enews
International Federation of Clinical Chemistry
and Laboratory Medicine

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

news

№5
May 20241

enewsIn this issue
The voice of IFCC
Message from the IFCC President

4

IFCC at CACLP 2024 in Chongqing (China)

7

IFCC Distinguished Awards 2024

9

Insights from the Professional Exchange Management Program (PMEP) at

11

Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain

IFCC: the people
Welcome and thanks to the Chairs

13

Call for Nominations

18

IFCC: the Young Scientists
The African Young Scientist at the EgyLab Forum and Africam Federation of

19

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Conference in Cairo, Egypt (28 – 29
February 2024)
Young Scientist from Nigeria - Summary of Faculty Seminar Presentation

32

FORUM

33

2

Contribute to IFCC eNews
Enhanced staff satisfaction and resource utilization during

35

the COVID-19 pandemic
History of the use of the mask to face a pandemic

37

AI: The Dilemma of Biological and Technological Singularities

39

News from Regional Federations and Member Societies
Acknowledgement to the New Clinical Biochemists

42

Experts stress the importance of early detection of occult liver disease44

Cardiovascular risk stratification using high sensitivity Troponin I – Workshop at

46

Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan
News from Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry (JSCC) 2023 Article Award

48

Ushering in the New Age of medical Laboratories: from modeling to practices

49

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

54

Corporate Member events with IFCC auspices

55

Other events with IFCC auspices

56

3

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

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
On behalf of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine (IFCC) and as Congress President, it is my distinct
pleasure and honor to welcome you to the 26th International Congressof Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ICCCLM) - IFCC WorldLab
Congress organized jointly with the 17th Congress of the Arab Federationof Clinical Biology (AFCB); 10th Annual Meeting of the Saudi Society for
Clinical Chemistry (SSCC) and 8th International and United Arab Emirates(UAE) Genetic Disorders Conference in partnership with MZ Events held in
Dubai World Trade Centre (WTC) from May 26 to May 30, 2024.
WorldLab Congress stands as a pinnacle event within the realm oflaboratory medicine, bringing together scientists, researchers, clinicians,
and experts from the In Vitro Diagnostics industry for a rewarding five-day
experience of scientific exploration and education. The 3rd IFCC FORUM
for Young Scientists and IFCC Council meeting are organized before themain Congress.

Prof. Tomris Ozben
EuSpLM, Ph.D.

The Scientific Program Committee has prepared an exceptional, thoughtprovoking, and inspirational multidisciplinary program encompassing
fundamental concepts, advanced diagnostics, and cutting-edge
techniques in laboratory medicine. Esteemed international speakers
and key opinion leaders will address various topics including healthcare,recent diagnostic technologies, scientific breakthroughs, and challenges.
Renowned for its comprehensive program, the congress features a
dynamic array of plenary lectures, symposia, workshops, and poster
presentations, covering a wide spectrum of subjects. It serves as a vital
platform for collaboration, innovation, and exchange of cutting-edgeknowledge within the field.
WorldLab 2024 serves as a platform to showcase the latest technologies
and innovations in laboratory medicine and explore their potential
applications in healthcare. This gathering foster collaboration among
researchers and clinicians, ultimately advancing patient care andoutcomes. The Congress is accredited by the EFLM CPECS®, a quality
assurance mechanism to provide Continuing Professional Development
for participants.
My heartful thanks for In Vitro Diagnostic Sector, their continuous
support and contribution have made possible the accomplishment of
this Congress. The In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Sector plays a vital role in theCongress by organizing two essential activities. High-level Educational
Workshops on important topics with eminent speakers presenting thelatest scientific advances in all disciplines relevant to laboratory medicine.
The IVD Sector also organizes a great exhibition, providing attendees
with a prime opportunity to explore recent technological advancements,
products, and services aimed at enhancing laboratory operations.
These customized solutions address the specific requirements of clinical

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Message from the
IFCC President

laboratories, ensuring attendees acquire valuable insights and access to state-of-the-art tools in
the field.
The objective of this meeting is not only to contribute to the advancement of laboratory medicine
and to the dissemination of advanced knowledge, but also to foster the creation of an opportunity
to establish professional and scientific links/bridges among the participants.
I would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to all those who have made it possible for thiscongress to become a reality, especially I would like to thank all the eminent speakers, IVD
industry representatives, and all the participants attending the Congress from different countries
all around the world. I would like to thank the Professional Congress Organizer (MZ) for their efforts
to organize the congress successfully. Fortunately, important sessions of the Congress andexhibition will be available for the colleagues unable to attend the Congress physically. So thatthe benefits of the Congress will be extended to scientists who did not have the opportunity toparticipate in the Congress.
I extend my heartfelt wishes to all participants for a delightful stay in Dubai, where the 26th
WorldLab promises to be an unforgettable congress. It offers an extraordinary opportunity toengage with leading experts and scientists, enjoy an inspiring scientific program, explore theexhibition, and take part in networking and social activities. May your time here be both rewarding
and worthwhile.
Prof. Dr Tomris Ozben, EuSpLM, Ph.D., Full Professor of Clinical Biochemistry
IFCC, President
WorldLab Dubai 2024, Congress President

56IFCC at CACLP 2024 in Chongqing (China)
By Khosrow Adeli (CA), IFCC Past President

The CACLP 2024 held this year in collaboration with IFCC in Chongqing, China from 12th to 17th
March, was an excellent occasion that brought together leaders and innovators in the field oflaboratory medicine and diagnostics. CACLP (Chinese Association of Clinical Laboratory PracticeExpo) is the largest event in the field of IVD in China/worldwide, attended by over 40,000 laboratory
professionals and over 1200 IVD manufacturers/exhibitors). As I reflect on my experiences during theconference, I am reminded of the profound impact that collaboration and strategic partnerships canhave on advancing scientific research and industry progress.
Being part of such a prestigious event along with Professor Tomris Ozben (who participated virtually)
was truly an honour. From attending sessions and engaging in discussions to visiting Ruijin Hospitaland participating in strategic meetings, every moment represented a good opportunity to connect
with colleagues and contribute to the global scientific community.
One of the highlights of the conference was the 9th China Experimental Medicine Conference(CEMC), where Professor Ozben and I had the privilege of delivering the welcome addresses andparticipating into the signing ceremony of collaboration agreements: it underscored the importanceof interdisciplinary research and industry partnerships in driving innovation forward.
During my time at the conference, I had the pleasure of participating in an interview by CAIVD’s
media platform, where I had the opportunity to share insights and perspectives on experimental
medicine. Additionally, attending the welcome dinner reception and emphasizing the significanceof collaboration further reinforced the sense of shared purpose among attendees. We also signed
mutually beneficial collaboration agreements between CACLP and IFCC to continue collaborating
at future conferences held by IFCC and CACLP over the coming years. CACLP is also assisting topromote the upcoming IFCC WorldLab Congress in Dubai and will also participate together withseveral Chinese IVD industry leaders.
My presence at the opening ceremony of CACLP & CISCE 2024 was a moment for highlighting theimportance of such events in advancing the field of laboratory medicine. It was an opportunity
to celebrate achievements, share knowledge, and inspire future generations of scientists
and innovators. Throughout the conference, Professor Ozben’s video messages resonatedwith attendees, providing valuable insights into IFCC’s objectives and initiatives. Likewise, myengagements, including VIP tours at Zybio Inc. and Snibe Co., Ltd., highlighted the importance ofinnovation in driving progress in the diagnostics sector.
The IFCC info booth served as a hub of information, attracting visitors and showcasing IFCC’s
commitment to advancing innovation and excellence in laboratory medicine worldwide. The 1st
International Laboratory Medicine and In Vitro Diagnostics Forum closed with success and a sense of
optimism about the future of our field.
In conclusion, my experiences at the IFCC x CACLP 2024 were not only professionally enriching but
also personally rewarding. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such an event andlook forward to continuing to contribute to the advancement of laboratory medicine and diagnostics
on a global scale.

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7

IFCC at CACLP 2024 inChongqing (China)

The Opening of the CACPL 2024, in Chongqing, China from

Prof Adeli, IFCC past President, during one of the sessions

12th to 17th March

Prof Ozben, IFCC President, participating virtually into the

The IFCC booth at CACLP 2024

Congress

8

IFCC Distinguished Awards 2024
The IFCC announces the names of the winners of the six 2024 IFCC Distinguished Awards.
Milan, 18 April 2024 - The IFCC is pleased to announce the names of the winners of the six IFCC
Distinguished Awards 2024. The IFCC Distinguished Awards are bestowed to laboratory medicine
professionals to recognize their outstanding achievements, publicize their exceptional researchand contributions to medicine and healthcare, and encourage the overall advancement of clinicalchemistry and laboratory medicine.
Prof. Philippe Gillery (France) is the winner of the 2024 IFCC Howard Morris Distinguished Clinical
Chemist Award (since 2020); IFCC Distinguished Clinical Chemist Award (1967- 2017), sponsored by
Yashraj Biotechnology Ltd. This prestigious award recognizes specifically an individual who hasmade outstanding contributions to the science of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine or
the application of Clinical Chemistry to the understanding or the solution of medical problems. Clickhere to read more about Prof Gillery and the 2024 IFCC Howard Morris Distinguished Clinical Chemist
Award.
Prof. Terho Lehtimäki (Finland), is the winner of the 2024 IFCC Award for Significant Contributions
in Molecular Diagnostics, sponsored by Abbott Molecular. This award recognizes specifically an
individual who has made unique contributions to the promotion and understanding of molecularbiology and its applications in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine worldwide. Click here toread more about Prof Lehtimäki and the 2024 IFCC Award for Significant Contributions in MolecularDiagnostics.
Prof. Etienne Cavalier (Belgium), is the winner of the 2024 IFCC Distinguished Award for Laboratory
Medicine and Patient Care, sponsored by Snibe. This award recognizes specifically an individual who
has made unique contributions in Laboratory Medicine, its application in improving patient care, andhaving a worldwide impact in clinical medicine. Click here to read more about Prof Cavalier and the2024 IFCC Distinguished Award for Laboratory Medicine and Patient Care.
Prof. Allan Jaffe (United States), is the winner of the 2024 IFCC Distinguished Award forContributions to Cardiovascular Diagnostics, sponsored by Hytest. This award honours anindividual who has undertaken remarkable scientific work with cardiac markers or immunodiagnostic
applications to improve cardiac disease diagnosis. Click here to read more about Prof Jaffe and the2024 IFCC Distinguished Award for Contributions to Cardiovascular Diagnostics.
Prof. Zhen Zhao (United States) is the winner of the 2024 IFCC Distinguished Women Scientist
Award For Contribution to In Vitro Diagnostics, sponsored by Yashraj Biotechnology Ltd. This award
recognizes a woman who has made significant contributions to the development or utilization of In
Vitro Diagnostics with emphasis on applications in primary healthcare. Click here to read more about
Prof. Zhao and the 2024 IFCC Distinguished Women Scientist Award For Contribution to In Vitro
Diagnostics.
Dr. David Barthelemy (France), is the winner of the 2024 IFCC-Gérard Siest Young Scientist Award
for Distinguished Contributions in Pharmacogenetics, sponsored by Biologie Prospective. This award
recognizes an outstanding young investigator or young leader (under 40 years of age) for his/her
contribution to advancing the scientific discipline of pharmacogenomics and Personalized/Precision
Medicine and/or its impact on research, development, standardization, quality management,
regulatory evaluation or utilization in therapy. Click here to read more about Dr. Barthelemy and the2024 IFCC-Gérard Siest Young Scientist Award for Distinguished Contributions in Pharmacogenetics.
Prof. Khosrow Adeli, Chair IFCC Awards Committee, stated: “On behalf of the IFCC Awards
Committee and the entire IFCC family, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every oneof the 2024 Awards winners. May this well-deserved recognition serve as a source of inspiration

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9

IFCC DistinguishedAwards 2024

and motivation as you continue your journey of contributing to science and education in the field oflaboratory medicine. Your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to advancing scientificknowledge and innovation have truly set you apart as leaders in your respective fields. This welldeserved recognition not only celebrates your outstanding contributions but also underscores the
profound impact of your work on the global scientific community. Your groundbreaking research anddiscoveries and/or your contribution to clinical laboratory service serve as a beacon of inspiration
for future generations of scientists, paving the way for further advancements and breakthroughs.
Through your tireless efforts, you have not only expanded the boundaries of human knowledge but
also enriched our understanding of the world around us.. As you stand on this remarkable pinnacleof success, know that your achievements resonate far beyond the confines of academia. They serve
as a testament to the power of collaboration, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity in driving
meaningful change and shaping a brighter future for all.”Prof. Tomris Ozben, IFCC President, stated:” On behalf of the Executive Board of the IFCC, andas the IFCC President, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the recipients of the prestigious IFCC
Distinguished Awards. I also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the IFCC societies for theirinvaluable efforts in nominating outstanding candidates. I extend our sincere gratitude to thesponsors of the IFCC Distinguished Awards”.

Philippe Gillery

Terho Lehtimäki

Etienne CavalierJaffe Allan

Zhen Zhao

David Barthelemy

10Insights from the Professional Exchange Management
Program (PMEP) at Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid,
Spain
By Dr. Muhammad Zubair, Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases, Multan, Pakistan

Dr. Muhammad Zubair, Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases, Multan, Pakistan
Participating in the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine’s (IFCC)
Professional Management Exchange Program (PMEP) provided a valuable opportunity for a monthlong exchange at Hospital Universitario La Paz’s Department of Laboratory Medicine in Madrid,
Spain. Under the guidance of Dr. Pilar Fernandez-Calle, the Quality Director, I gained a thoroughunderstanding of managing POCT networks, including key performance indicators (pre-examination,
examination, post-examination), staff training and competency, quality control (internal and external),
introducing new POCT instruments (including the POCT committee’s functions), and method
verification for POCT instruments. I actively participated in departmental meetings, discussing KPIs,
and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
The program significantly enriched my professional development. I participated in journal clubs,
discussions on advanced topics like biological variation and data mining, and received valuableguidance on implementing the latest ISO 15189:2022 standards. The welcoming and knowledgeable
team fostered a collaborative environment, making this experience even more rewarding.
My time at Hospital Universitario La Paz was invaluable. I gained insights into advanced laboratory
practices, quality management, and international accreditation standards. I am deeply grateful to
the IFCC, the Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathology (especially its president, Dr. Adnan Mustafa
Zubairi), and the entire team at Hospital Universitario La Paz, particularly Dr. Antonio Buño Soto
(Head of Department) and Dr. Pilar Fernandez-Calle, whose guidance in quality management and
POCT was instrumental.
This exchange program not only enhanced my professional skills but also fostered international
collaboration and friendships. I am enthusiastic about using this newfound knowledge to improvelaboratory practices and contribute to continuous healthcare improvement at my home institution.

Muhammad Zubair with POCT & Quality Section team

Muhammad Zubair and Dr. Pilar Fernández-Calle

members

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Insights from the Professional Exchange Management
Program (PMEP) at Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain

Muhammad Zubair with faculty members of POCT & Quality Department

12

IFCC: the people
Welcome and thanks to the Chairs
The IFCC extends a warm welcome to the new Chairs of its functional units while expressing
gratitude to those who have concluded their tenure in office.
We present here the third group of IFCC Chairs who began their time in office in 2024.
Task Force on Global eLearning/eAcademy (TF-GEL)
Welcome to the new Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region, Dr Tze Ping Loh (SG) and thanks forhis commitment to Dr Rojeet Shresta (NP), who coordinated the IFCC webinars into the region
until December 2023 and continues his work as member of the Committee on Internet and Digital
Communications (C-IDC).
Tze Ping Loh was born in Penang, Malaysia. He obtained his undergraduate medical degree fromthe Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Penang Medical College, and undertook his fellowship(Royal College of Pathologists, UK) training in chemical pathology at the National University Hospital,
Singapore. He currently serves as Senior Consultant and Research Director at Department ofLaboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore. His areas of interest include biomarker
discovery and translational research, outcome research of established/ novel biomarker, paediatricgeneral biochemistry and laboratory management.

Dr. Tze Pin Loh, new

Dr. Rojeet Shrestha,

Coordinator for the Asia-

Coordinator for the Asia-

Pacific Region within the Task

Pacific Region within the Task

Force on Global eLearning/

Force on Global eLearning/

eAcademy (TF-GEL)

eAcademy (TF-GEL) since
2020.

Committee on Public Relations (C-PR)
Welcome to the new Chair of the Committee on Public Relations (C-PR), Dr María Pasquel-Moxley(EC) and thanks for his commitment to Prof Rajiv Erasmus (ZA), who led the Committee until
December 2023 and is now the AFCC Regional Federation Representative on the IFCC Executive
Board.
María Pasquel-Moxley has a Professional Degree in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, an Academic
Degree of Dr. in Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Diploma in Hematology from the Central Universityof Ecuador (UCE), she has diplomas in: Internal Audit ISO 9001: 2015, diploma in ISO 31000: 2018

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Welcome andthanks to the Chairs

Risk Management, and Diploma in Integrated Management Systems from the European School of
Excellence, she has a professional certification as a Trainer of Trainers. Within the IFCC she is Past
Chair and current member of the WG-IANT/RIA, Member for Ecuador RIA/CPD-IFCC, Past Director andcurrent member of the Editorial Board of the electronic journal Diagnostico In Vitro DIV/IFCC, guest
Editor of the eJournal of the IFCC.
She is also International Editor of the magazine “Laboratorio Clínico” of Spain and member of
the Technical Committee for clinical laboratories with ISO 15189 Standard, of the Ecuadorian
Accreditation Service (SAE) 2010-2023.
Consultant and Speaker in Quality Assurance in the Clinical Laboratory and Risk Management for
Consulting and Training in Ecuador (CONCAPEC) and CEA. María Pasquel-Moxley was AssistantProfessor of Biochemistry with duties in the Research Department of the Faculty of Chemical
Sciences, Central University of Ecuador (1985-1989). ISO Quality Management Systems Consultant:15189, 17025, 9001 since 2010. General Manager of the Center for Specialized Analysis (CEA),
since 1989. She has collaborated as a tutor in the COLABIOCLI / OPS online Courses referring to
Quality Management and Good Laboratory Practices with Standard 15189; she was president of
the Organizing Committee of the XXII Congress COLABIOCLI 2015 and President of the Organizing
Committee of more than 60 scientific events in Ecuador, and internationally, she is a speaker atnational and international events in congresses, workshops and symposiums live and online.

Dr María Pasquel-Moxley, newProf Rajiv Erasmus, who

Chair of the Committee on

chaired the Committee until

Public Relations (C-PR)

December 2023, now IFCC
Executive Board member

Task Force on Global Newborn Screening (TF-NBS)
Welcome to the new Co-Chair of the Task Force on Global Newborn Screening (TF-NBS), Dr. Aysha
Habib (PK) and thanks for his commitment to Dr. Van Leung-Pineda (US), who co-chaired the Task
force until December 2023.
Aysha Habib Khan is a distinguished leader in the field of metabolic medicine, both nationally andinternationally. Currently serving as an executive council member of the International Society of
Newborn Screening (ISNS), she also holds the esteemed position of Co-chair for the IFCC & ISNS Task
Force on Global Newborn Screening. Additionally, her role as an Academic Council member in SSIEM
underscores her commitment to academic excellence in her field. In her capacity as Vice Presidentof the Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathology (PSCP), Dr. Khan has been instrumental in shaping
the landscape of metabolic medicine in Pakistan. Her leadership extends beyond administrativeroles; she has played a pivotal role in mentoring the Pakistan Inherited Metabolic Disorders Network(Pak-IMD-Net) and initiated the “EK Sath” initiative, dedicated to educating and supporting patients

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Welcome andthanks to the Chairs

and families affected by rare diseases. Dr. Khan’s expertise is further evidenced by her leadershipin research groups focused on Bone & Mineral Diseases, as well as her role as an executive council
member of the Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis and as Founding President of the Fragility
Fracture Network, Pakistan. Her contributions to these organizations reflect her commitment toadvancing knowledge and improving patient care on a global scale.
At Aga Khan University, Dr. Khan serves as the Haiderali R Charania Professor of Chemical Pathology,
where she has pioneered new sub-specialties within the field, including metabolic bone diseases,
biochemical genetics, newborn screening, and point-of-care testing programs. Notably, herestablishment of the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory (BGL) at AKUH marked a significant milestone,
introducing omics technology and advanced diagnostic tests for Inherited Metabolic Disorders(IMD) for the first time. Dr. Khan’s ongoing efforts include expanding the capabilities of BGL andspearheading a newborn screening program for congenital disorders nationally and internationally.
Her dedication to advancing research and clinical practice has earned her recognition as a leading
pathologist and researcher, particularly in the fields of metabolic bone diseases and inborn errorsof metabolism. Beyond her institutional affiliations, Dr. Aysha Habib Khan’s contributions havetranscended boundaries, garnering respect, and value for her work beyond the confines of AKU. She
continues to be a driving force in the advancement of metabolic medicine, both locally and globally.

Dr Aysha Habib, new Co-Chair

Dr Van Leung-Pineda, Co-Chairof the Task Force on Globalof the Task Force on Global

Newborn Screening (TF-NBS)

Newborn Screening (TF-NBS)
until December 2023

Working Group on Immunosuppressive Drugs (WG-ID)
Welcome to the new Chair of the Working Group on Immunosuppressive Drugs (WG-ID), Dr. Caroline
Stobe (DE) and thanks for his commitment to Dr Christoph Seger (CH) who was the Chair until
December 2023.
Caroline Stobe received her degree in chemistry at the University of Bonn in Germany in 2016.
Afterwards she worked in the field of program management, quality assurance and digitalization ofacademic teaching for the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bonn.
In 2020, she joined the German EQA provider Reference Institute for Bioanalytics (RfB) as headof its calibration laboratory in Cologne. Her ISO 17025 and ISO 15195 accredited laboratory mainly
focuses on the development and application of reference measurement procedures for measurands
in laboratory medicine. It is listed as reference measurement service for several measurands in the
database of the Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) and has been amember of the IFCC Network for Standardization of HbA1c since 2017.

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Welcome andthanks to the Chairs

In order to foster standardization and quality in laboratory medicine, Caroline Stobe engages innational and international societies, committees and research initiatives, e. g. DGKL, JCTLM, EMNTLM or the EURAMET project 23IND02 COMET.

Dr Caroline Stobe, new Chairof the Working Group on
Immunosuppressive Drugs(WG-ID)

Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM)
Welcome to the new Chair of the Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM), Dr Denis
Grote-Koska (DE), and thanks for her commitment to Dr Anja Kessler (DE) who was the Chair until
December 2023 and will continue serving in the committee as consultant.

Dr Anja Kessler, Chair of theCommittee on Traceability inLaboratory Medicine (C-TLM),
until December 2023.

Scientific Division Secretary
Welcome to the new Secretary of the Scientific Division (SD), Dr. Saara Wittfooth (FI) and thanks to
dr Garry John (UK) for his commitment in the past term, until December 2023.
Dr. Saara Wittfooth is Assistant Professor of Biotechnology at the Department of Life Technologies,
the University of Turku, Finland. She is the leader of the cardiovascular disease diagnostics researchof the Department. She received her PhD in molecular biotechnology and diagnostics in 2009. In

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Welcome andthanks to the Chairs2017 she conducted research at Boston Children’s Hospital as a visiting Fulbright Senior Scholar. Her
research activities are related to the development of highly sensitive immunoassays for biomarkers
of various diseases and nucleic acid tests for pathogen detection. In the focus of her researchinterests are novel cardiac biomarkers, such as long forms of cardiac troponin T, free PAPP-A andcardiac troponin autoantibodies / macrotroponin, and special immunoassays for the detection ofthese molecules. In 2019 she received the EFLM Cardiac Marker Award for remarkable scientific workin the field of cardiovascular diseases.
She has previously served IFCC as the Chair of the IFCC Working Group on Standardization of
PAPP-A. Currently she is involved in the IFCC Committee of Clinical Applications of Cardiac BioMarkers and the IFCC Committee of Traceability in Laboratory Medicine. She has published over
30 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals, has given more than 30 oral and poster
presentations in international congresses and has been listed as an inventor in 2 IVD-related patentapplications. She was a member of the Scientific Programme Committee and a session Chair for
EuroMedLab Munich 2021. She has acted as the Principal Investigator and Scientific Coordinator for
the EU FP7 ACUSEP project and as a Management Committee Member for EU COST action CliniMark.
She has served as a funding applicant reviewer for Wellcome Trust. She is also a reviewer for several
peer-reviewed journals such as Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine,
Clinical Biochemistry, Biomolecular Detection and Quantification, Scandinavian Journal of Clinical& Laboratory Investigation. She has been invited as a speaker in many national and international
meetings and conferences such as AACC annual meeting 2006, IFCC WorldLab 2017 Durban, IFCCEFLM EuroMedLab 2009 Amsterdam and 2021 Munich, LabMed 2004 Malmö and 2008 Helsinki.

Dr Saara Wittfooth, new

Dr Garry John, Secretary ofSecretary of the Scientific

the IFCC Scientific Division (SD)Division (SD)

until December 2023.

17

IFCC Calls for Nominations
Participate into IFCC activities and give your contribution! Review theopen positions and, if interested, contact your National or Corporate
Representative. Currently following call for nomination is open:
Committee and Publications Division (CPD)
Extended deadline•
Committee on Internet and Digital Communications (C-IDC) - webeditor position
Please send C-IDC nominations to colli-lanzi@ifcc.org by 31st May 2024

18

IFCC: the Young Scientists

The African Young Scientist at the EgyLab Forum and Africa
Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
Conference in Cairo, Egypt (28 – 29 February 2024)
By r Dipuo Motshwari, AFCC YS Forum Chair, South Africa

African Young Scientist at the EgyLab Forum and Africa Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Conferencein Cairo, Egypt (28 – 29 February 2024).

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19

The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab ForumDr Dipuo Motshwari (AFCC YS Forum Chairperson), South Africa.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to attend
the EgyLab Forum and Africa Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (AFCC)
Conference that took place in Cairo, Egypt (28 – 29 February 2024). I would like to commend theorganizing committee, particularly Prof. Rajiv Erasmus, Prof. Rania Elshrkawy, Dr Mabel CharlesDavies and Dr. Mohamed Basiouny, for orchestrating a highly successful conference. The scientificprogram was exceptional, providing access to a network of esteemed laboratory medicine experts
from across Africa, each offering unique perspectives and experiences.
A notable highlight of the conference was the inaugural AFCC Young Scientist (YS) Forum. I extend
my gratitude to the dedicated team behind this initiative, including myself as the chairperson of the
AFCC YS Forum, Dr. Rami Assaad Khalil as the representative for YS in Egypt, and Dr. Ashlin Rampul,
a mentor and the first-ever representative for AFCC YS and a member of the IFCC YS Task Force.
This forum granted me an opportunity to give a talk highlighting our unique challenges hinderingscientific progress and capacity development in Africa. It also provided a platform to network andengage with fellow YS on meaningful discussions whilst exchanging ideas regarding the future oflaboratory medicine and clinical chemistry in our continent. The connections forged during this event
have not only expanded my professional network but also opened doors for potential collaborations
and personal growth. Serving as the chairperson for the AFCC YS was a profound honor andprivilege, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. I extend my sincere gratitude to Abbott for
their sponsorship of young scientists’ participation in this conference. Their support will undoubtedly
empower African young scientists to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of laboratory
medicine in our region.
Lastly, I am grateful for the opportunity to explore Cairo, a vibrant metropolis with a rich history
spanning thousands of years, situated on the banks of the majestic Nile River. The experience wastruly unforgettable!!!

Dr. Ramy Assaad Khalil (MD, PhD, MRCP(UK), Member of IFCC C-EBLM, Egypt.
I am glad to have participated in the prestigious scientific conference of AFCC and Egylab. It wasa successfully organized international conference, rich in the marked multiplicity of participating
nationalities and diversity of subspeciality topics. In addition, it was a great pleasure that the first
AFCC – Young Scientists Forum has been born in this conference, in my country Egypt at the bank of
the glorious Nile River, as a fruit of cooperation of multinational African young scientists (YS), offering
a hope for a promising future of collaboration between Africa YS in the field of research, scientificactivities, experience exchange and networking.
I really enjoyed all the talks presented by my colleagues in the YS-Forum. As a member of IFCC

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20

The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forum

C-EBLM, I presented the topic of Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine: A demand needed fromyoung scientists. In my talk I delivered the invitation for YS to firstly gain EBLM concepts andattitude, as well as to participate in the synthesis of evidence and lastly – though most importantly –to implement evidence in their clinical laboratory practice. I encouraged all audience to benefit fromthe published review article authored by IFCC, C-EBLM: A guide to conducting systematic reviewsof clinical laboratory tests. I also notified about C-EBLM conducted survey, encouraging the active
participation and the widespread among laboratory professionals in the different countries.
I would like to thank all contributing members from IFCC, AFCC, Egylab and Abott – who provided
the opportunity, by their efforts, support and sponsorship for the achievement and success of thisvaluable gathering.

Dr. Svitsai Chagonda, Zimbabwe.
I arrived in Cairo in the early hours of the morning and only managed to get a few hours of sleep, I
expected the first day of the congress to be long and exhausting, however this was not the case.
Upon arrival I was greeted by a friendly welcome team as I received my conference badge and theprogram. Shortly after, I started to meet many people whom I had only ever communicated with via
phone and email. This was a joyous experience for me. Meeting the professors was such an honour,
getting to have conversations with people whose work I have cited was an unparalleled experience.
It was lovely to meet my fellow young scientists, we instantly got along. We began to have in depth
conversations about the work we are doing and how we could potentially collaborate.
After the congress began the sessions were well planned and the talks in each session werecomplementary. I learnt new things I also had old concepts reexplained in very comprehensive ways
giving me a new perspective on how to tackle laboratory issues. I enjoyed hearing about what istaking place in other parts of the continent, and how to improve the laboratories we work in.
This was the first international congress I was to present at, naturally I was very nervous before mypresentation. Watching other present their work so passionately, was an inspiration and allowed
me to be more at ease before my presentation. My presentation went well without any technicalhiccups. After the session, I stepped out to go to the bathroom and one of my new friends sent me
a message to quickly come back. To my surprise I had been given an award for the young scientist
best presentation. I was stunned, I could not believe that I had been given such an honour. It was
lovely to be congratulated by my role models including Professor Rajiv Erasmus and Dr Mabel
Charles-Davis. As I went back to my seat I choked back tears of joy, I was overwhelmed by the award
and so grateful for the opportunity to have been there. As this was my first international congress
this was also my first international award, for which I feel greatly honoured.
I enjoyed the Egylabs Forum AFCC Congress and would recommend such a congress to anyone whowants to learn from their peers in a meaningful way.

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The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forum

Dr Cecil Jack Weale, South Africa.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Young Scientists’ Forum of the 3rd Annual International
Forum of The Supreme Council of University Hospitals (Egylab) in Collaboration with Africa Federationof Clinical Chemistry (AFCC), which took place from 28 – 29 February, in Cairo, Egypt. The conference,is a regionally meeting of high acclaim within the clinical chemistry realm, boasting an overarchingtheme centred on “Excellence in Laboratory Practice: The Future of Africa”.
I am extremely thankful to Abbott for their support through a travel grant – this assisted greatly incontributing towards the travel expenses, allowing me to attend this gathering of acclaimed clinicalbiochemist researchers, and present my research findings, in the form of an oral presentation
entitled “Exploring the diagnostic capabilities of altered miR-486-5p and miR-novel-chr1_40444
expression patterns in distinguishing prediabetes and T2DM in South Africans”.
The scientific programme of the conference boasted a wide array of thought-provoking sessions. I
found several sessions particularly compelling, such as the “AI and Digital Transformation” session, of
which I was particularly struck by the talk given by Professor Heba El Baz, entitled “Evidence based
application of artificial intelligence in laboratory medicine”. In addition, other sessions aligned wellwith the theme of laboratory medicine in the era technology, and were especially impactful. These
included the “Future of laboratory medicine” session, where I found the presentation by Dr. Ashlin
Rampul “Robotics and automation” truly impressive, as well as the “Point-of-care testing symposium”,
of which the talks by Professor Adil Khan “Leveraging artificial intelligence in point-of-care testing”
and Professor Zemlin’s lecture entitled “Comparing laboratory POCT HbA1c for the monitoring anddiagnosis of diabetes mellitus – what is the evidence”, of which both were truly stimulating.
The Young Scientists’ Forum took place on the second official day of the congress (29th of February2024) – a meeting which involved very stimulating and inspiring talks from young researchers fromacross the continent. This forum laid the foundation for early-career scientists, such as myself, tointeract with other emerging researchers in my niche, forging relationships and discussing potential
collaborations. This gathering also provided the platform for the initiation of the very first AFCC
Young Scientist Task Force, which is to be headed by the distinguished Dr. Dipuo Motshwari – afellow colleague of mine, at the SAMRC/CPUT Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit, in Cape Town,

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22

The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forum

South Africa. It was refreshing to bear witness to the cutting-edge research being carried out in ourcontinent, as well as exchange ideas with other next-generation scientists on novel techniques for
improved risk stratification, diagnosis and management of disease in our unique African landscape.
In summary, participating in such a distinguished scientific gathering such as the 3rd Annual
International Forum of The Supreme Council of University Hospitals (Egylab) in Collaboration
with Africa Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC) 2024 afforded me the opportunity to immerse
myself within the network of leading African researchers within my field, as well as fellow emerging
researchers, forging relationships with these esteemed individuals from all over Africa.I had the
oppo Scientists’ Forum of the 3rd Annual International Forum of The Supreme Council of University
Hospitals (Egylab) in Collaboration with Africa Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC), which took
place from 28 – 29 February, in Cairo, Egypt. The conference, is a regionally meeting of high acclaim
within the clinical chemistry realm, boasting an overarching theme centred on “Excellence inLaboratory Practice: The Future of Africa”.

Mr. Franco Jordan Kandama, Zambia.
The conference was Held in Cairo Egypt from 28-29th Feb, 2024 @Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah Hotel –Egypt under the theme of the scientific program “Excellence of Laboratory Medicine: The Futureof Africa” The Egylab Forum 2024 focus was on Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology, Clinical Pathology,
Diagnostic Hematology based on newly advanced interventions & technology, artificial intelligence,and telemedicine. The conference venue was really well organized for international level conference
and was in an appropriate place and proper atmosphere.
Generally, despite the time that was limited, within two days schedules the conference organizeda total of 21 sessions that had power and well-articulated presentation. The 85 different senior
speakers from different African countries including Young Scientists presented their magnificent
works and advancements in Lab Digitization and Artificial Intelligence in advancing quality laboratory
services. The theme made a lot of impact as African Young Scientists were incorporated to present
and share on the future of Africa in Laboratory practice.
I gained a lot of knowledge, experience, and insights on a number of lessons such as Green
Sustainable Lab and many more that were shared. The conference was really an ideal platform for
African countries to present research results, advancement in technologies i.e., Artificial Intelligence(AI), Green and Sustainable Laboratory, Data management, Quality assurance and many other topics
that cut across laboratory practice and its future.
Socially, the EgyLab forum 2024 platform provided me with a valuable learning, sharing andcollaboration for the future of Laboratory practice in African especially amongst the Young

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The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forum

Scientists. For instance, it was an excellent opportunity to gather, interact and exchange findings
and views during conference sessions, coffee breaks and conference lunch. Consequently, I have
known several researchers, Young Scientists, Professors, and professionals from different Africancountries and beyond who have similar research interests and vision in advancing Laboratory
medicine. It was a good platform to learn from senior scientist and junior scientist.
My sincerely gratitude to AFCC and IFCC for enabling you to attend the conference and represent
Zambia. I would like to thank Africa Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC) and IFCC through Prof
Erasmus and Dr. Mable Davies-AFCC President and the entire AFCC team for facilitating my travel
Grant to attend the conference. And I also thank my local society the Biomedical Society of Zambia
through the President Mutale Mubanga for the support.
I do understand there are always challenges in attending events of such magnitude, but all was
few challenges that everyone going to a new place for the first time would experience which aremanageable.
I presented on the Prevalence of Anemia in adult Diabetic Patients under Research-AFCC Travel
Grant Awardees. During my presentation I highlighted on a number of important directions to takein fighting against Non-Communicable Diseases in the Africa and beyond and the much-needed
investment in research in NCDs.

Dr Shanel Raghubeer, South Africa.
The 7th AFCC Regional Congress and 3rd EgyLabs Forum in Cairo, Egypt, stands out as atransformative and enriching experience, transcending the boundaries of conventional scientificgatherings. As a participant, I had the privilege of immersing myself in a world of cutting-edge
research, fostering connections with esteemed scientists and emerging talents, and contributing
to the discourse on crucial health issues. Delivering my talk, titled “Apolipoprotein and low-density
lipoprotein receptors in cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s disease: African Evidence” was ahighlight of my experience.
The scientific offerings at the congress were excellent, reflecting the dedication and expertise of
researchers from across the African continent. The diverse range of topics showcased the richnessof the scientific landscape in Africa. Engaging in discussions and attending various sessions allowed
for a holistic view of the advancements in different fields, contributing to a more comprehensive
understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our region. One of the most rewarding
aspects of the congress was the opportunity to network with both established researchers andyoung scientists. The inclusive environment fostered meaningful connections and collaborations,transcending the boundaries of disciplines and institutions. Engaging in conversations with fellow
attendees provided valuable insights, different perspectives, and potential avenues for future

Article continued on the next page24

The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forumcollaborative research initiatives. The inclusion of a dedicated Young Scientists Forum was aninspired initiative, creating a platform for emerging talents to showcase their work and interact
with established researchers. As a participant in the inaugural Young Scientists Forum at an AFCC
congress, I felt a profound sense of honour and responsibility. This initiative not only encourages
young scientists, but also reinforces the importance of mentorship and knowledge transfer, paving
the way for a vibrant future in African research.
Beyond the scientific realm, the congress provided a unique opportunity to immerse myself in therich cultural heritage of Egypt. Visiting the pyramids was a surreal experience, adding an extra
layer of depth to the overall journey. The blend of academic and cultural exploration contributed
to a more holistic understanding of the host country and its contributions to the global scientificcommunity. The scientific excellence, networking opportunities, and cultural enrichment collectively
contributed to a unique and valuable experience. As we reflect on this congress, it is evident thatsuch gatherings are essential not only for advancing scientific knowledge but also for fosteringcollaboration, mentorship, and a sense of community among researchers across Africa. I am truly
grateful to the conference organizers for their visionary approach and feel privileged to have been apart of this remarkable event.

Dr. Sherif Elsharkawi, MD. PhD, Egypt.
I would like to thank the organizing committee of EgyLab conference and AFCC for such prestigious
conference.
Allow me to be more objective:
Conference venue: Sofitel hotel is a classic hotel with a great heritage in the center of Cairo with
nice scenery and beside many nice as well as important establishments. Besides, the hotel andconference theatres were very well equipped, and the registration process was very organized.
Topics: Scientific topics are much updated. It satisfies all tastes of clinical chemistry bringing thebasics, reviews, advances, cases, quality, routine as well as molecular aspects of clinical chemistry.
Another issue is that parallel running of sessions indicates the conference was full of scientific loads.
Despite putting one into dilemma of choosing between two equally interesting objects, it indicatesthat all sessions are being informative, relevant, and joyful.
Collaboration opportunities: The conference stressed the objectives of cooperation andemphasized a good spirit that we all hope to continue.
Encouragement: The committee allowed young scientists and researchers to talk, gave themmalleability regarding choosing the topic and gave constructive encouragements and feedback.

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The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab ForumI was honored by Dr Ramy Samir’s trust, Prof. Rania and Dr Bassyouny’s encouragement, Dr. Ashlin’s
support, and Prof. Rajiv’s kind words and feedback. I was extremely delighted by the whole positive
spirit that I never felt before in any conference. Finally, this conference, for me, is a long-lasting
beautiful memory that I look forward to be repeated. Thanks for everyone who brought all thisscience, encouragement and also joy to our experience.

Dr Don M Matshazi, South Africa.
I cannot put into words just how grateful I am to the African Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC)
and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), Prof. Rajiv
Erasmus and Dr M. Charles-Davies for the critical role they played in ensuring my presence at the
7th AFCC Regional Congress and 3rd Egylabs Forum. When I received confirmation that my travel
scholarship application was successful, I could not contain my joy, as this meant I would finally makemy debut trip to Egypt. But more than anything, I was excited for the opportunity to interact withyoung researchers from all over the world, as well as leading scientists whose talks I was looking
forward to. The 7th AFCC Regional Congress and 3rd Egylabs Forum held at the Sofitel Cairo Nile
El Gezirah Hotel provided an important platform for upcoming and seasoned professionals in thefield of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine to exchange knowledge and discuss ways on
addressing challenge and improving healthcare diagnostics and research on the African continent.
What stood out for me was the session on “New-born Screening in Developing Countries” and theimpressive work that healthcare professionals in Egypt have done to facilitate this critical need.
Africa is currently being ravaged by infant and child mortality as well as a substantial numberof chronic diseases, and new-born screening endeavours allow for risk assessment and theimplementation of corrective measures for better health outcomes. This was in line with the themeof my talk at the conference, which was encouraging African scientists and laboratory professionals
to take a preventative approach instead of a curative one, by leveraging genetic testing to identify
individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases (CVD, CMD), and promptly
diagnosing and correctly treating them for improved health outcomes, to reduce the CMD/CVD
burden. Also worth noting at the congress was the hosting of the inaugural AFCC Young Scientists’
Forum, where presentations of impressive scientific rigour were delivered by laboratory professionals
and clinicians from the Cape to Cairo, and everyone in-between.
Overall, the conference allowed us to share our laboratory and research experiences, discuss thelatest developments in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine and forge partnerships for futurecollaborative efforts. It is my hope that such an event is not a once-off, but rather the beginning ofmany similar forums to facilitate ongoing professional development and collaboration among African
scientists, so that in the end, African problems are solved by people of the African continent.

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The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forum

Ms. Shameem Buleya, Malawi.
The 7th The African Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC) regional congress was a combined
activity with the forum of Egyptian laboratories held for the 3rd time in Egypt. This was an activity
facilitated by IFCC and AFCC leadership i.e. Prof. R. Erasmus, DR M. Charles Davies, Prof.R.Sharkawy
among others held on 27th and 28th of February 2024 in Egypt, Cairo. It included several symposia
in the field of Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Virology, Genetics, Medical Microbiology, Clinical
Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Engineering.
My experience at the Congress and in Egypt was immensely enjoyable. The cultural richness of
Egypt, its historical landmarks, and warm hospitality left a lasting impression. Exploring the river Nile
while attending the conference providing a calming environment. Interacting with fellow attendees
and experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of Cairo added a unique dimension to the overall
experience.
The Congress itself was a treasure trove of knowledge. Engaging discussions, insightfulpresentations, and the opportunity to network with experts in the field were highlights. The diversityof perspectives and research showcased at the Congress enhanced my understanding of the global
landscape and fellow African countries are advanced in taking diagnostic technology to the nextlevel. The incorporation of AI in medical laboratories is one key area that left me inspired to upgrade
myself to the current advancement.
The food breaks provided networking opportunities and social platforms to connect withprofessionals from diverse backgrounds. These interactions facilitated the exchange of ideas,
experiences, and the establishment of meaningful professional relationships. Engaging in informal
discussions allowed for a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced byrepresentatives in different countries.
Interacting with both junior and senior attendees was enlightening. Engaging with juniorprofessionals offered a fresh perspective on emerging trends and innovative approaches. On theother hand, discussions with senior attendees provided valuable insights into the historical context
of IFCC and the challenges faced over the years. The mentorship opportunities that arose fromthese interactions were particularly enriching. I can safely attest that I am not at the same level as
before. I am motivated to learn more.
Attending the Congress presented a few challenges that required navigation and adaptation. Firstly,
language differences posed a barrier during some technical sessions and discussions. While English
was the primary language, accents and colloquial expressions occasionally made it challenging
to grasp the full context. Additionally, the guide was somehow minimal, looking for cheaper
accommodation, dinner and general services was challenging. it would have been better if hotel

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The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forumrecommendations close to the venue were done prior to the activity.
Another notable challenge was the vast amount of information presented. It was at times
overwhelming to process and absorb the extensive research findings and advancements in thefield. Managing time efficiently and selecting the most relevant sessions for my professional growth
became crucial, it became known that 2 days were minimal to the content that was planned.
I express my sincere gratitude to the AFCC and IFCC for enabling my attendance at the conference.
Their support made it possible for me to participate in this enriching experience, contributing
significantly to my professional development. The commitment of the organising team to advancing
knowledge and fostering collaboration within the field is commendable. Attending the conference
has exposed me to Cutting-Edge Research. I have learnt about the latest developments, trends, andbreakthroughs in fellow African labs.
This platform has enhanced my professional capabilities and helped build network with professionals
and potential employers that can lead to job opportunities and career growth. I have gained insights
into different perspectives and practices.
I commend this initiative and hope that it extends to fellow laboratorians in the African continent
especially the Low Middle-Income-Countries for most topics discussed were rather motivational.
I presented on characteristics and Mortality of HIV patients starting in the era of routine screening
for advanced HIV disease at Lighthouse Trust, Lilongwe.

Dr. Kyrollos Fares, Egypt.
I had the honor and the privilege to be able to participate in this highly prestigious event with thecollaboration of the AFCC; the Egylab 3rd forum. I had a very rich and educative learning experience
both on the educational and personal level. Being able to meet and dialogue with this many
scientists in one place to share and enrich knowledge and experience is rare. I had the opportunity
to participate in the young scientist session. I learned a lot and being able to see this many young
researchers giving their best was the perfect motivation for improvement and to strive for the best.
Looking forward to the many projects offered during the event and to the active participation in
them.

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The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab Forum

Mr. Kiptim Kibet Peter, Kenya.
First and foremost, I wish to thank the organizers of the AFCC conference in conjunction with
Egylabs forum for giving me an opportunity to be part of the conference through their invitation to
be one of the speakers at the conference. It was a great honor to share the podium with our seniors
and expert in the field to share with others on the scientific work we are involved in in our countries, I
am forever indebted.
For the first time in the history of AFCC we the young scientist from Africa were honored to be partof the main program of the conference. We were given an opportunity to share our work connect
with one another and share our aspirations in this profession and embrace all that comes with. Thisis a true reflection as to the fact that the future is bright for young scientist in Africa. This marks the
beginning of more as the young scientist officially become part of the AFCC committees.
It was exciting to learn that Africa federation of laboratory medicine (AFLM) was ready and willcontinue to work very closely with AFCC to ensure that the practice of laboratory medicine in Africa
is strengthened by adopting the tested approaches to achieve minimum standards to be achievedby all laboratories to enhance the quality of laboratory services. As it was rightfully put this will help
in reducing duplication and increase effectivity.
For me this was a successful event that I was able to interact and engage with experts in the fieldand I was able to pick several interesting topics we discussed at the conference to match thetheme. The presentation by the IFCC person Prof. Tomris Osben on the Green labs project wasvery informative and guides us to reevaluate on our day-to-day laboratory processes to cut on
wastages of the resources and in turn protect the environment. Non-communicable diseases majorly
cardiovascular and diabetes were extensively discussed during the conference and it this helped me
to learn more on diagnosis, management, and areas of research focus in these diseases for better
diagnosis and management.
I was also privileged to be part of the AFCC POCT committee members to have a meeting with Prof.
Adil Khan, chair of the IFCC POCT committee, we had an engaging discussion on the modalities ofharmonizing POCT practices in Africa with the help of IFCC committee.
This conference was a huge success, the scientific program was excellent, the hospitality was great,
I got an opportunity to connect my fellows and make new connections. Congratulations and a huge
thank you for the organizers for this amazing opportunity and conference.

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29

The African Young Scientist
at the Egylab ForumDr Noha Adel El-Banna, Egypt.
I sincerely thank the organizing committee for inviting me to speak at 3rd Annual International
Laboratory Quality and Accreditation Forum. I truly appreciate the opportunity and yourconsideration. I have enjoyed the scientific program and the speakers’ discussions. I am proudthat the first AFCC – Young Scientists Forum has been held in my beloved country, Egypt, and thepossibility of beginning a future cooperation in scientific activities between African countries.
It was a very organized conference and included many interesting topics. Encouraging young
scientists of different nationalities to participate in this valuable gathering; helps to exchange
scientific experiences.
I presented the topic of: “Molecular Tests Beyond The Usual”. My talk was about some molecular
tests that are frequently ordered by physicians: “Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
polymorphism and lactose intolerance genetic tests”. These genetic tests are useful diagnostic
tools, depending on the genetic variants analyzed, but they are not always appropriate for all
populations.
I am grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this international conference.

30

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31Young Scientist from Nigeria - Summary of Faculty Seminar
Presentation
By Dr. Abiodun Kofoworola Ajeigbe, Department of Chemical Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife, Nigeria

I present a formal report of my 20-minute presentation on the 21st February, 2024 at the Faculty
Seminar of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBMS), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
The Faculty Seminar of FBMS, OAU, Ile-Ife is a monthly meeting of academic staff members to
discuss important scientific research and reports for continuous improvements and entrench
research methods and innovations. It is a tradition of the faculty and each department takes turns
every month for the seminar.
The Department of Chemical Pathology was next in line to host the February edition of theFaculty Seminar and being, an early career researcher in the department, I was assigned the roleof presenting a topic for the meeting. The theme of the seminar was “Limitations of HbA1c in a
Population of Diverse HB Variant” which was delivered by an invited speaker, Dr. Ashlin Rampul,
Specialist Chemical Pathologist, Pathcare South-Africa.
The seminar held at the Board Room of the College of Health Sciences, OAU, Ile-Ife at 1 p.m. WAT,
utilized a hybrid mode of meeting and had in attendance, the Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical
Sciences, Prof. G.O. Omoniyi Esan, heads of departments, senior professors, and faculty members aswell as students.
I presented a case report titled “A Report of Undetectable HbA1c in Asymptomatic Haemoglobin SC
Individual in Ile-Ife, Nigeria”. The important findings of the presentation are the poorly diagnosed
Hb variants in Nigeria and the inability of Cobas c311 (Roche) and D-10 (Bio-Rad) auto-analyzers toquantify HbA1c in an asymptomatic individual with HbSC. The presentation has implications forthe analytical methods and utilization of HbA1c for the screening, diagnosis, and management ofdiabetes mellitus in a population with diverse haemoglobin variants. The presentation was wellreceived evidenced by the quality of questions that followed.

32

IFCC FORUM for Young Scientists
By the IFCC Task Force for Young Scientists

Registrations will open soon

We are delighted to invite you to attend the THIRD IFCC YOUNG SCIENTISTS’ FORUM, which will beheld on 25-26 May 2024 in Dubai.
Young Scientists (YS) are the future of laboratory medicine and comprise the major workforce oflaboratory professionals. Future leaders need to be trained and encouraged to succeed in their role,
ideally with the support of experienced leaders. To make this feasible, the IFCC Task Force for Young
Scientists (TF-YS) invites you to register to the “IFCC Young Scientists FORUM”, where YS will haveopportunities of training and improve communication and networking. The scientific program at the
FORUM will provide the young scientists an excellent opportunity for an open discussion platform
about scientific and personal experiences, exchange of ideas among colleagues and best practices.
Young Scientists will present and discuss their activities in laboratory medicine and benefit fromcareer skills development.
The IFCC is pleased to offer up to 50 IFCC-Sponsored Travel Scholarships plus 5 additional
scholarships sponsored by Roche to allow young scientists from IFCC member countries to attend
both the XXVI IFCC WORLDLAB Congress and the THIRD IFCC YOUNG SCIENTISTS’ FORUM.
The TF-YS is dedicated to making the Third Forum for Young Scientists an unforgettable global
event. We look forward to your participation and kindly ask you to complete your registration throughthe official website.
We look forward to your participation in this enriching and collaborative event!
Register here for the on-site event!

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33

IFCC FORUM for Young Scientists

1st IFCC Young Scientists’ Forum, Seoul 2022

IFCC Young Scientists’ Forum, Rome 2023

34

Contribute to IFCC eNews
Enhanced staff satisfaction and resource utilization during
the COVID-19 pandemic
Healthcare is one of the most precious resources we have, and our healthcare providers are at theheart of it. It is imperative that healthcare organizations around globe not just value their employees
but strive to increase staff satisfaction and protect their safety, where possible.
The COVID-19 has been one of the biggest threats to healthcare worker safety, whether physicalsafety, or mental health. At the Associação Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa (AFIP), in São Paulo, Brazil,
an integrated care team recognized that uncertainties related to COVID-19 and concerns about
safety for those working in healthcare, including the limited access to diagnosis and treatment
facilities, and uncertainties about the virus itself, existed across their facilities.
A such, this team developed and implemented a new health program for employees of AFIP, as wellas their families, using already existing infrastructure of the Cuidando de Quem Cuida (CQC) program,which aims to promote employee health care. This program enhanced testing availability, enabling
early detection and isolation, as needed, to minimize transmission, while also providing mental
support during these trying times.
This initiative has substantially improved access to testing for employees and their families throughthe development of 6 new sample collection sites, thus enabling earlier patient knowledge of
COVID-19 status. This knowledge further protected healthcare worker and patient safety by enabling
proactive quarantine and isolation procedures, while also providing insights for staffing and risk
mitigation purposes.
For their efforts this integrated clinical care received the UNVIANTS of Healthcare Excellence awards
recognition of Achievement. Congratulations to Debora Ribeiro Ramadan, Director of the Operational
Technical Core, Tatiane Rodrigues dos Santos, Manager, CQC Program, Josué Augusto do Amaral
Rocha, Family Physician, CQC Program, Cristiane Franca Ferreira, Coordinator of Occupational
Medicine, Paulo Eduardo de Andrade Souza, Quality Assurance Manager.

From left to right: Tatiane Rodrigues dos Santos, Paulo
Eduardo de Andrade Souza, Jussimara Monteiro Nurmberger,
Soraya S De Andrade, Cristiane Franca Ferreira, Debora
Ribeiro Ramadan, Gabriel Costa De Carvalho

35

CLINICIANSPATIENTSADMINISTRATION

24.1%

50%

24%

in preoperative
diagnostic accuracy1

in AKI (acute kidney
injury) complications3

in hospital admissions
for patients who are notexperiencing a heart attack5

INCREASE

REDUCTION

11

3.9

%

INCREASE

in clinical satisfaction%

2

INCREASE

in number of patientswith controlled diabetes4

PAYORS

250K€

in mitigated costs
and procedures 7

REDUCTION$

80K

INCREASE

of incremental
revenue over 3 years6

530K

NZ$

per annum in mitigatedhealthcare costs8

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE

THROUGH MEASURABLY BETTERHEALTHCARE OUTCOMES
Learn more at UnivantsHCE.com
1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 2020. 2. St. Petersburg Hospital Number Two, 2020. 3. Ernst von Bergmann Hospital with the Dialysis Center
Potsdam and the Diaverum Kidney Care Center MVZ Potsdam Affiliated with Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 2019. 4. Hospital Universitari Sant Joan d’Alacant,2020. 5. Canterbury District Health Board, 2020. 6. Seirei Hamamatsu HP, 2020. 7. Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 2020. 8. Canterbury District Health Board, 2020.

© 2023 Abbott. All rights reserved. ADD-129493-GBL-EN 9/23

36

History of the use of the mask to face a pandemic
By Dr. Luis Figueroa Montes, President of AMPPC, Peru
www.patologiaclinica.pe

If there is an object that symbolizes and represents our collective experiences during thecoronavirus pandemic, it is, without a doubt, the face mask. This element is a vital component ofpublic health strategies to contain the pandemic, in addition to physical-social distancing (1).
This massive masking strategy was not evident at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. The
act of wearing masks was first noted as a phenomenon unique to Asia when the coronavirus began
to gain media attention. Medical authorities outside of Asia, including the World Health Organization,
were reluctant to impose mass masking. However, later, the use of masks in the general population
was framed as an urgent and effective strategy to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus (1).
Let’s remember when and why this need began. Many years ago, a doctor of Malay origin saved
a population from pneumonic plague in 1911. In 1910, an unknown epidemic swept throughnorthwestern China. The dead numbered in the hundreds every day and the government decided
to leave everything in the hands of the doctor Wu Lien-teh. This disease was the pneumonic plague,
very contagious and spread by respiratory transmission. In just four months, he put an end to it witha group of non-pharmacological measures, similar to those used today to prevent the transmissionof the coronavirus: quarantine, travel restrictions and the manufacture of a special mask with cotton,gauze and several layers of cloth that forced to use in that population. Thus the birth of the surgicalmask, very popular in the world now (2).
Let’s see some details of those historical moments. In late 1910, before the collapse of the Qing
dynasty, a plague swept through northern Manchuria. This epidemic generated more than 60,000
deaths. The mortality rate was 100%. It first appeared in Manzhouli, a Chinese city, and along railway
tracks and highways, the disease spread south. The disease was first diagnosed in the Russiancity of Harbin. The Qing’s ability to contain the plague was questioned and they framed the plague
epidemic as a political issue of international importance.
The Manchurian plague forced the Qing government to resort to new strategies (1). China’s viceforeign minister recommended Cambridge-trained Dr. Wu Lien-Teh as head of a team to help fightepidemics. Three days later, Dr. Wu dissected the first cadaver of a plague victim and analyzed someorgan samples for bacterial cultures (3).
It became clear to Dr. Wu that the organism seen under his microscope appeared to be identicalto Bacillus pestis, discovered in 1894. But Dr. Wu observed a novel fact. These bacilli were foundexclusively in the lungs of the victim, which could suggest that the plague behaved very differently
from that of 17 years earlier. Wu then proposed a “bold theory” that the plague in Manchuria hadtaken a pneumonic (pulmonary) rather than bubonic (ganglia) form (3).
Wu believed that the plague in Manchuria was not transmitted by infected rat fleas, but spread
directly from person to person through the air. To block its spread, he designed a cotton gauze mask
and recommended that it be worn by doctors and paramedical personnel involved in containing theplague (4).
This was the first time that gauze masks were used in the context of epidemic control (5). Now how
could a young doctor like Wu, whose bold theory was somewhat contrary to the medical knowledgeof many top foreign epidemiologists, convince Chinese officials to adopt gauze masks in epidemic
control?
Confident of up-to-date knowledge about bubonic plague, many foreign experts ridiculed Dr. Wu’s
airborne thesis. They refused to wear masks even when in close contact with plague patients.

Article continued on the next page37

History of the use of themask to face a pandemic

Dr. Gérald Mesny, a senior colleague of the Chinese team and a professor at the Beiyang Medical
College, was one of them (6).
A few days later, news broke that Dr. Mesny had been infected with the plague when he visited
a Russian hospital without wearing a mask, and he passed away days later. Mesny’s death sooncaused a wave of panic in Manchuria and constituted -the turning point- of the anti-plague campaign
by the local government (7).
This historical compilation of the plague bacillus helped to convince of the efficacy of masks and,
therefore, to transform them into protective devices. In this sense, the mask cannot be seen as an
isolated object but as a “hybrid actor”, that is to say that the power of masks as personal protective
equipment does not arise from the mask itself, but from its union with other elements, such as thebiomedical understanding of the transmission of microorganisms and human bodies (8).
The mask economy has come to play a dominant role. The proliferation of inexpensive, disposable
surgical masks paved the way for the sudden emergence of a universal masking strategy during thecoronavirus epidemic. Now we know that we can use them as part of non-pharmacological strategies
in public health. We hope that this action is perpetuated in our societies when we have colds, forexample.

First published in 1959,
this edition of Wu LienTehs autobiography,
reprinted for the Dr. Wu
Lien-Teh Society
https://www.amazon.
com/-/es/Wu-Lien-Teh/
dp/9675719141

Links of interest
1. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 Oct;35(10):3063-3066. doi: https://10.1007/s11606-020-06067-8
2. https://elpais.com/sociedad/2021-03-10/dr-wu-lienn-teh-el-primer-heroe-que-utilizo-mascarillascontra-una-pandemia.html
3. Lei, Sean Hsiang-lin. 2014. Neither Donkey nor Horse: Medicine in the Struggle over China’s
modernity.
4. Wu, Lien-Teh. 1926. A treatise on pneumonic Plague. Geneva, Switzerland: League of Nations.
5. Lynteris, Christos. 2018. Plague masks: The visual emergence of anti-epidemic personal
protection Equipment. Medical Anthropology 37 (6): 442–457.
6. Lei, Sean Hsiang-lin. 2010. Sovereignty and the microscope: Constituting Notifiable infectious
disease and containing the Manchurian Plague (1910–11)
7. Nathan, Carl F. 1967. Plague prevention and politics in Manchuria 1910–1931. Cambridge: Harvard
University Press.
8. Lupton, Deborah, Clare Southerton, Marianne Clark, and Ash Watson. 2021. The Face Mask in
COVID Times: A sociomaterial analysis. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter.

38

AI: The Dilemma of Biological and TechnologicalSingularities
By Bernard Gouget, Chair IFCC TF-History, ETD EC

Healthcare is one of the major application fields of Artificial Intelligence technologies (AI). All areas ofhealthcare and all specialties are concerned. Artificial Intelligence is not just the future of medicine;
it is already an integral part of everyday medical practice. Most healthcare professionals are alreadyutilizing AI technologies to refine diagnoses, improve decision-making, specify prescriptions, andeven predict the progression of diseases. The future of AI in the healthcare domain is undeniably
complex, but it holds immense transformative potential, from discovering new biomarkers toalleviating administrative burdens. AI will improve care and redefine the roles of healthcare
professionals. This revolution won’t happen on its own. It requires collaboration among startups, tech
giants, healthcare professionals, regulators, and patients.
Artificial intelligence promises tangible changes by streamlining processes and identifying key
insights. However, it is still very challenging for even highly sophisticated algorithms to replace
the empathy, intuition, or healing power of the patient-doctor relationship. The true revolution will
come when AI models can mimic the clinician’s multimodal approach. While AI undoubtedly changes
how healthcare professionals work and promises to enhance their capabilities, it will not eliminate
the need for their expertise, judgment, and human connection. It is essential to remember that
healthcare remains primarily a human endeavor.
Repetitive, data-focused tasks that overwhelm physicians and medical biologists are prime targets
for AI. This won’t just save time; it will transform the very nature of medical practice and how careis given and received. A recent study presented at the “Major e-Health Trends 2024” by PulseLife(https://pulselife.com/fr) shows that one of the main uses of AI in healthcare involves access to
medical information for almost half of the 1700 surveyed professionals. They rely on this virtualassistance to enhance their general knowledge. The benefits of AI are clear: improved diagnosis(67%) and reduction in medical errors. Administrative task assistance dominates expectations (71%).
However, two-thirds of professionals are concerned about the reliability of sources, the data privacy,
compliance with regulations and the potential algorithm biases leading to error risk. The fear of
relational deterioration with patients is evident with questioning of medical knowledge. Healthcare
professionals will need to quickly embrace this change to shape the future of medicine for the better.
The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence offers many opportunities for the future of healthcare
and requires intelligent collaboration between humans and algorithms. The AI revolution is notjust about technology; it also concerns our interaction with it. AI can detect anomalies or subtle
correlations that escape even the most experimented practitioners. Complex AI tools prompt us todecipher the logic of the algorithm and open new horizons of medical understanding. While suchfindings raise concerns about biases and explainability, they also illustrate a revolutionary shift inmedical research by ensuring that these groundbreaking discoveries are used rightly used for the
improvement of patient care. As AI promises to enhance our capabilities, it’s essential to rememberthat healthcare remains fundamentally a human endeavor.
Healthcare professionals must urgently embrace this change. Technology can serve as a powerful
tool, empowering us to provide better, more compassionate care for all. How we approach AI willdefine the world we live in tomorrow. Everyone should be able to benefit from human-centered andtrustworthy AI while ensuring safety and fundamental rights. Access to quality data is an essential
factor in building robust and high-performing AI systems, coupled with robust cybersecurity
strategies. Maximizing resources and coordinating substantial investments are essential elementsof AI excellence.

Article continued on the next page39

AI: The Dilemma of Biologicaland Technological Singularities

In the era of generative AI, those who master the art of communication with these algorithms will
have a distinct advantage. Generative and adaptive AI always follows the same principle: analyzing
vast amounts of data to predict what could happen by contextualizing some of it. It poses an
exciting but unprecedented challenge. We will need to manage a cognitive transition. We are going
to move from purely biological intelligence to intelligence interfaced with AI.
It’s no wonder that AI, in all its aspects, is at the forefront of the concerns and efforts of the IFCC
Emerging Technologies Division. We must quickly jump on the AI train, become complementary
than allowing ourselves to be replaced by AI. When we know what Chat GPT does in a few seconds
while it takes us hours to put an idea and a text into shape, it’s important to shed the any inferiority
complex and become complementary. There are domains of AI and domains of neurons. This requires
investing a lot of energy to be on the right side and ensure that the neuron remains superior to AI!

40

In cooperation with

Emirates Clinical Chemistry Society‫اﻟﺠﻤﻌﻴﺔ اﻹﻣﺎراﺗﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻜﻴﻤﻴﺎء اﻟﺴﺮﻳﺮﻳﺔ‬26th International Congress ofClinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
17th Congress of Arab Federation of Clinical Biology
10th Saudi Society for Clinical
Chemistry Annual Meeting
8th UAEGDA International Genetic
Disorders Conference

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
DUBAI - UAE

41

News from Regional Federations and Member
Societies
Acknowledgement to the New Clinical Biochemists
Written by Dra. QF. Cristina Servetto, ABU’s Vice president
Translated by Q.F. B.C Laura Yametti, ABU’s Pro treasurer

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, the Uruguayan Biochemist Association (ABU) offered recognition
to the 35 Clinical Biochemists (BC) who graduated from 2020 to 2023. This annual event had tobe paused because of the COVID 19 pandemic and in 2023 resumed, so the graduates could bereceived.
The opening ceremony took place in the auditorium where our headquarter is, the Tower ofProfessionals, and began with the presentation of 3 videos made by ABU to promote the career, oneof which was awarded by The Latin American Confederation of Clinical Biochemist (COLABIOCLI).
The ABU´s President – QF. BC. Fernando Antúnez- congratulated the new graduates and in
his speech emphasized the importance of the role of ABU in defending the Clinical Biochemist
profession, in particular in the juridic defense that offers to its associates in situations where areexcluded in the Laboral field both public and private.
It was also commented the concerned and occupation for the actualization of the BC offeringwebinars, conversations, formation courses (some of which have curricular credits as the electives
courses for undergraduates), dictated by outstanding professionals both national and international.
He also spoked about the agreements between ABU and the Argentinian Biochemist Association(ABA) and the Spanish Association of Clinical Laboratory (AEFA) that allows to our associates toattend to their courses with the same price as to their respective associates.
In this capacitation framework it was referenced the ABU´s annual scholarship program to assist tocongresses, courses, internships and providing support to pursue specialties abroad.
In addition, the associates have the right to have access to scholarships from both COLABOCLI and
The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC).

In this occasion it was also held the official launch of the ABU´s Young Professionals Working Group
with the Leadership of BC Romina Medeiros, who represents ABU in the COLABOCLI ´s Young
Professionals Working Group.
In her intervention Romina Medeiros explained that “The working group is in framed in a wider
vision of COLABIOCLI that seeks to make our entities more efficient, operatives and dynamics by
the creation of strategic groups to impulse the participation of young professionals in each national
entity. The goals proposed are ambitious and focussed to strength both our association as eachof its members. Among them there is the realization of activities coordinated and integrated andthe generation of solid nexus between ABU and the University of the Republic (UdelaR). There isinterest in the generation of specialties, professional growth, and the contribution to the knowledge
advance in the Clinical Biochemistry field. This group also has the mission to organize congresses
and symposiums for all the associates, offering learning and networking opportunities. But above all,it is pretended to generate a working and confraternization space to assess the new professionals
to successfully enter in the Laboral field and provide advice to new graduate professionals to
consultations related to the professional performance, scholarship presentation among others. It is

Article continued on the next page42

Acknowledgement to the
New Clinical Biochemists

wished to create a safe space where concerns and necessities can be asked and at the same timeideas can be converted into reality”.
Her final message was: “We invite each of you to join to this exciting initiative. This is not only a group,
but a community that seeks mutual growth, the collaboration and conjunct advance. Together we canachieve much more”.
This new working group is aligned with COLBIOCLI´s Young Professionals working group and shares
its initiatives and plans the realization of joint activities. Some 2024 projects are: the planning in Aprilof the IFCC Global Med Lab Week and the participation in the 3 rd Conference of Young Professionals
in the XXVI Latin American Congress of Clinical Biochemist to be held from October 3rd to October
6th in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. It is also projected to organize the 4th conference of Young
Professionals in the XV Uruguayan Congress if Clinical Biochemist to be held in Montevideo, Uruguay
in 2025.
After the ceremony to the new professionals, there was a cocktail party in the patio in a distended
environment that was accompanied by pleasant surroundings and weather.

In the Auditorium of the Professionals Tower.

Welcoming by ABU´s President, QF. BC Fernando Antúnez

Members of the ABU´s Young Professionals Group

Clinical Biochemists honoured in the patio of theProfessionals Tower

43

Experts stress the importance of early detection of
occult liver disease
From the XXI Conference of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine(SEQCML), which was held on February 29 and March 1••

Early diagnosis reduces morbidity and mortality, possible complications, and the need foradvanced therapies such as liver transplantation.
Liver diseases, whose prevalence are increasing, are diagnosed in advanced stages, when
symptoms have developed, which is associated with a poor prognosis in the short and medium
term.

Liver fibrosis is one of the late manifestations of chronic liver diseases where liver tissue is replacedby scar tissue, as a result of inflammation caused by alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis, or
metabolic syndrome, among other factors. This is a long process, with symptoms that can remain
unnoticed for years, so its early identification would prevent its progression into cirrhosis andfacilitate the selection of patients for referral to specialists.
In this context, the Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine (SEQCML), within the framework of the XXI
Scientific Committee Conference, which was held on February 29 and March 1 in Seville, introduced
the importance of early non-invasive detection of liver fibrosis in the course, “Use of non-invasive
biomarkers in the detection and assessment of liver fibrosis for occult liver disease”. Additionally, thevarious available serum biomarkers were presented, as well as the role of the Clinical Laboratory inthe screening and evaluation of fibrosis.
Liver diseases affect a high percentage of the world’s population. In the European Union alone,nearly 29 million people suffer from chronic liver disease, according to data from the World HealthOrganization (WHO). Currently, viral hepatitis uses biomarkers for reference diagnostic tests, andthanks to effective screening strategies and direct antiviral treatment, its impact has decreased
significantly.
On the other hand, for both alcoholic liver disease (alcLD) and fatty metabolic liver disease (metHD),no effective diagnostic biomarkers are currently available. This was noted by Dr. Armando Raúl
Guerra, coordinator of the course of the XXI Conference of the Scientific Committee and presidentof the SEQCML Commission for Biochemical Assessment of Liver Disease, who noted the role of liver
fibrosis as the main prognostic factor of both diseases. In his words, “Our screening efforts for occult
liver disease should focus on the detection and assessment of the degree of fibrosis, mainly in thosecases in which the lesion has advanced and constitutes an imminent danger to the patient’s health,even though no other symptoms have yet been detected.”
According to Dr. Manuel Morales (researcher at IDIBAPS, CIBERehd and RedFibro), member of the
SEQCML Biochemical Assessment of Liver Disease Commission and physician at the Hospital Clínic ofBarcelona, this screening would have a major health impact, since, as he stated, “early diagnosis of
the pathology translates into a decrease in associated complications and a reduction in morbidity
and mortality and the need for advanced therapies such as liver transplantation.” In this way, as Dr.
Morales stressed, it would be possible to implement therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing theeffects of causal factors, “the implementation of new lifestyles and diet, the optimization or initiationof treatments for diabetes or obesity. and monitoring for the appearance of future complications.”
What is more, according to Dr. Morales, when establishing a screening strategy the inclusion
criteria in these programs should be clarified. “In addition, it is necessary to carry out more costeffectiveness studies that maximize all the causal factors and representation in different healthsystems.”

Article continued on the next page

44

Experts stress the importance of early
detection of occult liver disease

Paradigm shift
Today there is no established health policy for screening the population for liver fibrosis. However,according to Dr. Morales, “we are undergoing a paradigm shift with regard to the diagnosis ofliver fibrosis, “which is translating into a need to establish screening strategies for fibrosis using
non-invasive diagnostic markers.” In the opinion of Dr. María Patricia Sanz, member of the SEQCML
Biochemical Assessment of Liver Disease Commission, this is particularly true in populations with avery high risk of metabolic liver disease, such as patients with type 2 diabetes, “who would benefit
from referral to a Hepatology specialist.”
Dr. Adrià Juanola Mayos, hepatologist at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, (IDIBAPS and CIBERehd
researcher), defined non-invasive biomarkers as measurable and observable indicators in the humanbody that are used to detect, diagnose or monitor diseases or health conditions without requiring
invasive procedures. These markers, according to the specialist, would allow the early detection ofliver fibrosis “by reflecting the biochemical, molecular, and structural changes that occur in the liver
during the development of the disease.”
In the words of Dr. Juanola, the main advantage of non-invasive markers is that obtaining them does
not imply significant risks for the patient’s health, since they do not require invasive procedures suchas biopsies or other methods that may cause discomfort, pain or complications. “This makes themespecially useful in early diagnosis at a population level, as well as monitoring the progression of thedisease and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments, since they can be collected more frequently
and less traumatically than invasive biomarkers.”
The work of the Clinical Laboratory is fundamental in the implementation, dissemination, andappropriate use of serum biomarkers for liver fibrosis. According to Dr. Laura de La Hoz, memberof the SEQCML Commission for Biochemical Assessment of Liver Disease, the interpretation of theresults by a Clinical Laboratory professional is critical for taking full advantage of these markers,
since various factors other than liver fibrosis can affect the results. “Comments added to thelaboratory report can neutralize these deviations and protect the true value of these tests,” sheexplained.
In the opinion of Dr. Armando Raúl Guerra, president of the SEQCML Biochemical Assessment of Liver
Disease Commission, for this process to develop its true potential, “the physician must be involved
from the beginning in the conception of the tests, the evaluation of their diagnostic performance,
and in the design of related health strategies in each Ministry and Healthcare Management entity.
In addition, they must be involved in teaching and disseminating this tool among their clinicalcolleagues, whether in Primary or Specialized Care.”With the implementation of serum fibrosis markers there is the opportunity to stop liver disease at
an earlier stage, where, as Dr. Guerra recalled, “therapeutic interventions are of lower material andpersonal cost, and have the potential for a greater impact on improving the patient’s quality of life.”
www.seqc.es@SEQC_ML
Residentes del Laboratorio Clínico - SEQC
https://www.linkedin.com/company/seqc-ml/
SEQC-MLSEQC-MLSEQC-ML
seqcresidentes

45

Cardiovascular risk stratification using high sensitivity
Troponin I – Workshop at Indus Hospital and Health
Network, Karachi, Pakistan
By Fatima Kanani, Indus Hospital and Health Network

A hybrid session on “Cardiovascular risk stratification using high sensitivity Troponin I” was held aspart of pre-conference workshop in ICON 24- a flagship biennial multidisciplinary conference of Indus
Hospital and Health Network, conducted pan Pakistan from 20-27th January 2024. The workshop
was conducted by Section of Chemical Pathology at Indus Hospital, Karachi. It was held under IFCC
auspices and endorsed by Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathology, and was accredited for three
CME hours. It was attended by around 45 participants, virtually and physically. Dr. Sohail Khan,
imminent interventionalist cardiologist spoke about cardiovascular prevention. He emphasized
upon the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in Pakistan and the probable contributing
factors. He mentioned that in Pakistan one heart attack occurs every four seconds and forty deaths
occur every hour due to heart related diseases. The importance of risk assessment and life stylemodifications was stressed. Diet control, physical activity, lipid lowering medications and most of all,risk assessment in clinics and the use of troponins in this regard was addressed.
Dr. Christopher Viraunis discussed at length how high-sensitive troponin I can be used for screening
asymptomatic individuals for risk analysis. Describing the high-sensitive troponin reference limits, hesaid that individuals in the top five of the troponin-I distribution compared with the bottom five had
a 160% increase in mortality from cardiovascular causes. An important point of discussion was that
troponin levels can predicts cardiovascular events. A threshold of 6 ng/L is as considered high risk.
These levels can be reduced by statin therapy. Troponin decrease at one year is associated with
reduced risk of future coronary events regardless of cholesterol lowering.
Mr. Umar Ansari, from Abbott digital solutions, elaborated the role of machine learning anddeep learning applications in laboratory clinical decision support systems. This was discussed
in the context of cardiology patients. Clinical decision systems are capable of giving personizedinterpretative comments based on lab results, serial changes, demographics, risk factors andpresentation, and the features can be customized according to the laboratory requirements.
The three-hour workshop gave meaningful insights into the underused clinical utility of highsensitivity troponin test.

Dr. Umar Ansari giving a talk on “Patient care through state-

Dr. Sohail Khan giving a lecture on “Cardiovascular burdenof-the-art informatics using Clinical Decision Support (CDS)in Pakistan - Current Clinical Practices and Preventive

system”

Strategies”

Article continued on the next page46

Cardiovascular risk stratification using
high sensitivity Troponin I

Group photograph of on-site participants

47

News from Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry (JSCC)
2023 Article Award
By Hideo Sakamoto, Ph.D. International Exchange Committee of JSCC

The Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry (JSCC) Article Award is given to a person who had madeoutstanding academic research in clinical chemistry. In 2023, Masayuki Takai, Ph.D. was the winner ofthe Article Award. At the 63rd Annual Meeting of JSCC in Tokyo, Japan from October 27 to 29, 2023
award winner Dr. Masayuki Takai was congratulated by Dr. Takashi Miida, President of JSCC for his
outstanding work in clinical chemistry. In this issue, we would like to introduce winner of Article Award
to distribute his outstanding work.
Masayuki Takai, Ph.D. (Chief Investigator of Immunology and MDx Unit, R&D center, Shino-test
Corporation) is the winner of the 2023 JSCC Article Award, entitled with “Establishment of a novel
ELISA system for measuring periostin independently of formation of the IgA complex”.
In this article Dr. Takai and his team investigated whether the formation of the periostin-IgA complex
affects the original periostin ELISA system.
Periostin is a protein involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including allergic and fibrotic
diseases. It can potentially be used as a serum biomarker because of its ability to move easily fromthe site of production into body fluids, such as blood. Recently, it was reported that periostin forms
a complex with IgA in the human serum via intermolecular disulfide bonds. The formation of thiscomplex decreases the affinities of various anti-periostin monoclonal antibodies. However, it remains
unclear whether the periostin-IgA complex formation affects the original ELISA system for periostin(SS18A×SS17B).
In this study, Dr. Takai investigated whether the periostin-IgA complex formation affects the original
ELISA system and whether it is possible to establish a novel ELISA system that is not affected by
the complex formation.
He showed that the serum periostin value measured by the original ELISA system was significantly
higher in the reducing condition than in the non-reducing condition. This suggests that the formationof the periostin-IgA complex decreases the periostin values obtained using the original ELISA
system. In addition, complex formation was found to affect SS18A, which is the primary antibody
in the original periostin ELISA system, as assessed using immunoprecipitation assays in both the
non-reducing and the reducing conditions. Furthermore, Dr. Takai used immunoprecipitation assays
to demonstrate that several anti-periostin monoclonal antibodies were less affected by complex
formation, and established a novel ELISA system (SS16A×SS17B) that was able to measure periostin
independently of the IgA complex.
Although at present the clinical utility of the values obtained using this novel ELISA system remains
unclear, Dr. Takai believes that it has a unique utility for clinical applications not covered by theoriginal ELISA system. Therefore, this researcher anticipates that the novel ELISA system willcontribute significantly to medicine in the future.
Masayuki Takai, Ph.D. winner ofthe 2023 JSCC Article Award

48

Ushering in the New Age of medical Laboratories: frommodeling to practices
By Bernard Gouget, JIB 2023 International Coordinator, IFCC-ETD EC, IFCC LABAC representative, Jean
Marc Giannoli, LABAC President, Francois Blanchecotte, JIB 2023 President

Every year, the Days of Innovation in Biology (JIB 2023) emerge at the forefront of current eventswith the mutations in the healthcare system, the ongoing evolution of the discipline, and the patientcare journey. The 2023 edition, held in November at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, placed an evengreater emphasis on the international participation. This edition benefited from the presence ofProfessor Tomris Ozben, IFCC President (2024-2026), Dr. Alexander Haliassos, IFCC treasurer. Dr.
Christian Haddad, President of the Arab Federation of Clinical Biology (AFCB), came with a significant
delegation from Lebanon and representatives of IFCC-AFCB. Dr. Myrna Germanos-Haddad, Presidentof the Lebanese Biologists Association (ADBL), coordinated the session on healthcare centers intimes of war with speakers such as Dr. Youssef Saab from Médecins Sans Frontières and Professor
Mariam Klouche, who focused her initial intervention on women’s health before discussing recent
advances in tuberculosis diagnostics with Professor Florence Doucet-Populaire from CHU Antoine
Béclere APHP. Dr. Mathias Orth, chair of the EFLM Task Group on DTCT, sensitized us to “the Whysand Hows of DTCT” and ongoing work at EFLM, which he coordinates as the TF chair.
Professor Tomas Zima former Rector of Charles University in Prague (Czech Republic), who is also
the President-elect of EFLM for the term 2024-2025, along with Professor Elvar Theodorsson from
Linköping, Sweden, a city renowned for its cathedral and as a hub of the Swedish aerospace industry
due to the Saab aerospace factory, assisted us in elucidating the concept of Analytical Performance
Specifications (APS).
Firstly, the Stockholm Conference in 1999 was a milestone in attempting to reach a consensus on
how quality specifications should be established, and a hierarchy of models was set up. In 2014, 15
years later, the first EFLM Strategic Conference held in Milan allowed for conceptualizing the APS
concept. More recently, in 2023, the APS was at the core of the agenda of the 5th Symposium on the
Cutting Edge of Lab Medicine in Europe (CELME) in Prague, Czech Republic. The JIB 2023 provided an
opportunity to review and discuss the three different models previously agreed upon and to provide
practical examples of how this can be implemented.
Medical laboratories must estimate and validate the measurement uncertainty (MU) of tests
performed using analytical performance specifications (APS). Defining APS precisely and offering
insights into the practical clinical application’s suitability is crucial. APS criteria delineate the requisite
quality for analytical performance to furnish laboratory test information that meets clinical needs
for patient care and enhances health outcomes. The objective of setting analytical performancestandards is to enhance the accuracy of tests for improved patient outcomes, thereby enhancing
the diagnostic efficacy of tests (resulting in better, faster, and more appropriate diagnoses, aiding
in better treatment processes), and reducing the incidence of misdiagnosis. The central query
concerning APS revolves around determining the necessary quality level and the acceptable levelof uncertainty for patient safety or an acceptable risk of harm resulting from decisions based on alaboratory test result.
The 1st Strategic Conference of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine (EFLM), held in Milan (Italy) on November 24–25, 2014, facilitated the establishment of aconsensus through three models, which were subsequently published by S. Sandberg et al. in CCLM
under the title “Defining analytical performance specifications: Consensus Statement from the 1stStrategic Conference of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine”(Clin Chem Lab Med 2015; 53(6): 833–835). According to the authors, the hierarchy was streamlined
and delineated by three distinct models for setting analytical performance specifications.

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Ushering in the New Age of medical
Laboratories: from modeling to practices

There is a general consensus that certain models are better suited for specific measurands thanothers. These three models operate on different principles, assuming the availability of high-quality
studies or data for each. Hence, any proposed analytical performance specifications should always
be accompanied by an explanation of the rationale, the source, and the quality of the evidence
supporting the recommendation.
The three models are as follows:
Model 1: Effect of analytical performance on clinical outcomes This model is applied when themeasurement plays a central and well-defined role in decision-making for a specific disease or clinicalscenario, and test results must be interpreted within established decision limits. However, this modelis nearly impossible to implement due to a scarcity of relevant studies.
Model 2: Based on components of biological variation (BV) of the measurand. This model is applied
to measurands characterized by high homeostatic control or a “steady state” status in healthy
individuals. However, many studies used to determine BV lack population diversity. There arelimitations to this approach, such as the need to carefully assess the relevance and validity of
biological variation data, including factors like the presence of a steady state, appropriate timeintervals, the impact of intercurrent illnesses, and measurand concentrations. Model 2 should not
be used for measurands lacking sufficient homeostatic control (e.g., most hormones). The biologicalvariation database is available on the EFLM webpage.
Model 3: State-of-the-Art Based This model addresses the highest attainable level of analytical
performance technically feasible when a measurand does not have a central diagnostic role or strict
homeostatic control. It is applicable to any measurand and specimen type.
APS is closely linked to the measurement of uncertainty, which should be defined, for instance, in ISO
15189:2022 (part 3.19., 7.3.4.). The total contributing sources of uncertainty in the laboratory include
the uncertainty of reference material, IVD-MD calibration uncertainty, IVD-MD imprecision, and theindividual lab’s performance in the medical laboratory. The measurement uncertainty is importantfor giving objective information about the quality of individual laboratory performance, identifying
analytes that need analytical improvement for their clinical use, and asking IVD manufacturers towork to improve the quality of assay performance.
In his presentation, Elvar Theodorsson outlined how APS can be utilized in healthcare systems thatincorporate multiple labs and measuring systems. He noted that APS are typically compared to therepeatability uncertainty of results from a single in-vitro diagnostic medical device (IVD MD) overshort periods, particularly beneficial for point-of-care IVD MDs and short-term disease conditions
In conglomerates of laboratories where multiple in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD MDs) are
employed, alongside patients with chronic illnesses, it’s common for patient samples to undergo
analysis using up to five IVD MDs, occasionally sourced from different manufacturers. However, not
all measurement systems within the laboratory conglomerate are consistently utilized. In such cases,
it’s pertinent to assess an intermediate reproducibility uncertainty in comparison to the Analytical
Performance Specifications (APS). This assessment aids in understanding the reproducibility
uncertainty and its contributing factors, which should guide strategies aimed at minimizing bias andimproving overall measurement accuracy, rather than being directly compared to the APS.” Here are
the recommended measures in brief:
1. Establish shared responsibility for the quality of each measurand among all stakeholders in theconglomerate of laboratories.
2. Employ consistent use of stabilized control material across all laboratories within theconglomerate.

Article continued on the next page50

Ushering in the New Age of medical
Laboratories: from modeling to practices

3.
4.
5.

Implement split-sample or big-data patient result techniques to monitor and mitigate bias.
Ensure accessibility of control results from all laboratories within the conglomerate, presented
graphically and with relevant statistical summaries.
Reduce the diversity of measuring procedures, measurement systems, and frequency of lotnumber changes across the conglomerate of laboratories.

Variance component analysis (VCA) should be utilized, employing data from commutable control
samples, to compute reproducibility uncertainty and assess the relative impacts of key factors
contributing to measurement uncertainty. These data serve as invaluable resources for reducing
measurement uncertainty, ultimately benefiting the patients served by the conglomerate oflaboratories.
APS plays a crucial role in routine laboratory operations across various domains, including EQA
analysis, method selection, verification, comparison, and validation. It serves as a guiding frameworkfor numerous decisions that influence laboratory performance. The selection of APS should be
informed by the impact of measurand performance on patient management, with most practicalspecifications being derived from biological variation and state-of-the-art standards.
The choice of APS model in the laboratory should be based on available data, the quality ofevidence, and alignment with the specific analyte. Different test applications may warrant different
APS, and distinct criteria should be tailored for each measurand. APS selection should prioritize theimpact of laboratory test performance on patient management, including medical decisions andsubsequent actions.
Furthermore, APS should reflect an acceptable risk level for medical decisions, though estimating
this risk of harm can be challenging. Therefore, careful consideration and evaluation are essential indetermining appropriate APS for effective and safe patient care.
APS still raises numerous questions and uncertainties, particularly concerning preanalytical andpostanalytical processes. It remains unclear how precise data medical doctors require for decisionmaking in clinical processes. Determining the acceptable level of uncertainty for different analytes
in clinical medicine is also ambiguous. Clinical decisions necessitate consistent laboratory results
across different measurement procedures, meaning results should be equivalent within an
uncertainty that aligns with an acceptable risk of harm resulting from decisions based on a lab test
result.
Despite its importance, the meaning of APS remains poorly understood, with many professionals
lacking familiarity with the topic. There is a critical need to disseminate understanding of APS
throughout the entire medical laboratory community. APS should transition from being solely
a laboratory concept to becoming an integral part of clinical practice, encompassing analytics
characteristics and involving IVD manufacturers.
Through this APS session and other international sessions at JIB 2023, various topics havedemonstrated that laboratory medicine and medical biologists hold the keys to improving the healthstatus of populations. To achieve this, promoting an integrative approach and considering theindividual within a humanistic, preventive, and transdisciplinary framework is also important. Thisapproach is particularly relevant as it considers all health determinants, including individual, social,economic, and environmental factors.

Article continued on the next page51

Ushering in the New Age of medical
Laboratories: from modeling to practices

From L to R: Tomas Zima (CZ), Alexander Haliassos (GR), Anne

From L to R: Dr Francois Blanchecotte, JIB 2023 President, Dr

Vassault (FR), Bernard Gouget (FR), Elvar Theodorsson (SE),Gregory Emery, Director General of Health, Ministry of HealthTomris Ozben (TR), Jean-Marc Giannoli (FR)and Prevention (MoHP) (courtesy of Renaud Degas, Agencede presse Pi+)

From L to R: Dr Francois Blanchecotte President of theSyndicat Des Biologists (SDB) and JIB 2023 President, Dr
Gregory Emery, Director General of Health, MoHP, Prof.
Tomris Ozben, IFCC President, Dr Bernard Gouget, JIB 2023
International coordinator, IFCC Labac representative, IFCCETD, Executive Committee (courtesy of Renaud DEGAS,
Agence de presse Pi+)52

News from the IFCC Website
Call for submission
Submissions for the fifth WHO model list of essential in vitro diagnostics (EDL 5)
Deadline: 30 June 2024, 12PM CESTEDL Secretariat is pleased to announce the opening of the call for submissions for the fifth edition of
the WHO model list of essential in vitro diagnostics (EDL 5). Details of the call including the deadline,
priorities and submission process can be found here. We encourage you to prepare an applicationand invite you to reach us at EDLsecretariat@who.int to express your intention to apply for the EDL
5.

53

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

Title

Place

May 26 - Jun 30,
2024

XXVI IFCC WORLDLAB Dubai 2024

Dubai,UAE

May 26, - Jun 30
2024

AFCB Congress in conjunction
with the XXVI IFCC WorldLab
Dubai 2024 Congress

Dubai,UAE

May 26,2024

3rd IFCC Forum for Young
Scientists

Dubai,AE

Oct 3 - 6,
2024

XXVI COLABIOCLI 2024

Cartagena,CO

Oct 31 - Nov 3,
2024

APFCB 2024 Sydney

Sidney,AU

May 18 - 22,
2025

XXVI IFCC-EFLM
EUROMEDLAB 2025

Brussels,BE

Oct 25 30, 2026

XXVII IFCC WORLDLAB 2026

New Dehli,IN

Oct 10 - 13,
2027

APFCB 2027 KUALA LUMPUR

Kuala
Lumpur, MY

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC-EFLM EUROMEDLAB
2027

Venue to be
selected

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC WORLDLAB 2028

Venue to be
selected

Article continued on the next page54

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC-EFLM EUROMEDLAB
2029

Venue to be
selected

Date to be
selected

XXVII IFCC WORLDLAB 2030

Venue to be
selected

Corporate Member Events with
IFCC Auspices
Date

Title

Place

May 7 - Jun 29,
2024

Peripheral blood smear, bloodcount interpretation, and clinicalcorrelation

QualityConsulting
online event,MX

May 18,2024

InterQCTopics: Integrating
Validation, Verification, andMeasurement Uncertainty with
ISO 15189: EnhancingLaboratory
Quality and Compliance

QualityConsulting
online event,MX

May 18,2024

International Symposium on
Laboratory

SNIBE,
Tashkent,
Uzbekistan

Jun 20,2024

International Symposium on
Laboratory

SNIBE, Paris,
FR

Sep 14,2024

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

Qualityconsulting
online event,BR

Nov 16,2024

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

Qualityconsulting
online event,HR

Article continued on the next page55

Other events with
IFCC auspices
Click here56

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IFCC Executive Board 2024 - 2026

TomrisOZBEN
President

Khosrow
ADELI
Past-President

SergioBERNARDINI
SecretaryAlexander
HALIASSOS
Treasurer

TriciaRAVALICO
Corporate
Representative

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

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

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

D. GRUSON (BE)
Emerging
Technologies
Division Chair

P. LAITINEN (FI)Congresses andConferences
Committee Chair

Regional Representatives

R. ERASMUS
AfricanFederation ofClinical Chemistry(AFCC)

O. NAJJAR
ArabFederation ofClinical Biology(AFCB)

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

C. COBBAERT (NL)
Scientific
Division Chair

N. RIFAI (US)
Education andManagement
Division Chair

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

58

IFCC Membership
Full members

Albania (AL)
Algeria (DZ)
Argentina (AR)Armenia (AM)Australasia and New
Zealand (AU/NZ)
Austria (AT)Azerbaijan (AZ)
Belgium (BE)Bolivia (BO)
Bosnia Herzegovina (BA)
Brazil (BR)
Bulgaria (BG)
Canada (CA)Chile (CL)
China Beijing (CN)China Taipei (TW)
Colombia (CO)Croatia (HR)Cuba (CU)
Cyprus (CY)
Czech Republic (CZ)
Denmark (DK)
Dominican Rep (DO)
Ecuador (EC)Egypt (EG)Estonia (EE)
Ethiopia (ET)Finland (FI)France (FR)Georgia (GE)Germany (DE)Greece (GR)
Guatemala (GT)Hong Kong (HK)
Hungary (HU)
Iceland (IS)India (IN)Indonesia (ID)
Iran (IR)Iraq (IQ)
Ireland (IE)
Israel (IL)
Italy (IT)Japan (JP)Jordan (JO)
Kazakhstan (KZ)
Kenya (KE)
Korea (KR)Kosovo (XK)Corporate members

Latvia (LV)
Lebanon (LB)
Libya (LY)
Lithuania (LT)
Luxembourg (LU)
Malawi (MW)Malaysia (MY)Mexico (MX)Montenegro (ME)
Morocco (MA)
Myanmar (MM)
Nepal (NP)
Netherlands (NL)
Nigeria (NG)North Macedonia (MK)Norway (NO)Pakistan (PK)Palestine (PS)Panama (PA)Paraguay (PY)
Peru (PE)Philippines (PH)Poland (PL)Portugal (PT)
Romania RO)
Russia (RU)
Saudi Arabia (SA)Serbia (SRB)
Singapore (SG)Slovak Republic (SK)Slovenia (SI)South Africa (ZA)
Spain (ES)Sri Lanka (LK)
Sudan (SD)
Sweden (SW)Switzerland (CH)
Syrian Arab Republic (SY)
Thailand (TH)Tunisia (TN)Türkiye (TR)Ukraine (UA)United Arab Emirates (UAE)
United Kingdom (UK)
United States (US)Uruguay (UY)
Vietnam (VN)
Zambia (ZM)
Zimbabwe (ZW)

Regional Federations

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

Abbott Laboratories
Agappe Diagnostics Ltd
Arkray Inc.
Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp.
Asesores de Calidad para
Laboratorios
Autobio Diagnostics Co. Ltd.
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
Becton Dickinson
Bio Rad Laboratories
Biomasterclin Laboratorios
Venezuela
Brooks Automation Italy Srl
Controllab
C.P.M. Compagnia Per La
Medicina® Srl
Diagnostica Stago
Diasorin Spa
DiaSys Diagnostic Systems
Gmbh
ET Healthcare Inc.
Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical
Corporation
Fujirebio-Europe
Gentian As
Greiner Bio-One
Helena Biosciencies Europe
Hemas Hospital Pvt
Hytest Ltd.
I-Sens, Inc.
Immunodiagnostic Systems
IDS
Instrumentation Laboratory
Jiangsu Bioperfectus
Technologies Co. Ltd.

Labor Team W Ag
Labor Dr. Wisplinghoff
Lumiradx Uk Ltd.
Maccura Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.
Medicalsystem Biotechnology
Co., Ltd.
Medix Biochemica
Menarini Diagnostics
Mindray
Nittobo Medical Co. Ltd.
Oneworld Accuracy
PerkinElmer
Phc Europe B.V.
Quality Academics, S.C.
Quidelortho
Radiometer Medical Aps
Randox Laboratories Ltd.
Roche Diagnostics Gmbh
Sansure Biotech Inc
Sebia S.A.
Sentinel Ch Spa
Shanghai KehuaBioengineering Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Yhlo Biotech
Siemens Healthcare
Diagnostics
Snibe Co., Ltd
Synlab International Gmbh
Sysmex Europe Gmbh
Technogenetics
The Binding Site Group Ltd.
Thermo Fisher ScientificTosoh Corporation
United Robotics Group Gmbh

Affiliate Members

Botswana: Institute of Clinical Laboratory Professionals
Brazil: Sociedade Brasileira de Patologia Clínica / Medicina
Laboratorial (SBPC/ML)
China: Lab Medicine Committee, China Association of Medical
Equipment (LMC)
Egypt: Egyptian Association of Healthcare Quality and Patient
SafetyFrance: French National Network of Accredited Laboratories ofMedical Biology (LABAC)
India: Association of Medical Biochemists of India (AMBI)
Iran: Iranian Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctors (IACLD)
Jordan: Society for Medical Technology & Laboratories (SMTL)
Kazakhstan: Public Association - Federation of Laboratory
Medicine (FLM)
Mexico: Federación Nacional de Químicos Clínicos (CONAQUIC
A.C.)
Mexico: Colegio Nacional de Químicos Clínicos en Medicina deLaboratorio (CONQUILAB)
Mexico: Federación Nacional de Colegios Profesionales de laQuímica Clínica, A.C. (FENACQC)
Nepal: Nepalese Association for Clinical Chemistry (NACC)
Philippines: Philippine Council for Quality Assurance in ClinicalLaboratories (PCQACL)
Romania: Order of the Biochemists, Biologists, Chemists in
Romanian Health System (OBBCSSR) Serbia: Serbian Society for
Clinical Laboratory Medicine and Science (SCLM)
Spain: Andalusian Society for Clinical Analysis and Laboratory
Medicine (SANAC)
Spain: Asociación Española de Biopatología Médica - Medicinade Laboratorio (AEBM-ML)
Spain: Asociación Española de Farmacéuticos Analistas (AEFA)
Sri Lanka: College of Chemical Pathologists of Sri Lanka (CCPSL)
Türkiye: Society of Clinical Biochemistry Specialists (KBUD)
Ukraine: Association for Quality Assurance of Laboratory
Medicine (AQALM)
United Arab Emirates: Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA)

59

enewsPublisher
Communications and Publications Division(CPD) of the IFCCThe Communications and Publications
Division publishes ten editions of the e-Newsper year, including two double issues.
EditorKatherina Psarra, MSc, PhD
Department of Immunology Histocompatibility Evangelismos Hospital,
Athens, Greece
E-mail: enews@ifcc.org
The eNews is distributed to all IFCC
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Deadlines for submissions to the eNews
N° 1/2 – January/February: by mid January
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If you want to submit an article oradvertisement to be published in the eNews,
send it to: Katherina Psarra, Editor, IFCC
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Contents may not be reproduced without
the prior permission of the Communications
and Publications Division (CPD) of the IFCC.

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