda, Member
Shin-ichi Sakasegawa, corresp. Member• Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM):
Takashi Miida, corresp. Member• Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (C-STFT):
Akira Hishinuma, corresp. Member
SD Working Groups• Clinical Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Proteomics (WG-cMSP)：:
Yukio Ando, Member• C-NPU, Working group on the Silver Book revision:
Dongchon Kang, Member• Standardization of Albumin Assay in Urine (WG-SAU):
Yoshihisa Itho, Member & corresp. Member• Standardization of Hemoglobin A2 (WG-HbA2):
Tadao Hoshino, corresp. Member• Standardization of Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (WG-CDT):
Fumio Nomura, corresp. Member• Standardization of Troponin I (WG-TNI):
Junichi Ishii, corresp. Member
Education Management Division (EMD) Committees• Clinical Molecular Biology Curriculum (C-CMBC):
Atsushi Watanabe, Member
Tadao Funato, corresp. Member• Analytical Quality (C-AQ):
Kyoichi Totsuka
Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry•Distance Learning (C-DL):
Kuniaki Saito, corresp. Member•Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes (C-EUBD):
Asako Sato, corresp. Member
Communications and Publications Division (CPD) Committees• Internet and e-Learning (C-IeL):
Hideo Sakamoto, Member
Task Forces/Special Projects• Task Force on Implementation of HbA1c Standardization (Integrated Project) (TF-HbA1c):
Izumi Takei, Member• Task Force on Young Scientists(TF-YS)
Ryunosuke Ohkawa, corresp. Member
International Journal Editor
Editorial Board for Annals of Clinical Biochemistry:
Katsuyuki Nakajima
Editorial Board of Clini Chimi Acta:
Nobuo Okumura, Masato Maekawa, Takashi Miida,
MinoruTozuka, Katsuyuki Nakajima, Akihiro Inazu

87

Additional information
About 1,450 members including MD and PHD belong to JSCC and 9 blocks were divided as the each centreof JSCC.
The annual meeting is held once a year and more than 300 papers are discussed in the meeting and theregional meetings were held once a year in each region and interesting symposiums and special lectures areplanned by an annual president of the meeting.
Standing Committees• Publications Committee• International Relations Committee• Education Committee• Liaison board for Scientific Committees• Academic Meetings and Public Relations Committee• Awards Committee• Judicial and Ethical Affairs Committee• Future Directions Committee
Scientific Committees• Committee on Quality Management• Committee on Enzymes and Analytical Reagents• Committee on Laboratory Systems and Instruments• Committee on Point-of-Care Testing• Committee on Diabetes Mellitus Indices• Committee on Plasma Protein Testing• Committee on Nutrition Testing• Committee on Animal Clinical Pathology• Committee on Genetic Testing• Committee on Thrombosis and Hemostasis Testing• Committee on Lipoprotein Testing• Committee on Common Reference Intervals• Committee on Pitfall Research

88KOREA
KOREAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (KSCC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Annual Meeting of KSCC (I)2015. 5.14.

Symposium 1; Comparisons and suggestions about procedure
manuals of clinical chemistry laboratory
Symposium 2; Research highlights
Symposium 3; Recent advances in hormonal testings
Symposium 4; Industry workshop (New tests in the field ofclinical chemistry)

Quality Assurance Workshop 2015. 10. 30.

Quality Assurance workshop for neonatal screening tests

Annual Meeting of KSCC (II)Symposium 1; The basic requirements of accredited laboratory2015. 10. 30.

Symposium 2; Health insurance benefit standard – about clinical chemistry tests
Symposium 3; Introductions for updated homepage of KSCC
Symposium 4; Industry workshop (New tests in the field ofclinical chemistry)
Symposium 5; CLSI guidelines applied to clinical chemistry
Education
1> Procedure manuals of clinical chemistry laboratory
2> Hormonal testings
3> Neonatal screening tests
4> The basic requirements of accredited laboratory
5> Health insurance benefit standard – about clinical chemistry tests
6> New tests in clinical chemistry
7> CLSI guidelines applied to clinical chemistry
Regional relations
In addition to the annual meetings of KSCC, several times of reagional meetings were held. To facilitate theregional communications and to fasten the regional relationship, regular meetings on clinical chemistry were
held all over Korea.
- KSCC Council meetings: 2 times- KSCC Standing committee meetings: 2 times- KSCC Organizing committee meetings: 9 times
International relations
1. Attended ‘EuromedLab Paris 2015’ and promoted the ‘IFCC WorldLab Seoul 2020’ to the participants of the Congress
2. Working APFCB committee members (2016)- Pf. Yong Hwa Lee for the education and laboratory management committee- Pf. Hwan Sub Lim for the communications committee
3. IFCC Network Laboratory for HbA1c in Korea (2012 - present)
4. Pf. Junghan Song was working as a member of the ‘International Scientific Advisory Board of IFCC WorldLab Durban 2017’
5. Pf. Hyung-Doo Park was working as a member of the ‘IFCC C-STFT (Standardization of FT4 and Harmonization of TSH Measurement)’
6. Dr. Eun-Hee Lee participated the ‘AACC ICHCLR Coucil meeting and HOG of 2015’89

Additional information
Current Officer Bearer of KSCC (2016)
1. President : Pf. Gye Cheol Kwon (Chungnam National University College of Medicine)
2. New Secretary General : Pf. Sang-Hoon Song (Seoul University College of Medicine)
3. Treasurer : Pf. Hwan Sub Lim (Yonsei University College of Medicine)
4. International Committee : Dr. Sung Eun Cho (LabGenomics Clinical Laboratories)

LITHUANIALITHUANIAN SOCIETY OF LABORATORY MEDICINENational meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

7th Annual Conference of the Lithuanian 17-04-2015
Society of Laboratory Medicine

Role of laboratory medicine in chronic diseases management

International conference

10-10-2015

Complete blood count – current topics

International conference

12-11-2015

Immunohematology and testing of blood components – solutions and newest scientific tendencies

Education
1. IFCC-Clinical Molecular Biology Curriculum (CMBC) Beginner’s Course in Molecular Diagnostics; July 1217, 2015 Vilnius, Lithuania (19 participants from Lithuania and Estonia).
2. Workshop “Six Sigma Design and Error Budgets; Introduction to Risk Analysis and Risk Management”;
April 16, 2015 Vilnius, Lithuania. Held in collaboration with “Westgard QC” (USA) (66 participants from
Lithuania and Latvia).
3. Training course “Understanding and application of standard LST EN ISO 15189:2012 “Medical laboratories– Requirements for quality and competence”; March 12-13, 2015 Vilnius, Lithuania, and May 29-30, 2015
Klaipeda (56 participants in total).
4. Training course “Basics of evidence based medicine”, March 16, 2015, Vilnius, Lithuania (35 participants)
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 and Estonian Society ofLaboratory 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 relations
LLMD is the member of IFCC, EFLM and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI); partner of The
Global World Thrombosis Day Movement.

90

MEXICOMEXICAN ASSOCIATION
OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

I Regional Symposium: Diagnosis March 27-28, 2015
and Clinical Aspects of Diabesity(DIABETES&OBESITY)

Impact of Obesity in México
Polymorphisms associated to Obesity and Diabetes in adults from Chiapas.
Diabetogenes in Maya population.
Polymorphisms associated to Obesity and Diabetes in adults from Chiapas.
Diabetes type 2: from the Clinic to Molecular
Polymorphisms and Anthropometry in children
with Obesity

9o International Conference of November 24-25, 2015
Quality, Mexico City and other venues in Latin America

From Quality Control to Risk Management inlaboratory medicine and blood banks.

Education• Hematology and Coagulation overview, LICON Institute, México City
• Specialized Course on Quality Control, CEL-TEC, Mexico City,• XV Course on Genetics, BIOGEN Laboratory, México City.
• Internal Quality Control planning and implementation, Tapachula.
• The importance of doing quality control. Veracruz.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

21 EuroMedLabParis 2015

June 21-25, 2015

Creatinine Standardization Project. Oral presentation.

XXII Latin American Congress
In Clinical Biochemistry, Quito
EcuadorSeptember 24-26, 2015

Proficiency testing based on ISO 17043
Lab Accreditation ISO 15189: 2012. Oral presentation.
....... Poster presentation.

XII National Congress of the
Uruguayan Biochemistry Society.

October 22-24, 2015

Pilot Project for Creatinine Standarization. The
Mexican Experience. Oral presentation.

3rd Annual Meeting on Clinical
Chemistry

October 18-22, 2015

Board certification in clinical chemistry process.
Oral presentation

XXVIII WASPaLM congress

November 18-22, 2015

CKD Round Table Discussion. Oral presentation, YS TF IFCC/WASPaLM Chairmanship.

Regional relations
Latin American Award on Point of Care. ALERE and National Society of Bacteriologist of Colombia.
Workshop on Accreditation. PTB and Chilean Society of Clinical Chemistry.
Workshop on Adding Value to Patient Care using Quality Control, American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
Member, Latin American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry, COLABIOCLI

91

International relations
WG-eJIFCC editorial board member, IFCC
WG-eNews corresponding member, IFCC
WG-IANT member, IFCC
C-CLM corresponding member, IFCC
C-MB corresponding member, IFCC
C-TLM corresponding member, IFCCEB Member, IFCC
Latin American Working Group, Emerging Countries Program, American Association for Clinical Chemistry, AACC
Additional information
MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING 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 15189 WG, MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF STANDARIZATION AND CERTIFICATIONCLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY STUDENTS´ SECTIONS AND STATE CHAPTERS (GUERRERO)
UNIVERSITIES –FACULTY OF CHEMISTRIES ADVISORY ACTIVITIES FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES.

PARAGUAY
ASOCIACIÓN DE BIOQUÍMICOS DEL PARAGUAY (ABP)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Course pre-congress at the VIII National May 6, 2015
Chemical Science Congress & VII Paraguay Congress of Biochemistry with theauspices of IFCC

Three Course pre-Congress: Microbiology,
Clinical Laboratory Accreditation, Hematology and Clinical Biochemistry

VIII National Chemical Science Congress May 7- 9, 2015
& VII paraguay Congress of Biochemistrywith the auspices of IFCC

Five intra-Congress Course:*Principles of Managment and Quality in
Health Laboratories.
*Magnitudes related to Biological- Medical
Emergency Laboratory.
Symposium:*Quality Assurance in the Laboratory IQA
EQA.
*Hematology and Hemostasis.
*Analytes Molecular in diagnostic, *Treatment and prognosis of disease.

X Paraguayan Congress on Infectious November 5-7, 2015
Diseases & IV Conference of Clinical Microbiology. VIII Nursing Conference

Three Intra-Congress- Course:*Importance of proper sampling for microbiological diagnosis.
Symposium: *Surveillance in Bacteriology,
Virology and Mycology.
*Molecular Biology

92

Education
Educational activities were made possible by international speakers from different associations (IFFC,
COLABIOCLI, American Society for Microbiology), Centres and Universities in countries with which the ABP
maintains close relations of cooperation and national speakers from the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Medical
Sciences (UNA), Central Laboratory of Public Health-Ministry of Public Health , Central Hospital of the Social
Security Institute (IPS) and the Institute for Research in Health Sciences (IICS), and several hospitals and public
and private laboratories in our country. And also we appreciate the support of foundations, scientific societies andcompanies related to our profession for the implementation of activities, like the PNCQ from Brazil.
The following educational activities were undertaken:
1. November 3, 2015. Toxoplasmosis Excellence in Diagnosis and Avidity Test .
Speakers: Vanessa Gogliota and María Noel (Uruguay) Molecular Biology- At the Chemical Federation of
Paraguay
2. November 25, 2015. ISO 9001 Accreditation vs Certification Labs
Speaker: Laura Mujica (Paraguay). At the Chemical Federation of Paraguay
3. December 3, 2015. Technical Course Laboratories- Phase preanalytical
Speaker: Juana Ortellado (Paraguay). At the Auditorium Laboratory LASCA ASM.
International Speakers at different ABP Education Activities in 2015 (Congress & Courses)
ARGENTINA: Carlos Navarro (Pdte COLABIOCLI), Gustavo Giusiano, Gabriel O. Gutkind, Emilia Cattana, Luis
Merino, Gerardo Deluca, Gustavo Velasco, María Cecilia López
BOLIVIA: Karina Chavez de Aban
BRASIL: Ana Claudia Perón, Andrea Piazza, Amadeo Sáez Alquezar
COLOMBIA: Marta Vives, Diana Marcela Tabares
CHILE: Leverton OrtizURUGUAY: Silvia González, Patricia Esperón, María Noel, Vanessa Gogliota
SPAIN: Luis García de Guadiana Romualdo.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Exchange of Experiences about
the Interpretation of the Standard
ISO 15189:2012

12th – 15th May 2015,
Guatemala CityOne Delegate with the Support of IAAC and
PTB“Implementation of the Concept of September 25 – 26, 2015, One Delegate with the Support of IAAC andTraceability in Clinical Laboratories in Quito, Ecuador
PTBin Latin America” on“COLABIOCLI Congress 2015”

September 24 to 26th,2015

One Delegate

28 Brasilian Microbiology Meeting

October 18 to 22, in Florianopolis, Brasil

One Speaker at the Education Symposium

Regional relations
RELATION WITH COLABIOCLIThe composition of the Board of Directors of the ABP 2015-2017 was officially communicated.
There was a continuous communication with the President of COLABIOCLI, Dr. Carlos Navarro and the authorities of COLABIOCLI.
The Director of the Relationship Department of ABP participates at the Ecuadorian Meeting in Quito, Ecuador.
The cooperation agreement between ABP and the Argentine Association of Microbiology continue.

93

International relations
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABORATORY Clinical Biochemistry andMedicine (IFCC):
The composition of the Board of Directors of the ABP 2015-2017 was officially communicated.
The VIII National Chemical Science Congress & VII paraguay Congress of Biochemistry was under the auspices of IFCC.
Members of ABP in IFCC:
1. Congresses and Conferences Committee (C-CC)- M.Blanes G corresponding Member since 2013
2. Analytical Quality (C-AQ), Educational Management Division (EMB)- G. Velazquez, Member 2nd term
01/2015 -12/2017
3. Molecular Diagnostic Committee (C-MD), Scientific Division (SD)- G. Russomando, Member first term
01/2013 -12/2015
4. International and Learning (C-IEL) Publication and Comunication Division (CPD)- M.Blanes G, corresponding member 2nd term 01/2015 -12/2017
PBL Members integrating Working Groups
1. Iberoamerica Nomenclature and Translation (WG-Iant) CPD- G.Velázquez, Member since 2008
2. e-new (WG-e news) CPD
G. Blanes, Member 2nd term 01/2015 -12/2017
ABP members in Task Force- Specially Proyects.
Glucose Meters How 1. Should be Evaluated in Critical Care (WGU MECC). Task Force on Point of Care
Testing (POCT-TF).- E. Guillen Barua, Member first term 03/2013 -12/2015
2. Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (C-STFT), Scientific Division Current Proyects: Phase IV Method
comparison studies for FT4 and TSH on Clinically Relevant samples: FT4 is Intended as technical standardization and harmonization process TSH, FT4 by Which Will Become Assays traceable to the conventionalreference measurement procedure.- M. Blanes G, first term member 01/2015 -12/2017
Additional information
On Friday May 8, 2015 was held a Gala Dinner at the National Chemist Congress for the start of the celebrations of the100th Anniversary of our National Chemist Federation, where ABP is with other Chemist Associations, at the local of the Excelsior Hotel.
On 15 December 15, 2015 was held a Gala dinner closing of the activities of the 100th anniversary celebrations at our renovated building.

94

POLANDPOLISH SOCIETY FOR LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS(PTDL)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

50th Anniversary of The Polish Societyof Laboratory Diagnostics

February 6th-7th”Laboratory diagnostics – the past, thepresent and the future”; special guests The Presidents of IFCC and EFLM

Lubuski Branch of PSLD

April 9th-10th”Hemostasis disorders – interdisciplinary
challenge”

Jurata Meeting of Laboratory Diagnostics

April 23-24thLaboratory medicine in elderly patients,
anemias, EQAS, internet services forlaboratory professionals.

Conference at Lysomice

May 28-29th, 2015

Glomerular filtration rate; new guidelines
for managing dyslipidemia,

Krakow Branch of PSLDMay 28-29th.2015

Therapeutic Drug Monitorung, Coagulation Testing, POCT

Bialystok Branch of PSLDMay 28th-29th 2015

Regional meeting in Augustow, various
topicsCo-organization of the POCT Conference – Silesian Medical University,
Sosnowiec

June 11th 2015

POCT – technology, regulations and diagnostic significanceRzeszow Branch of PSLD

June 11-12th 2015

Laboratory tests in the diagnostic process,coagulation testing

Conference at Szklarska Poreba

June 12-13th 2015

Cardiovascular diseases, malignancies– lab testing, interpretation of lab tests
results, analytical quality

Women’s health; Interpretation of hematology results, Preanalytical phase.

Co-organization of 12 International Con- September 6-8th,gress of Polish Neuroscience Society;2015
GdanskLodz Branch of PSLD

September 10-12th2015

Aging, laboratory testing in the elderly,
contemporary lab medicine

Szczecin Branch of PSLD

September 23rd-25th
2015”Obese patient – the role of the laboratory
in prevention and therapy”

Conference on POCT, co-rganized with September 30th-OctoWerfen
ber 1st 2015

POCT: guidelines for laboratories, newtests; practical use of new POCT devices.

International conference co –organizedby Polish Society of Laboratory Diagnostics ”Vitamin D- minimum, maximum, optimum”; Warsaw

October 16-17th 2015

Vitamin D deficiency and its association
with different diseases; methods for vitamin D measurement; DEQAS

Poznan Branch of PSLD

October 22nd-23rd
2015”The most frequent misunderstandings inlaboratory medicine”

Conference on POCT, co-rganized with November 19-20 2015
RADIOMETER”POCT – organization, clinical significance95

Education
The above mentioned conferences and meetings, with one exception (GDANSK) had educational character.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

EFLM-BD Conference on Preana- March 20-21, 2015
lytical phase in Porto

Participance in the final debate (Bogdan Solnica); 6 posters were presented

EFLM Symposium Education in April 24-26th 2015
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine, Prague

Lecture ” Postgraduate Training in Laboratory
Medicine in Poland and the EC-4 European
Syllabus 2012” presented by Bogdan Solnica

Euromedlab Paris

Scientific symposium organizer and chair (Grazyna Sypniewska), during this symposium on
June 22nd Dr Magdalena Krintus presented alecture on diagnosis of cardiovascular risk.

June 21-25, 2015

Conference of Hellenic Society of October 29-30, 2015
Laboratory Medicine, Heraklion
Crete

Lecture on ”How to diagnose prediabetes” presented by Grazyna Sypniewska

International relations-- Prof. Grazyna Sypniewska has been elected as EFLM EB Member at Large for the second term.
-- Dr Joanna Siodmiak has been selected as YS in the EFLM-WG : Patient-focused laboratory medicine.
-- Dr Katarzyna Bergmann has been selected as YS in the EFLM-WG :Congresses and Postgraduate Education, starting from January 1st 2016-- Dr Magdalena Krintus has been selected as a member in the IFCC-CPD.
-- Prof. Bogdan Solnica – a member of the EC-4/EFLM Registration Commision-- Prof. Bogdan Solnica – a member of the IFCC WG “How should Glucose Meters be Evaluated for Critical Care”
Additional information
Prof. Grazyna Sypniewska is a member of EFLM-European Atherosclerosis Society Task and Finish Group“Laboratory Testing for Dyslipidemia”.
Polish Society of Laboratory Diagnostics is a local organizer of the 4th Joint EFLM-UEMS Congress “Laboratory Medicine at the Clinical Interface” to be held in Warsaw September 21-24th 2016www.eflm-uems.warsaw2016.eu
Prof. Bogdan Solnica (PSLD President) and prof. Urszula Demkow are members of the Scientific Committee,
prof. G.Sypniewska is chairing the Organizing Committee.

96

ROMANIAROMANIAN ASSOCIATION OF LABORATORYMEDICINE (RALM)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

1st RALM Congress with international participation

May 20-23 2015 Sighisoara

Clinical Laboratory (Hematology,
Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry)

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 attendance of 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.
International relations
The Romanian Association of Laboratory Medicine is a full member of IFCC and EFLM.
IFCC and EFLM representatives (Prof. Maurizio Ferrari, prof Graham Beastall, dr. Paivi Laitinen ) as well as otherinvited speakers from abroad - prof. Janos Kappelmayer (University of Debrecen, Hungary), prof. Vladimir Palicka(Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine, Czech Republic) attended the 1st RALM Congress in 2015
Additional information• Laboratory medicine professionals in Romania were previously organized in two societies: the RomanianSociety of Laboratory Medicine (Romanian abbreviation SRML), member of IFCC, EFLM, WASPaLM, andthe Romanian Association of Medical Laboratories (Romanian abbreviation ALMR) affiliated member of IFCC
and member of EFLM.
The members of both the organizations are medical doctors (specialists in Laboratory Medicine), biologists,biochemists, chemists, biophysicists.
As their goals were similar, in 2014 at the annual conferences of the two societies a huge step forward has beenachieved by taking the decision to merge the two societies and to create a unique, stronger society, named the
Romanian Association of Laboratory Medicine RALM (Romanian abbreviation AMLR). A temporary board wasnominated, until the 1st RALM congress, when at the general assembly elections were organized for the new
executive board of RALM, which includes the following positions:
President:
Associate Prof. dr. Ioana Brudașcă
Vicepresidents: Prof. dr. Minodora Dobreanu
Dr. chem. Constanța Popa
Member:Dr. Adrian Man
Secretary:
Dr. Daniela Miricescu
Treasurer:
Biol. Ariadna Radulescu
The national representatives are:
Associate Professor dr. Ioana Brudasca – NR for IFCC
Dr. chem. Constanța Popa - NR for EFLM
• As former ALMR already had its own publication, the Romanian Review of Laboratory Medicine (RRML), thisjournal became RALM’s publication, providing the opportunity for laboratory professionals to update theirknowledge in the areas addressed.
• 1st RALM Congress abstracts were published in a supplement of Romanian Review of Laboratory Medicine(RRML).
• An important event at the congress opening session was the presentation of the 3rd edition of the book“ Clinical Chemistry - practical implications” by Minodora Dobreanu (editor), published by University Press
Târgu Mureș in 2015. The book is a comprehensive clinical chemistry textbook, very useful to all medicallaboratories professionals, as well as to clinical practitioners.

97

RUSSIARUSSIAN SCIENTIFICALLY-PRACTICAL SOCIETY OF
SPECIALISTS IN LABORATORY MEDICINE (RSPSSLM)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Scientific and practical conference
March 24 - 26, 2015
“Achievements and Prospects ofDevelopment of Laboratory Service ofRussia”. Moscow
1 902 participants, 47 particpantsfrom foreign countries

Topic
Lab Diagnostic of infection diseases, Immunochenistry, hematology, Quality Assurance,
all-clinical investigation (urinanalysis, sputum,CSF), innovations in Lab Medicine, molecularbiology, immunoassay, coagulation, Lab management, education and training in Lab Medicine, clinical postanalytics, Flow Cytometry,blood transfusion, emergency and POCT, election to RSPSSLMXIX FORUM“NATIONAL DAYS LABORATORY ·MEDICINE OF RUSSIA – 2015: Consolidationlaboratory medicine and clinical practice. Traditions andinnovations”, Moscow
2 037 participants, 60 participantsfrom foreign countries

September 23-25,
2015

Clinical interpretation of the results of laboratory
investigations, information technology, modern
trends of development of Russian laboratory Medicine, lab diagnosis of kidney diseases,
clinical aspects in diagnosis of tuberculosis, diagnosis of infection diseases,microbiological investigation, Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, Lab
Medicine in obstetric and gynecology, quality
management and centralization, cardiovascular diseases, molecular biology, lab medicine
in internal diseases, autoimmun diseases, immune-depended diseases, lab diagnostics inoncology, microelements in lab medicine, lab
diagnostics in traumatology, orthopedy andstomatology, lab medicine in clinical mycology.

Russian Congress of Laboratory
Medicine, Moscow.
4 500 participants, 50 participantsfrom foreign countries

September 30th –October 2nd, 2015

Laboratory diagnoctics in cardiovascular diseases, in obstetric and gynecology,lab diagnostics
of antibiotic resistence, immunoassay markers;
Healthcare polytics and economics or healthprotection?; molecular biology in oncology; lab
diagnostics in sepsis; laboratory management,
quality assurance; coagulation; herpes infection; critical care and POCT; automatization ofpreanalytical stage like an instrument to reducelaboratory errors; education in laboratory medicine; clinical-laboratory guidelines in different
diseases.

All-Russian scientific-practical conference «Laboratory diagnostics insolution of the problems of modern
clinical medicine», Saint-Peterburg,
Russia, 800 participants

December 8-9,
2015

Lab diagnostics of infection diseases, microbiology, immunopatology, autoimmune disease,cardio-vascular disease, reference laboratories,
EQA, endocrinolgy,toxicology, oxidative stress,
automation, Urindianalysis.

98Education
Master class on cytology, Scientific and practical conference “Achievements and Prospects of Development of Laboratory
Service of Russia”. Moscow, March 24 - 26, 2015.
Master class on Flow Cytometry, Medical Military Academy, February 2015, October 2015.
Trainings in Laboratory diagnostics for specialists in Laboratory Medicine in Nizhniy Novgorod, St.-Petersburg, Moscow.
Postgraduate education in Laboratory Medicine in High Medical Schools of Russian Federation.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting”Interaction of science and practice in devel- November 18,2015
opment of laboratory service”, city Nizhniy
Novgorod, Russia

Organization of the meeting”Modern trans in Laboratory diagnostics and November 11, 2015
treatment of cardio-vascular diseases”, city
Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia

Organization of the meeting, lecturing
programm”Lab diagnostics of osteoporosis”, city Iva- February 19, 2015
novo, Russian Federation

Lecturing program”Biosystems of Preanalytical stages”, city April 16 , 2015
Ivanovo, Russian Federation

Lecturing program”Proteomics for routine laboratory”, city Iva- May 21, 2015
novo, Russian Federation

Lecturing program”Profilactic of Virus infection for laboratory September 9, 2015
personal”, city Ivanovo, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting”Cytomentry for medical laboratory”, city Iva- October 20, 2015
novo, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting and Lecturing program”Lab diagnostics of HIV infection in Ivono- November 17, 2015
vo’s refion and in Russian Federation”

Organization of the meeting”Lab Diagnosis of Blood Gases and Alec- February 17,2015
trolites in Emergency”, city Lipetsk, RussianFederation

Lecturing program”Coagulation aspect in Lab Medicine”, city March 17,2015
Lipetsk, Russian Federation

Lecturing program”Cytologycal investigations in Thyroid dis- April 17, 2015
eases”, city Lipetsk, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting”Lab diagnostic in oncohaematology” city Li- May 19, 2015
petsk, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting”Automation in lab biochemistry investiga- June 18,2015
tions”, city Lipetsk, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting and Lecturing program”Interpretation in Haemetology”, city Lipetsk, Sept 18, 2015
Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting and Lecturing program

Laboratory diagnostics in Liver diseases, Sept 25, 2015
city Lipetsk, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting

Quality Assurance in Laboratory Medicine , October 20, 2015
city Lipetsk, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting and Lecturing program

Laboratory Diagnostics of Acute Coronary November 24, 2015
Syndrom, city Lipetsk, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting

Novelty in Guedelines for Laboratory Medi- December 15, 2015
cine, city Lipetsk, Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting

Safety and risk assesment in Laboratory February 19, 2015
Medicine, city Saratov (for Saratovsky region), Russian Federation

Organization of the meeting99

Innovation in Laboratory Medicine, clinical informativery of laboratory tests andinterpretation, city Saratov (for Saratovsky
region), Russian Federation

June 26, 2015

Organization of the meeting

Modern Technology in Laboratory Coagulation, city Saratov, Russian Federation

April 21, 2015

Organization of the meeting

Lab monitoring of Immune Status and lab
diagnostics in parazitology, city Saratov,
Russian Federation

May 19, 2015

Organization of the meeting

Laboratory diagnosis of Anemia

Jule 16, 2015

Organization of the meeting

Economics and financial aspects in Laboratory Medicine, efficiency of lab personnel
in system of Quality Management, city
Saratov, Russian Federation

October 15, 2015

Organization of the meeting

Laboratory Neonatal Screening, , city
Saratov, Russian Federation

November 19, 2015

Organization of the meeting and lecturing

Republic conference on endocrinology, city
Petrozavodsk (Republic Karelia), RussianFederation

November 23-24

Plenary lecture

Regional relations
Participation of regions in National Meetings, presentations of regional leaders in in National meetings.
City Kazan, Russia, February 17, 2015. School for leaders in Laboratory Medicine: Laboratory Management
and innovations in Russia, for specialists from different regions of Russian Federation.
City Saratov, Russia, March 16, 2015. School for leaders in Laboratory Medicine: Education and certification for
specialists in Laboratory Medicine.
Review of present situation in Laboratory Diagnostics of Tuberculosis in region of City Ivanovo. RussianFederation, January 2015.
Election of delegated to National Meetings in Regions.
International relations
Professor Mario Plebani (Italy), plenary lecture “Management of Pre- and postanalytical stages in Laboratory Medicine” in frame of Scientific and practical conference “Achievements and Prospects of Development of Laboratory
Service of Russia”. Moscow, March 24 - 26, 2015.
Ralf Thomae (Germany) plenary lecture “Presepcin in Sepsis diagnosis” in frame of Scientific and practical conference “Achievements and Prospects of Development of Laboratory Service of Russia”. Moscow, March 24 - 26, 2015.
Dr Mario Berth (Belgium), plenary lecture “Innovative approaches in EBV testing driving high quality and accurate
results with cost efficiency” in frame of Scientific and practical conference “Achievements and Prospects of Development of Laboratory Service of Russia”. Moscow, March 24 - 26, 2015.
Dr. Alexandra Maroz (Germany), plenary lecture “RET-He and IPF for haematology” in frame of Scientific and practical conference “Achievements and Prospects of Development of Laboratory Service of Russia”. Moscow, March
24 - 26, 2015.
Paula Fernandez (Switzerland, Aarau, the Kantonsspital Hospital) Standardization in Flow Cytometry - an example
from a Swiss lab, in frame of Scientific and practical conference “Achievements and Prospects of Development ofLaboratory Service of Russia”. Moscow, March 24 - 26, 2015.
Desiree Meyer, PhD, (L & L Application Specialist, BD Biosciences Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa)
Examples of clinical cases using EuroFlow Panels), in frame of Scientific and practical conference “Achievements
and Prospects of Development of Laboratory Service of Russia”. Moscow, March 24 - 26, 2015.
Dr Suresh Jivan Gadher (USA), Plenary lecture “Disease related Investigational Approaches Using Immunoassay
Solutions” in frame of XIX FORUM “NATIONAL DAYS LABORATORY ·MEDICINE OF RUSSIA – 2015, 23-25 Sept,
2015.
Sherry Faye (UK), plenary lecture ”AMH – clinical application and interpretation” in frame of Russian Congress ofLaboratory Medicine, Moscow, Sept 30th – Oct 2nd, 2015.

100

Giorgio Da Rin (Italy), plenary lecture ”Quality and Safety:the strategic reorganization of laboratory process”in frameof Russian Congress of Laboratory Medicine, Moscow, Sept 30th – Oct 2nd, 2015.
Fabio Sgarabottolo (Italy), plenary lecture ”Safety tools to improve quality of laborarory’s outcome”, in frame of
Russian Congress of Laboratory Medicine, Moscow, Sept 30th – Oct 2nd, 2015.
Hubert Palumbo (France), plenary lecture ”Increasing of economical efficiency of medical laboratories”, in frame of
Russian Congress of Laboratory Medicine, Moscow, Sept 30th – Oct 2nd, 2015.
Sattelite Simposium of the Russian Society of Cytology in frame of th 39th Comgress of Cytology, Milan, Sept 20-23,
2015. Topics: liquid-based citology and micro-rNA profiling and BRAF testing in thyroid diseases, immunocytichemistryof serous flued, cytology findings in Progressive Multifocal Leucoencephalopathy, cytology in breast tumours, EUSFNA of cystic and pancreatic lesions, cervical cytology in HSIL cases, PAP tests and p16/Ki67coexpression in triageof HPV-positive woman, gastric cytology in neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions, diagnostic value of laboratory
methods for detection of Trichomonas vaginales in the males population, cytology trainings in Russia.
Participation of Russian specialists in Laboratory Medicine in International Meetings:
1. 21nd IFCC – EFLM European Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Paris, 22 – 24 June, 2015.
2. 22nd World Congress “Ozone and advanced Oxidation. Leading-edge science and technologies”, 28 June – 3
July 2015, Barcelona, Spain
3. 31 International Congress “Fetus as a Patient” , Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 11-13 June,2015
4. Pediatric congress «Child and society», city Sochi, Russian Federation, Sept 23-24, 2015
5. 3d EFLM European conference on Preanalytical Phase, Porto, Portugal, March 20-21,2015

SAUDI ARABIASAUDI ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

One day siminar, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

23 May 2015

Newborn screening

1 Annual Meeting
Saudi Society for Clinical Chemistry,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

5-6 December 2015

National yearly meeting of the society

One day siminar, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Tuesday 8th December Ognized by the society during the 1st2015
Saudi Lab exhibitionstRegional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meeting

Advances in Clinical Chemistry 16 March 2015 at Movenpick Hotel, The secentific meeting was orSymposium
Qassim (Buraidah) Saudi Arabia.
gnized by the Saudi Society for
Clinical Chemistry (SSCC)
Seeding Knowledge

7-8th Nov 2015 at Intercontinental the Saudi Society for Clinical
Hotel (Jeddah) Saudi Arabia
Chemistry (SSCC) participated as
partner of the symposium

Regional relations
Establishment of the local “preanalytical working group” with partnership of BD company and the first meeting
was on 11 May 2015 including 15 members from different regions in the Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
(see attached for objectives of this group) The second meeting was done on 29th of October 2015.

101

SERBIA
SOCIETY OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTS OF SERBIA (DMBS)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

11th EFLM Symposium for Balkan May 14-15,2015, Belgrade
RegionSymposium is organised together with
EFLM under IFCC Auspices under thetitle:
Laboratory Medicine Specialist Focuseson the Patients Well-being (www.dmbj.
org.rs)Eighteenth Annual Ivan Berkeš Sci- December 4, 2015, Belgrade
entific Conference

Presentations of doctoral and masterthesis from previous year (www.dmbj.
org.rs)

Education
Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia in 2015 organized four CME educational seminars for the memberson the following topics:
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
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

23rd Meeting of Balkan ClinicalLaboratory Federation

Sarajevo, October
7-9, 2015

Members of the Society participated with three invitedlectures and many posters (www.bclf.info)

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
Participations in Meetings organised by IFCC and EFLM
Additional information
The 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)

102

SLOVENIASLOVENIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTRY(SZKK)

National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Symposium
Ljubljana, 22nd January Experience in POCT supervision
Slovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry 2015
and Laboratory Medicine
Ljubljana, 11th March 2015 Laboratory medical genetics in the
Symposiumtreatment of pediatric patientsSlovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine
Maribor, 5th, 6th June Reference values,
Symposium
disease,Slovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry 2015
and Laboratory Medicine
Emergency tests.

Alzheimer’s

Symposium
Ljubljana, 08th October Parenteral nutrition and laboratory
Slovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry 2015
diagnostics
and Laboratory Medicine
Symposium
Ljubljana, 12th November The meeting users of the naSlovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry 2015tional external quality assuranceand Laboratory Medicine
schemes SNEQAS
Symposium
Ljubljana, 04th December 6th International Conference on
Slovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry 2015
Quality of Medical Laboratories
and Laboratory Medicine
The Slovenian Laboratory Medicine Day

2nd October 2015

Celebration of the ”Slovenian Laboratory Medicine Day”

Education
1. from April to May 2015; Continuous Education Courses for the Medical Laboratory Technicians (5 different
topics)
2. February 2015; Workshop: Peripheral Blood: Differential Leukocyte count/ Peripheral Differential White
Blood Cell Morphology; For Specialist in Laboratory Medicine
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

15th EFLM Continuing Postgraduate Course in Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine

Zagreb, Croatia October
24-25, 2015.

in organization of EFLM, Croatian Society of
Medical Biochemists and Slovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry and laboratory
Medicine

103

SPAINSOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE BIOQUÍMICA CLÍNICAY PATOLOGÍA MOLECUALR (SEQC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Course, Barcelona

January 19-20th, 2015

Hematological Biology.

Web Seminar

January 27th, 2015

Personal management according to ISO
15189:2013.

Web Seminar

February 3th, 2015

Newborn Screening for Primary Immunodeficiencies.

Course, Zaragoza

April 17-18th, 2015

How to write a Scientific Article.

Course, Barcelona

April 23th, 2015

Myth or Reality in the Preanalytical Phase.

XIII Meeting of Scientific Committee, May 11-12th, 2015
Valencia

Phosphocalcic Metabolism.
Quality in Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory.
Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid. Deficiency and
Toxicity.
Risk management in the Clinical Laboratory.
Cardiac Disease Risk: Laboratory Evaluation.
Alcohol and Drugs abuse in saliva.

VI Meeting on Trace Elements

Trace Elements and Magnesium: from
Health to Disease.

June 18th, 2015

IX National Congress of Clinical Lab- October 7-9th, 2015
oratory
Web Seminar

November 5th, 2015

Angiogenic and Anti-angiogenic markers in
pregnancies with suspicion of preeclampsia.

Web Seminar

November 25th, 2015

Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Anemia.

Course, Barcelona

November 26th, 2015

Hormonal Changes during Pregnancy.

Course, Sevilla

December 11th, 2015

Circulating cell-free DNA. Liquid Biopsy.
Present and Future.

Web Seminar

December 17th, 2015

SCC for Improving Lung, Cervical and Larynx Cancer Management.

Education
Annual Educational Programme:- XVIII General Educational Programme 2014-2015……………….783 participants- II Genetics Educational Programme 2014-2015 ………..………. 401 participants- I Clinical Cases in Hematology Programme 2014-2015 ...….…. 267 participants

104

Regional relations
SEQC 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 Ibero-American Working Group WG IAN through “Radio Microscopio”
International relations
SEQC has relationships with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine(IFCC).
Additional information
SEQC organizes the following EQAS programs:- Extranalytical processes : Preanalytical and Indicators- Biochemistry : General biochemistry tests in serum and urine, Hormones, TDM, Proteins, Blood gas, POCT,
Cardiac markers, Tumour markers, Trace elements, Autoimmunity, Monoclonal components and Drugabuse.
- Microbiology and Serology
Nowadays there are 700 centers participating in these programs with a total of 5000 inscriptions.
SEQC maintains the Spanish version of Lab Tests Online with more than 322 tests and a glossary with morethan 495 contents.
Avedis Donabedian SEQC Award. This award recognizes the Best Spanish Scientific Society of Quality Excellence 2016

105

SWITZERLANDSWISS SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (SSCC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Annual Assembly of the Swiss 23.-25.09.2015
Society of Clinical Chemistry

Biobanks; preanalytics and automated biobanking
workflows; automation in general; neurological diseases
and laboratory including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s
disease, Alzheimer’s disease, vitamin B6 deficiency
and autoimmunity in children epilepsy, and stroke.
In addition topics on new generation anticoagulants;
pulmonary embolism; update on the ESC 2015
guidelines on acute coronary syndromes; acute kidney
injury and preeclampsia.

Molecular Diagnostics 2015

Next-generation sequencing to investigate the humanmicrobiome to study its alteration in disease;
DEB126 and male infertility; FMR1, HD and DM1 repeat
screening by LightCycler; experiences with noninvasive
prenatal testing; MRSA virulence from the genome;
pathogenicity of Naegleria Fowleri, a brain eating
amoeba; Ebola outbreak and the Spiez laboratory;
diagnosis and therapy of melanoma; the future of
DNA diagnostics using single molecule sequencing;bioinformatics and evaluation of mutations; personalized
genomics and the future of genomic DNA-analysis: thescientist’s perspective; personalized genomics and theconsumer need: the ethical perspective.

05.-06.03.2015

Education
Annual education program: 10 one or two day courses in general laboratory management and in some specific topics.
Regional relations
Collaborative working groups for diagnostic pathways and for pre-analytics with the Deutsche Vereinte
Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin e.V. (DGKL) and the Austrian Society of Laboratory
Medicine and Clinical Chemistry (ÖGLMKC).
International relations
Member of the IFCC Task Force on Paediatric Laboratory Medicine (TF-PLM).

106

TAIWAN - REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC)
CHINESE ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

The 30th Joint Annual Conferenceof Biomedical Science (JACBS)

March 21-22, 2015

Current Trend in Clinical Biochemistry

Education
CACB annual conference and scientific symposium, in conjunction with 30th JACBS
This brief report summarizes some of the highlights of activities for CACB during the Year of 2015. CACB held
annual conference on March 21st and a new Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors were elected by theGeneral Assembly of CACB. In the regular Board meeting held on June 1st, Dr. Woei-horng Fang was re-elected
as the President of CACB with the term from May 2015 to June 2017. Dr. Fang reaffirmed the commitment of
CACB to advocate the establishment and education of professional clinical chemistry medical technologist.
The 12th CACB Board of Directors and Supervisors

During the 30th Joint Annual Conference of Biomedical Science (JACBS) held at the National Defense Medical
University Campus on March 21-22, 2015, we invited applied IFCC-Abbott VLP for Dr. Howard Arthur Morris,
Joint appointment Professor of Medical Sciences, University of South Australia and Senior Medical Scientist,
Chemical Pathology Directorate, SA Pathology, to deliver a special lecture on “Vitamin D: Molecular actions
across a variety of biological systems”. He shared valuable experiences in bridging the basic biomedical researchand clinical application with his thorough studies of Vitamin D in osteobiology and physiological homeostasis.
CACB also organized a symposium “Current Trend in Clinical Biochemistry” continuing the special lecture.
Three speakers shared the experiences and achievement in their research in advancing the field of clinicalbiochemistry. Dr. Jing-Long Huang, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, also the Vice
Superintendent of Ghang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, presented “The Prediction of Allergies in TaiwaneseChildren (PATCH) Study”. Sandy Huey-Jen Hsu, Medical Technologiest, Department of Laboratory Medicine,National Taiwan University Hospital, presented “Recent Advances in Biochemical Bone Markers,” echoing
the topic of special lecture from the clinical point of view. Professor Tsan-Zon Liu, Consultant Professor inTranslational Research Laboratory, Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University, presented “The potential impact
of hydrogen as a preventive and therapeutic medical gas.” Following the symposium, a student’s research
poster contest was also held. Overall, the two-day conference was very successful and truly an enjoyable
academic gathering for the attending members of CACB.

107

CACB is actively communicating and collaborating with other scientific societies in Taiwan. On 4 Nov 2015,
with support of MSACL, CACB and Department of Laboratory Medicine of Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital
jointly host a symposium of ‘Application of Mass Spectrometry in Clinical Diagnosis’ at Linkou. The symposium
was chaired by Dr. David Herold, UCSD. The speakers and titles of the talk include: ‘From prediabetes todiabetic complications: what metabolomics can tell’ by Dr. Ming-Shi Shiao, Chang-Gung U.; ‘Advancing
Alzheimer disease diagnostics using mass spectrometry’ by Dr. Mari L. DeMarco, U. British Columbia; ‘A mass
spectrometry toolbox for measuring immunoglobulins’ by Dr. John R. Mills, Mayo Clinic; and ‘ Clinical quality
control for multiplex assays’ by Dr. Stephen R. Master; Weill Cornell MC. The symposium was attended by morethan 50 CACB members and students.

Dr. Fang at welcome dinner with MSACL Board Chair Dr. David Herold and CACB symposium speakers of‘Application of Mass Spectrometry in Clinical Diagnosis’ at Linkou, Taiwan (5 Nov 2015). MSACL will sponsor
Mass Spec Symposia series containing six symposia and one plenary lecture in APFCB Congress 2016.
Regional relations
Promotion and preparation of APFCB Congress 2016, Taipei, Taiwan 26-29 November 2016.

Dr. Morris, Dr. Zhang, Dr. Koch, Dr. Fang, Dr. Wang, and Dr. Jones at the 12th Chinese Conference ofLaboratory Medicine (Nanjing, 9-12 Sep 2015). Dr. Graham Jones (the rightmost) is a plenary lecture speakerin APFCB Congress 2016. Dr. Yan Victoria Zhang is the President of North American Chinese Clinical Chemists
Association (NACCCA) and NACCCA will sponsor a symposium in APFCB Congress 2016. Dr. Koch, is the
President of American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and AACC will sponsor a symposium in
APFCB Congress 2016.

APFCB President Dr. Lai and C-CC Chair Dr. Lopez visit Taipei (24 Oct 2015) for the inspection of APFCBCongress 2016 preparation.

108

Progress report of APFCB Congress 2016
APFCB President Leslie Lai and Dr. Joseph Lopez, Chair, APFCB C-CC met the Organizing Committee on
Saturday 24 Oct to discuss the progress of preparations for the 14th APFCB Congress to be held from 26th29th November 2016, in Taipei. The meeting was presented by Prof. Woei-horng Fang, Chair of the Congress
Organizing Committee (COC), Prof. Shu-Chu Shiesh, Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) and othercolleagues from the COC. Also present were representatives from the professional conference organizer(PCO). The EB representatives considered overall preparations appear to be on course.
The following are some key points of the progress:
1. Scientific Program:a. There are 4 plenary lectures and 24 Symposia have been arranged and the speakers and titles are inplace.
b. We invited Dr. Kuo, Director-General of Centres for Disease Control Taiwan, as Keynote speaker withthe talk Title: “Laboratory Medicine in Cloud.”c. The abstracts submission system was opened in December 2015 and closing date is 31 May 2016.
d. APFCB Travelling Lecturer Dr. Graham Jones is invited to be one of the plenary speakers.
e. Some APFCB national societies have not yet confirmed the themes of their talks and speakers and weare actively tracking them and reserve some rooms for last addition of symposium.
2. Taiwan Society of Laboratory Medicine (TSLM) accepted our invitation to include their annual conference
as a satellite meeting of the APFCB Congress. The time frame of this satellite meeting will be on 26th27th, November with a title of “Asia-Pacific Chinese Conference of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory
Medicine” and mandarin Chinese will be used in this conference. This satellite meeting is expected to attract
more participants from China, Hong Kong, Macao, as well as a bulk of local medical technologists. An effort
is being made to attract the local clinical pathologists to participate in the congress.
3. Registration: USD550 (same as Bali) for foreign participants; free registration for scholarship holders. Daily
registration will be USD100 and extra for banquet. The registration system will be open in early 2016.
4. Corporate Sponsorship:a. There are 2 diamond sponsors – Roche and Siemens.
b. However some of the well-known vendors who are APFCB Corporate Members have yet to register
their interest in the congress. APFCB will assist the COC in contacting these prospective sponsors.
c. Local sponsors will be actively contacted in the coming months. Good local vendor support is expected
because of the participation of the TSLM.
d. There are still slots available for industrial workshops and it is expected that these will be taken up in
the coming months by the major vendors.
5. Venue: the venue of the congress will be the Taiwan International Convention Centre (TICC). The entire
building of the TICC is available for the period of the APFCB Congress. The trade exhibition will be held at
the Taiwan World Trade Centre which is just across the road from the TICC. The TICC, TWTC and the Grand
Hyatt are all within the vicinity of the iconic 101 Building and within walking distance of each other and metro
stations.
6. Professional Conference Organizer (PCO):
a. The local Enjoy-PCO will act as the congress’s contact point. It manage everything such as registration,communication with speakers and participants, accommodation arrangements, etc.
7. Social:a. The reception for the opening will be held at the TICC.
b. Packed lunch will be provided to all registered participants on each day of the congressc. The congress banquet to held at the Grand Hyatt hotel will be open to all registered participants. Thisvenue can hold 800 guests.
8. Promotions:a. The official web-site http://www.apfcbcongress2016.org/ will be progressively updated.
b. It will be used for registrations and submission of abstracts.
c. A major promotional effort will be made at the IFCC General Conference in Madrid.
9. We are ready to provide venues for meetings of the APFCB EB and committees, and the IFCC and its
Divisions, Committees if requested and other joint meetings (e.g. APFCB-IFCC; APFCB-WASPaLM) thatare held in conjunction with the APFCB Congress.

109

TURKEY
TURKISH BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY (TBS)National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Symposium on Anemia and February 25, 2015, An- DXH systems
Cell Count systems
karaNalan Sezer
Diagnosis of Anemia
Gülsüm ÖzetCBC-Preanalytic, analytic, postanalytic phases
Mesude Falay
ExpoMED LABTECHMED

26-29 March 2015, İs- Quality starts with metanbulAparna Jha Ahuja
The dark side of the moon: Preanalytical Phase
Prof.Dr.Giuseppe Lippi
Preanalytic Problems in Emergency Laboratory
Dr. Nedim Albayrak
Analytical Inteferences in Clinical Laboratories
Dr.Nora Nikolac
Comments on Laboratory Results
Prof.Dr.Yahya Laleli

Hemostasis
Symposium

Laboratory June 3, 2015, Ankara

Hemorrhagic diathesis and anticoagulant therapy
Prof. Dr. Yahya Büyükaşık
Introduction to Online Education System
Kerem Osman Akgün
Platelet function tests
Asc.Prof.Dr.Z.Gunnur Dikmen
Evaluation of Coagulation Laboratory Tests
Asc.Prof.Dr. Murat Ormen

XXVII. National Biochemis- November 3-6, 2015, Medical Biochemistry
try Congress
AntalyaCo-peptin Symposium

December 10, 2015, Fast-rule out, risk stratification and prognosis with TroAnkara
ponin and Copeptin in ACS patientsDr. Joern Ole Vollert
Copeptin-ongoing activities and Outlook
Dr. Carlo Simonelli

110Education
1. Advanced Theoretical and Practical Course
31 July – 1 August 2015, ARLAB Cellular, Molecular and Analytical Methods Course, İzmir
2. Advanced Theoretical and Practical Course (IFCC and EFLM Auspices)
January 15-16, 2015, Validation of the Performance of Medical Laboratory; with Case Studies, İzmir
3. How to Write a Project? (by using End-Note program)Ferhan SAĞIN
November 2, 2015, Antalya
4. Optimization in Clinical Laboratories
Muhittin A. SERDAR, Mehmet ŞENEŞ, Taner ÖZGÜRTAŞ, Doğan YÜCEL
November 2, 2015, Antalya
5. Flow Cytometry Course
Mesude FALAY, Güzin AYKAL
November 2, 2015, Antalya
6. New Trends in Cancer Research
Hilal KOÇDOR, Dicle GÜÇ, Safiye AKTAŞ
November 2, 2015, Antalya
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Monthly Scientific Meeting

15 December 2015, Killing Effect of Non-Dying Cel: Apoptosis and Canİzmir
cer Relation
Prof. Dr. Engin Ulukaya(40 attendees)

International Visitor Scientist Con- 23 December 2015, Cellular Stress Pathways’ Influences on Cancer;
ferenceİzmir
Clinical Indications
Prof. Fahri Saatçioğlu, Oslo University(200 attendees)
Monthly Scientific Meetings

18 November Investigation of RhoC and extracellular Proteolysis
2015, İzmir
in Aspect of Invasion and Metastasis in Colon Cancer cells
Didem Keleş, PhD
The Effect of Mitochondrial Sitrate Transfer Inhibition on Cancer Cells
PhD. Ali Burak Özkaya(40 attendees)

International Visitor Scientist Con- 07 October 2015, Improving Targeted Therapy in Cancer; EF-2 kiferenceİzmirnase as a Target
Dr. Bulent Ozpolat - MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Experimental Therapeutics(50 attendees)
Turkish Biochemistry Society, izmir 6 April 2015, İzmir
Branch, General Assembly

Turkish Biochemistry Society, izmir Branch, Board
ElectionsInternational Visitor Scientist Con- 14 May 2015, An- Lysosomal
Sphingolipid
Storage
Diseases
ference (Hacettepe University, Fac- kara
Prof. Dr. Konrad Sandhoff, Bonn University, Gerulty of Medicine)many) (200 attendees)

111

Regional relations
1.TBS supported a reference ranges study in all regions of Turkey.
2.TBS participated in working groups of Ministry of Health and Turkish Chamber of Physicians.
3. Guideline on “Laboratory in Chronic Renal Failure” was prepared by Asc.Prof.Dr.Doğan Yücel, the president of TBS.
4. Guideline on “Venipuncture” was prepared by “Pre-analytic working group” of Turkish Biochemical Society.
International relations
1. XXVII. National Biochemistry Congress, November 3-6, 2015 Antalya, 41st FEBS CONGRESS
2016-Preliminary Organisation Meeting
2. 40th FEBS Congress, July 4-9, 2015 Berlin, 41st FEBS CONGRESS 2016- Preliminary Organisation
Meeting / Young Scientist FORUM 2016 Preliminary Meeting
3. TBS participates in studies of working groups and task forces of IFCC committees.
4. TBS represents other scientific or professional bodies in Turkey such as EFLM, BCLF, IUBMB, FEBS, and
WASPaLM.
Additional information
FEBS 2016 Congress will be held by TBS in Izmir (September 3-8, 2016).

UK
THE ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY& LABORATORY MEDICINE (ACB)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

Frontiers in Laboratory Medicine 26-27 January 2016
(FiLM) in Birmingham

Leading edge innovations in the delivery oflaboratory medicine services

FOCUS in Warwick

Scientific and Clinical presentations on leading
topics by international experts

18 – 21 April 2016

Education
In addition to the above, training courses for trainees and a training day prior to the FOCUS meeting
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

All nine regions hold scientific and clinical meetings
at least twice a year on a wide variety of topics

Multiple

All organised by the ACB

Regional relations
While the ACB represents the UK, the country is divided into four administrations and the ACB is engaged
with the devolved governments. There is also national collaboration with other laboratory organisations on avariety of political issues.
International relations
The ACB has engagement in a variety of positions. As an organisation we have formal relations with other
Laboratory Medicine associations, particularly in the area of publication of our journal and discounted rates
for our publications to them and theirs to us. We also have reciprocal arrangements for presenting prestigious
lectures at our National Meetings.

112

URUGUAY
ASOCIACIÓN BIOQUíMICA URUGUAYA (ABU)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

X Uruguayan Congress of Clinical
Biochemistry.

24 to 26 October 2015

“Automation: Trends, Technologies
and Strategies

Education
24-25 April 2015:“Transfusion Safety, Emerging and Reemerging Pathogens” - Course.
Lecturer: Dr. Jorge Rey. Argentinian
Organization: Wiener Foundation.
Coordination: Biochemistry Uruguayan Association
Venue: Hall Píriz Prof. Mc Coll. Faculty of Chemistry ,Montevideo. Uruguay
50 attendees.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

XXII Congreso de COLABIOCLI.
Ecuador25/9/2015

Neonatal screening. Advances in Uruguay.
Lecturer: Dra. Graciela Queiruga (UY)Moderator: Dra. Graciela Borthagaray (Ur)XXII Congreso de COLABIOCLI.
Ecuador

26/9/2015

Vaginal dysfunction: Moderator: Dr. Paola
Audition (UY)XXII Congreso de COLABIOCLI.
Ecuador

26/9/2015

Interpretation of susceptibility testing of
aerobic bacteria
Lecturer: Dra. Graciela Borthagaray (UY)

Additional information
9 June 2015:
Extraordinary General assembly called with the following agenda:
1- Change the normal statutes in terms of requirements to apply for the scholarship system.
2- Basic Salary negotiation for Clinical Biochemists.. BC Natalia Amor was designated to coordinate this workwith other related unions at the Ministry of Labour .
3- Consultation on how to disseminate and promote the career of Clinical Biochemist through marketing
activities organized by a professional in the field.
July 2015:
ABU decides in this session to apply for the position of President of COLABIOCLI .
24 -26 September 2015
ABU wass chosen to preside the Confederation for one period of two years since December 2016.
XXII Congress of the COLABIOCLI, General Assembly , Ecuador

113

USA
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL CHEMISTRY(AACC)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

2015 AACC Annual Meeting &Clinical Lab Expo

July 26 – 30, 2015 Atlanta, GA

Multiple topics in laboratory medicine

The Clincial Pathology of Inflammation and Immunity: DACC
Spring Meeting

April 24, 2015 King of Prussia, PA

Inflammation and immunity

Professional Practice in Clinical
Chemistry: Supporting Patient
Care from Cradle to Grave.

April 26-30, 2015 Philadelphia, PA

Professional practiceClinical and Analytical Perspectives on Biomarkers for Acute
Kidney Injury

May 4, 2015 & July 28, 2015 Phila- Acute kidney injury
delphia, PA/Atlanta, GA

Transforming Patient Care with
Molecular Testing: Current andFuture Impacts

July 28, 2015 Atlanta, GA

Molecular testing

Exploring Risk Management
Strategies for Quality Assurance
Throughout the Total POC Testing
Process: POCC Forum.

July 30, 2015 Atlanta, GA

Quality assurance

Mass Spectrometry and Separation October 1-2, 2015
Sciences for Laboratory Medicine

Mass spectrometry

Emerging Clinical and Laboratory
November 4-5, 2015 Los Angeles,
Diagnostics: Pushing the Envelope CA

Emerging diagnostics

Practical Solutions for Patient Cen- April 8, 2015 Virtual Conference
tered POCTPOCTLaboratory Solutions Summit: Value-based Clinical Lab Models

September 16-16, 2015 Virtual
Conference

Laboratory practice

Acute Cardiac Biomarkers Update:
Laboratory Guidelines Focused on
Clinical Need

November 12, 2015 Virtual Confer- Acute cardiac biomarkers
ence

114

Education
Online Education
3/18/2015
3/26/2015
5/27/2015
7/15/2015
8/20/2015
8/26/2015
10/20/2015
10/21/2015
11/4/201511/10/2015
12/3/2015
5/26/2015
7/7/2015
8/21/2015
9/22/201510/29/2015
11/17/2015
1/29/2015
2/5/2015
2/26/2015
3/11/2015
4/22/2015
4/23/2015
5/7/2015
5/21/2015
6/3/2015
6/16-17-18/15
6/23/2015
6/25/2015
8/13/20158/25-27/15
9/24/2015
9/29/2015
10/8/201510/14/2015
10/15/2015
10/22/2015
10/27/2015
11/3/2015
11/5/201511/18/2015
12/1/201512/10/2015

How to avoid unnecessary testing
Time for primary cervical cancer screening by molecular HPV testing?
The need for a new type of lab leader
The Agilent StreamSelect LC/MS System
Increasing patient, provider, and payer value through test utilization
LabacoEconomics: The lab’s role as the epicenter of integration Part 1
The ABCs of hepatitis
LabacoEconomics: The lab’s role as the epicenter of integration Part 2
Using HbA1c Test Wisely in Clinical PracticeLC-MS/MS analysis of steroid hormones in clinical research
What Does Point-of-Care Look Like in the Laboratory of the Future?
Measuring the impact of lab medicine on patient care
Understanding and developing quality metrics
Using biomarkers in heart failure diagnosis and management
Managing your lab in the retail revolution: strategies for financial successCritical values: Cutoffs, communication, and impact on patient care
Studies in achieving Six Sigma quality through automation
Molecular diagnostics 2015: Market trends and reimbursement outlook
Best practices in DNA/RNA sample preparation
Direct to consumer genetic testing: Opportunities and challenges
Viral load testing: Diagnostic principles and clinical practice
The future of LDT oversight
Preanalytical variation: strategies for detection and prevention
Troubleshooting the liquid chromotography phpase of LC-MS/MS
Detecting and managing interferences and contamination in mass spec
Using LC-MS/MS for toxicological analysis in the ED
Quick takes: Immunoassay interferences series
Making the transition from gel to capillary electrophoresis
Utilization management in medical microbiology
Emerging technologies in clinical microbiology
Quick takes: Testing body fluids series
Procalcitonin: Current use and future possibilities
Quick takes: Lab testing for thyroid conditions
Solving hCG testing mysteries
Essential knowledge for the POCT director and POCC (free)
Reducing errors in blodd speciment labeling
CLIA update 2015: What’s in the works
When gender doesn’t equal sex
Emerging models for regulating laboratory developed tests
An IQCP development road map
Current controversies in monitoring patients on anticoagulants
Modernizing the clinical lab fee schedule: what your lab needs to know
New developments in testing for chlamydia trachomatis and gonorrhea

115

Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Adding Value to Patient Care Using April 24-25, 2015 San Sal- Colegio de Profesionales en Laboratorio
Quality Control
vador, El Salvador
Clínico de El Salvador (COPLACES)
Adding Value to Patient Care Using June 5-6, 2015 Guatema- Asociación de Químicos
Quality Control
la City, Guatemala
Guatemala (AQBG)
Verification of analytical methods. November 5-6, 2015 San- Sociedad
Steps to verify the specifications of tiago, Chile(SChQC)the manufacturers

Chilenade

Biólogos

QuímicadeClínica

Regional relations
Partner with CSCC in the NAFCC
International relations
Maintain multiple MOUs with IFCC member organizations for scientific and educational programming

VIETNAMVIETNAMESE ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL
BIOCHEMISTS (VACB)National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

5th Congress of the Society of 20-21
August2015,inClinical Biochemistry of Hanoi and Long,North Vietnam
Northern Vietnam

Topic
Ha Clinical
Chemistry,Molecular
Biology,
Immunology,Tumor
Markers,Pediatrics, QA&QC

Annual Scientific Conference of the 11-12 September 2015,in Hue,Cen- Clinical Biochemistry,Molecular BiVietnamese Association of Clinical tral Vietnam
ology,Tumor Markers,Immunology,
Biochemists (VACB)
Enzymology, Endocrinology, Diabetes,QA&QC
Education
7th Vietnam Chemical Pathology Course 2015 in Hanoi and HoChiMinh-City, 6 -9 June 2015,with the collaboration of Roche Diagnostics
Regional relations
Good and frequent relations between VACB and APFCB,especially in education
International relations
Good and frequent relations between VACB and IFCC.The VACB has contributed the VACB history to the IFCC
history,presented candidate to the Committees of IFCC (but not accepted). The VACB National Representative
will be present at the IFCC General Conference in Madrid,Spain. The Informations of IFCC have been frequently
informed to VACB members.

116

ZIMBABWE
ZIMBABWE ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTS(ZACB)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

POCT Hands on Practical

25/04/15

National Workshop

Education
ZACB held the following national Journal Club topics:1.Prevalence of HIV/HBV infection and abnormal liver function tests in HAART experienced patients in Harare
2.Biotyping of Cryptococcus species as an alternative method to molecular typing in a resource limited area in
Sub-Saharan Africa
3.FIB-4 Index : A predictor of liver fibrosis in HAART – experienced Zimbabweans
4.Pharmacogenomics of HIV Therapy
5.Utility of prostate health index in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer
6.Determination on the association between serum uric acid levels and metabolic syndrome in
HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy
7. Liver and kidney response to acute and sub-acute exposure to Fadogia Ancylantha extracts inmus musculus domesticus model
8. TP53 tumour suppressor gene codon 72 polymorphism and cervical cancer susceptibility inZimbabweans
9. Evidence of tumour necrosis factor – alpha interleukin-10 and high sensitivity C-reactive
protein as possible risk marker for coronary heart disease among HIV infected individuals
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

4th AFCC Congress

27/04/15

Facillitating Workshop

28/04/15

Facillitating Congeress

29/04/15

Facillitating Congeress & Workshop

30/04/15

Facillitating Congeress

01/05/15

Facillitating Workshop

28-30/4/15

Presented four conference papers

Regional relations
ZACB is networked to all fifteen AFCC Council Members
International relations
ZACB is a member of the IFCC

117

Additional information
ZACB is active in the south to south cooperation and networking with Australian Association of Clinical Biochemists and Congresa Latinoamericano de Bioquimica Clinica u Clencias de Laboratario
Regional Conferences
28/4/15 Chemical Dualism in Integral Rehabilitation Medicine: An approach to Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Cancer and Infectious Disease
28/04/15 Breast Cancer
28/04/15 Bioinformatics Opportunities in Zimbabwe
29/04/15 Differential Outcomes of HIV Infection, Disease Progression and Treatment: Lessons from the H (Host)International Conferences
4/05/15 Biotyping of Cryptococcus species as an alternative method to molecular typing in a resource limitedarea in Sub-Saharan Africa
19th International Society of Human and Animal Mycology, Melbourne Australia
4 /08/15 Physico-Chemical Dualism in Personalised, Preventative, Predictive and Participatory Integral Rehabilitation Medicine, Birmingham, UK
28/08/15 Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Research and co-infections , Dubai, United Arab Emirates
6/10/15 Prevalence of HIV/HBV infection and abnormal liver function tests in HAART experienced patients inHarare, Frankfurt, Germany
19/10/15 FIB-4 Index : A predictor of liver fibrosis in HAART – experienced Zimbabweans, UNESCO-MERCK
Research Summit, Geneva, Switzerland
21/09/15 Pharmacogenomics of HIV Therapy, Genomics 2015, San Antonio, Texas, USA

118

AFFILIATE MEMBER SOCIETIESBRAZIL
SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE PATOLOGIA
CLINICA / MEDICINA LABORATORIAL (SBPC/ML)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

50th Brazilian Congress ofClinical Pathology/Laboratory
Medicine

September, 27th to 30th
2016, (Rio de Janeiro)

50 years of Congress adding knowledge
and technology in favor of clinical practice

2nd Brazilian Congress of Laboratory Information Technology

September, 28th to 29th
2016, (Rio de Janeiro)

Education1) Distance Learning: monthly courses with 1:30 duration transmitted by Internet on topics related to laboratory medicine.
Dates: April, 20th; May, 18th; June, 22nd; July, 20th; August, 24th; October, 19th; November, 23rd; December, 7th2) Once a year, during Brazilian Congress of Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine, SBPC/ML launch freebooks (printed and electronic) about important topics for laboratory medicine for use by physicians, laboratory professionals and students.
Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Clinical-Lab Interaction Meetings: quarterly Dates and locaevents with 2 days, held in different cities tions will be conof Brazil. Speakers are clinical pathologists firmed soon.
experts and physicians from other specialties.
Lectures cover topics from the laboratory pointof view and from the clinical point of view.

Society’s contribution for the meeting
The Scientific Director of the SBPC/ML
and the Regional President of the region
where the meeting will be held choose thetopics according to their technical and scientific interest and relevance.

Regional relations
AMB – Brazilian Medical Association
CFM – Brazilian Federal Medicine Council
CNS – Brazilian National Health Confederation
ABRAMED - Brazilian Association of Medical Diagnostics
SBAC - Brazilian Society of Clinical Analyses
ABBM - Brazilian Association of Biomedicine
International relations
IFCC – International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
AACC - American Association for Clinical Chemistry
EFLM - European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
WASPALM – World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
ALAPAC/ML – Latin American Association of Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine
ASCP – American Association for Clinical Pathology
ISQua – International Society for Quality in Health Care

119

Additional information
50th Brazilian Congress of Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine - During the Congress an exhibitionis held with the participation of about 100 companies from Brazil and other countries that provide equipment,
products and services to clinical laboratories. It is hoped the presence about 5,000 participants, mainly from
Brazil and Latin America. The lectures will be presented by about 100 Brazilian and foreign speakers. During
the congress SBPC/ML will launch printed and electronic books on topics of interest to clinical laboratories
professionals.
During the 50th Congress of SBPC/ML will be held the 23rd Latin American Congress of Clinical Pathology andinternational symposiums.
Lab Tests Online BR (BR LTO) - Launched in 2010, this website is maintained and updated by the SBPC/ML
under license from AACC, which coordinates the network Lab Tests Online (LTO) in 17 countries. Currently,
LTO BR is the second LTO in total visits (the first is the United States). In 2015, LTO BR received 2,512,701
visits.
Clinical Laboratory Accreditation Program (PALC) - Launched in 1998, based on the requirements ofthe program of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), PALC is the most important clinical laboratory
accreditation program in Brazil. Today, nearly 1 billion tests are done each year in Brazil. About 30% of theseare made by laboratories accredited by PALC.
PALC standard currently in use is the 2013 version, accredited by the International Society for Quality in HealthCare (ISQua). Laboratory accreditation in Brazil is voluntary.
Laboratory Indicators Program - Launched in 2006, is a management program developed through apartnership between SBPC/ML and the Brazilian company ControlLab to stimulate continuous improvement
in laboratory processes. Once a year is held the Laboratory Indicators Forum, when are discussed results ofmonitoring methods and made evaluation of the Program.
Proficiency Testing Laboratory (PELM) - Launched in 1977 in partnership with the Brazilian company
ControlLab, PELM is an interlaboratory comparison program results of qualitative and quantitative analysis,
open to all laboratories in Latin America. It is considered an extremely important tool for laboratory performance
management in relation to their analytical processes (equipment, reagents, technical operators, calibrators,
controls, etc.), enabling greater security and reliability for released reports.

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INDIAASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTS OF INDIA(AMBI)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

AMBICON – Annual conference of
AMBI held at Rohtak, Haryana

19th Workshops
20th – 22nd November 2015
(3 day conference)

4 Workshops – Pre conference
6 Orations
Guest lectures – 18
Symposium on Quality Management
Award papers of youngsters – 12Platform presentations & posters
Oral presentations – 71
Poster & Platform – 103

Education
1. CME were conducted at all State Chapter meets
2. Hands on workshops
3. Undergraduate quiz for 3rd year Medical students – prize winners to be hosted at Annual Conference, thiswill be an annual event, which started in 2014.
4. Dr.Maheshwar Reddy – Treasurer AMBI attended RCPA – Chemical Pathology course and some educational programmes were based on ideas after his return.
5. Point of care testing regulations – lecture delivered by Dr.Rajiv Erasmus on his visit to India
6. Posters presented at International conference
7. Dr.Rameshwari T – was awarded young travel fellow at IFCC Paris (could not attend for visa reasons)Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Approach to de-arrangements

15th February, 2015

AMBI chapter, Odisha, Bhuvaneswar

Moving from basics to advanced biochemistry

27th & 28th February, 2015

AMBI chapter, Maharastra, Mumbai

Emerging role of Biochemistry in Medical 5th & 6th April 2015
diagnosis and management

AMBI chapter, Punjab, Faridkot

Lab QC and Internal Audit as per ISO
15189:2012

13th – 16th April,2015

AMBI chapter, Chandigarh

Quality management and automation inclinical chemistry, laboratory essentials
and beyond

30th July to 1st August 2015

AMBI chapter, Tamilnadu, Chennai

Chapter, 3rd Annual conference

10th – 12th Septem- AMBI chapter, Karnataka, Bangaloreber, 2015

Chapter Annual conference

December, 2015

AMBI chapter, West Bengal, Kolkata

New chapter inaugurated with CME

29th April, 2015

AMBI chapter, Telangana, Warangal

New chapter inaugurated with CME

13th October, 2015

AMBI chapter, Assam, Guwahati

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Regional relations
All state chapters invite members from not only their area but an open invitation is there to all members of theassociation.
Members from other states are invited to deliver talks and conduct workshops.
Interaction between state activities discussed and meetings on how to improve academic sessions with new
ideas is an important feature.
All meetings have one executive member of AMBI present to enlighten all activities on a national level.
Exchange of students and teachers for workshops and training to different centres is done.
International relations
Dr.Shanthi Naidu Kamatham Corresponding member on the Task Force CKD & C-CLM
Dr.Sanjeevi Rao
Corresponding member Web editor
Dr.Pradeep Dabha,
Chairman – Task Force Young Scientists
Dr.Shanmuga Priya
Corresponding member – Task Force Young Scientists
Dr.Animesh Bardoli
Corresponding member – APFCB C-CC Committee
Dr.Jasbinder Kaur
Corresponding member – APFCB – Education Committee
Regularly at all Annual conferences we try to invite speakers from other countries to deliver lectures and takepart in the deliberations.
Dr.Graham Jones the APFCB, Travel fellow of 2015 was invited at the Tamil Nadu state chapter of AMBI held
in Chennai. He also visited CMC, Vellore. His talks and participation in the programme was deeply appreciated by one and all.
Dr.Rajiv Erasmus from Cape Town, South Africa delivered two talks on “Point Of Care Testing” at Chandigarh
and Hyderabad in the month of November and December. He also delivered a talk by audio visual at AMBICON 2015 at Rohtak, Haryana.
We deeply appreciate the encouragement given by IFCC to include some of us as corresponding members in
the Task forces and hope that we are able to contribute to IFCC.

Additional information
The association will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 2017 and is extremely proud to say the association of
medical doctors specializing in clinical chemistry has reached approximately 1200 in number.
This year we plan to have a Young scientist meet, in all probability at Hyderabad and Chandigarh and looking
forward to have IFCC members in our midst in the programme.
We also hope to apply to IFCC to help us conduct a chemical pathology course, but logistics are proving difficult
for us and hopefully our representative member attending the IFCC conference 2016 will be able to discuss indetail in person.

122

MEXICOFEDERACIÓN NACIONAL DE QUÍMICOS CLÍNICOS(CONAQUIC A.C.)
National meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Topic

XXXIX Congreso Nacional of Chemis- September 11 andtry - SEDE Bocal del Río, Ver.
16th, 40 hrs

Colegios afiliados de la Federación Nacionalde Químicos Clínicos CONAQUIC, A.C.

XVIII Congreso para el análisis de laMarch 13-15th, 2015
garantía de la calidad en el laboratorioclínico y Expoquim

IFCC, CONAQUIC

Education
First module of the diploma course June 19, 20 and 21st, 25 Colegio de Químicos Clínicos de Aguas“Evaluation of the urinary system”. hrs.
calientes, A.C.
Quim. Samuel Tremiño Mora
Second module of the diploma July 17, 18 and 19th, 25 hrs Colegio de Químicos de Aguascalientes,
course “Urinary sediment assessA.C.
ment by the laboratory” Quim. Samuel Treviño Mora
Last module of the diploma course July 17, 18, and 19th, 25 Colegio de Químicos del Estado de Nayarit,“Diagnostic hematology” EHDL. hrs
A.C.
Emmanuel Hernandez
Sixth module of the diploma course August, 1 and 2nd, 20 hrs
selected topics of endocrinology
Dr. C Jesus Norberto Lozano Ruiz
Esparza

Colegio de Químicos de Campeche, A.C.

Regional meetings
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the
meeting

Workshop. interpretation of the NOM-007- 17-18, April. La Colegio de Químicos de Baja CaliSSA3-2011 and how to fulfill the requirements.
Paz City, Baja Cali- fornia Sur, A.C.
fornia Sur.
Course of general heses exam

24--25, April, Méri- Colegio de Químicos de Yucatán,da City, Yucatán.
A.C.

Clinical bacteriology

24-25, April, Villa- Colegio de Químicos de Tabasco.
hermosa, Tabasco.

Quality control in the clinical bacteriology laboratory April 30-May 1-2, Colegio de Químicos Clínicos de
Gómez
Palacio Durango, A.C.
City, Durango.
Molecular diagnostic and Flow Citometry

24-25, April, San Colegio Potosino de Químicos FarLuis Potosi City, macobiólogos
SLP.

Endocrinology

18-19, April, Tuxtla Colegio de Químicos de Chiapas,
Gutierrez, Chiapas. A.C.

Molecular diagnosis Theorical Pratical

6-9, April, Zacate- Colegio de Químicos de Zacatecas,
cas City, Zac.
A.C.

123

Course, The microbiology laboratory in the surveil- June 12-14
lance and control of nosocomial infections. Quim.
Miguel Ruiz Jiménez.

Colegio de Químicos de Campeche,
A.C.

Course “Cytogenetic and molecular aspects in he- June 27-28
matological malignancies” M. en C. Carlos Alonso
Muñoz

Colegio de Químicos de Yucatan,
A.C.

Course Standarizacion of the urinary system Quim. June 5-7
Maria de los Angeles Jimenez M.

Colegio de Profesionistas de laboratorio clínico de San Juan Del Río,
Querétaro.

Course “Enzymology clinic, Fifth module of the di- July 4-5
ploma course selected topics of the clinical laboratory” Dra. Esperanza Sanchez Aleman

Colegio de Químicos de Campeche,
A.C.

Course “Biological reference values, verification July 2, 9 and 16
and adoption” MAE Maria del C Castillo Fregoso

Colegio de Químicos Farmacéutico
Biologicos de Tijuana, A.C.

Course “Update in haemostasis” Quim. Carlos Vir- July 17-18
gen Cruz

Colegio de Químicos de Oaxaca,
A.C.

Course “Quality tools and business strategies to July 17-18transform the clinical laboratory” M en C. Alejandra
Cano Huizar

Colegio de Químicos Clínicos delCarmen, A.C.

Course “Endocrinology”

Colegio de Químicos del sur deJalisco, A.C.

July, 23-25

Course “Standarization of the procedure and inter- July 31-August 1, 2 Colegio de Químicos de Hermosillo,
pretation of the urianalisys” Q. Maria de los Angeles
A.C.
Jimenez Montiel
Course “Handling HBIW” Q. Jose De Jesus Rodri- August 6
guez Escobedo

Colegio de Químicos Farmacéutico
Biológicos de Tijuana, A.C.

Course “Actualization of clinical topics
QFB Juan Manuel Vargas Morales
Dra. Claudia Peña Zepeda
Dra. Carla Santana Torres
Quim. Raul Nieto Camacho

August, 28-30

Colegio Potosino de Químicos Farmacobiólogos

Theoretical and Practical Course: “Standardiza- December 4-6
tion of the pick up and interpretation of the General
Urine Exam
Speaker: Chem. Ángeles Jiménez Montiel

Colegio de Químicos de Mazatlán
A.C

Course: “Progress, prospect and perspective in December 11-13
sexually transmited infections
Speaker: Chem. Roberto Sanchez Campuzano

Colegio de Químicos de Baja California Sur A.C.

Course: “Internal Quality control in the Chemist December 19
study of the Urine”
Speaker: EBC Juan Manuel Vargas Morales

Colegio Potosino de Químicos Farmacobiologos A.C.

Course: “Academic timeof the Chemist Day”
Speakers: Dr. Luis Alberto García Parra
Dr. Jorge Alfredo Calzada Martínez

December 3Colegio de Químicos Clínicos deIzúcar de Matamoros

Course: Clinical Biochemistry
Speaker: Chem. Abel Suárez Castro

October 9-11

Colegio de Químicos Farmacéuticos Biólogos de la Ciudad de Mexicali B.C.

Course: “Fundamental aspects in Bacteriology Di- October 15-17
agnostics”
Speaker: Chem. Esperanza Olivares González

Colegio de Farmacobiólogos al Servicio de Jalisco, A.C.

Curse of the Second Congress of the Clinic Labora- October 22-23
tory Profesionists Speakers:
Chem. Guadalupe Lastenia Díaz Flores
Chem. Bany Ariel Gonzalez Moreno

Colegio de Profesionistas del Estado de México A.C.

124

Regional relations“Clinic Laboratory Profesionists
Congress”

October 24-25

Colegio de Profesionistas del Laboratorio Clínico del Estado de México A.C

Additional information
Name of the meeting

Date

Society’s contribution for the meeting

Hematology analysis of scientific information HBIW urianalysis
clinical biochemistry, microbiology,
parasitology

16-18 April, Querétaro
City, Qro.

Certification counsel CONAQUIC, Preparation
course for the unique exam of professional
certification.

Hematology analysis of scientific information HBIW urianalysis
clinical biochemistry, microbiology,
parasitology

17-19, April, Toluca City Certification counsel CONAQUIC, Preparationof Lerdo, México State. course for the unique exam of professional
certification.

Conference “Diagnostic Hematology”

June 6

Colegio Duranguense de la Química

Conference “Biological reference
values, verification and adoption”
MAE. Maria del C Castillo Fraguero

June 18 and 25

Colegio de Químicos Farmacéutico biológicosde Tijuana, A.C.

Conference “Update an leprosy”
Dra. Saira Yadira Magaña Gtz.

June 29

Colegio de Químicos Farmacéutico biológicosde Tijuana, A.C.

Workshop, Immunoassays, Quim.
Roberto Antonio Ocampo.

July 24-26

Conference “Oxidative stress levels in serum and eating behavior.
Dra. En C. Mónica Navarro Meza

July 30

Colegio de Químicos del sur de Jalisco

Workshop, Interpretation of clinicallab tests
Dr. Moisés Rodríguez Lomelí
Dr. C. Jonathan Arauz Cabrera

August 28

Colegio de Químicos Farmacéuticos Biólogos
de la ciudad de Mexicali, A.C.

Conference: Innovation that creates value
Quim. Miriam Lugo Tavera

August 14

Colegio de Químicos de Campeche, A.C.

125

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Testo

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Via Carlo Farini 81
20159 Milan – ITALY
Tel: +39 02 66809912 - Fax: +39 02 60781846
e-mail: ifcc@ifcc.org
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