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News from Regional Federations and National Associations
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From the Latvian Society of Laboratory specialists
 Contributed by Dzintars
Ozolins, MD, PhD,
President, Latvian Society
of Laboratory Specialists
Importance of sexually transmitted
infections underestimated as a potential health
impact.
As demonstrated during the European Conference of National
Strategies for Chlamydia Trachomatis and Human Papillomavirus (NSCP
conference) in May 25-27, 2011, held in Jurmala, Latvia, there are,
based on official individual country statistics and reported
numbers of cases, huge differences in the apparent incidence of
chlamydia infection in European countries. Evidence also
suggests that in many countries the actual prevalence of chlamydia
infection is substantially higher than official statistics.
As chlamydial infection is widespread in the population and
largely asymptomatic, the number of infections detected depends
critically on the number (proportion of the population) of people
tested; whether people without symptoms are screened or not; the
type and performance characteristics of the different laboratory
tests with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Official
statistics also depend on whether detected infections are reported,
on who reports, on how complete reporting is (% labs; physicians
reporting); and whether they are compiled at a national level.
The trends in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in
different countries across Europe are likely to be influenced by
the population the increasing movement between countries and the
increasing fluidity of borders. It is therefore expected that
common underlying factors would be associated with similar rates of
infection in different countries in the region. The official
statistics however suggest more than 50-fold differences in rates
of reported Chlamydia cases by 100,000 population.
In this context, a vicious cycle occurs, which may be
characterised as 'if you don't look, you don't see'. In many
countries, STIs are not recognised as a serious public health
problem. Official statistics are unreliable due to lack of
screening; inadequate surveillance systems and lack of
reporting. In these situations, apparent infection rates
being low, the view is that STIs are not a serious problem while
paradoxically actual rates of STIs may be high and
increasing. In a context of diminishing state funding and
deterioration of health systems and services in many countries, the
motivation for physicians or microbiologists to report cases is
low; and there is no time or funding to carry out secondary
prevention (screening, partner notification).
This NSCP conference arises from the Project European Conference
of National Strategies for Chlamydia Trachomatis and Human
Papillomavirus-NSCP which has received funding from the European
Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme.
Disclaimer: The author acknowledges that the views expressed in
the article are not necessarily those of the IFCC.
The full Conference Report will be published soon on www.cthpv.org Conferences
mentioned below will develop achievements of NSCP conference.
The next International Conference of National Strategies
for TORCH complex, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Human
Papillomavirus will be held in November 15-16, 2012 in Kiev
under the Presidency of Professor George N. Drannik, President of
Ukrainian Society of Allergology and clinical immunology. Please
visit www.iecclm.org to find
information about the conference.
The 2nd European Conference of National Strategies for Chlamydia
Trachomatis and Human Papillomavirus will be held in May 23-24,
2013 in Berlin.
The acceptance of Professor Harald zur Hausen, who shared the
2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his
work on papillomaviruses and cervical cancer, to act as Conference
President assures the high scientific level of the meeting. Please
visit www.cthpv.org to find
information about the conference.
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From COLABIOCLI
Contributed by: Pra. Dra Ana
Leticia Maselli President COLABIOCLI
COLABIOCLI develops a
Distance Learning Course on Quality Management Systems and Good
Laboratory Practices
Given the growing number of diseases that threaten public health
and the need for accurate and reliable laboratory testing to be
available in every country, the COLABIOCLI Committee of Quality,
Educational and Scientific Program and Finance has mandated its
Working Group on Distance Education to develop, during 2010 and
2011, a Distance Learning Course on Quality Management Systems and
Good Laboratory Practices.
Two hundred young professionals and students participants, from
19 countries received training under the coordination of the
Fundación Bioquímica de Argentina and the certification of the
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia of the University San
Carlos of Guatemala. This Distance Learning Course was developed in
close collaboration with the PAHO/WHO Public Health Laboratory
Services and it is based on the II Edition of the PAHO Curso de
Gestión de Calidad y Buenas Prácticas de Laboratorio, (Course on
Quality Management and Good Laboratory Practices) 2009, ISBN
978-92-75-33028-9.
This Distance Learning Course has allowed
the improvement of the performance of the laboratories in patient
care and surveillance as it enabled the participants to disseminate
their newly acquired knowledge in the Region and thus facilitate
the review of national regulations for Medical Laboratories and
their operational accomplishment to meet internationally recognized
quality standards.
The present COLABIOCLI
Executive Board
The last General Assembly was held in April 2010 in Santiago
Chile, where the Executive Board was reelected. The Operational
Structure of COLABIOCLI, consist of an Executive Board. The
Executive Board reelected during the XIX Latin American Meeting of
Clinical Biochemistry celebrates in April 2010 Santiago of
Chile. The officers of the Executive Board are: President Ana
Leticia Maselli Guatemala, Vice President Norberto Cabutti
Argentina, Secretary Angel Rodríguez, Guatemala, Treasurer,
Carolina Richter Guatemala, Members: Manuel Morejon, Cuba, Loida
González, Dominican Republic, Graciela Queiruga from Uruguay.
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From the Romanian Association of Medical Laboratories
Contributed by Dr Minodora
Dobreanu - Past president RAML
The 6th
Conference of the Romanian Association of Medical Laboratories
(RAML) in Piatra Neamt, Romania, a success
The main goal of RAML is to
maintain and enhance high professional standards through improved
laboratory policies and technology meant to support health care via
laboratory research and good laboratory practice. The RAML
conferences have acquired a reputation as the most prominent and
efficient meetings in the national community of laboratory
medicine, being a landmark of the development of this field in
Romania and of active affiliation.
The 6th Conference of
the Romanian Association of Medical Laboratories was held from
1st to 4th of June 2011, in Piatra Neamt -
Romania under the leadership of Professor Eugen Carasevici, RAML
President. 273 participants from public and private
laboratories attended the conference taking the opportunity to stay
informed of the development of new laboratory technologies in
compliance with regulatory requirements.
As in previous years, leading
experts in the fields of Laboratory Medicine took part to the
event. This year we enjoy the opportunity to have as distinguished
guests members of the executive board of International Federation
of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Dr. Graham Beastall,
IFCC President, Dr. Päivi Hannele Laitinen, IFCC secretary and Dr.
Grazyna Sypniewska, IFCC Communication and Publication Division and
eJIFCC editor.
The 7 plenary and 3 poster sessions
of scientific program included topics from all sections of clinic
laboratory activity, with a special focus on the technology
development, instrumentation and laboratory management. Fully aware
of the fact that the complexity of laboratory practice have had an
impressive and rapid evolution, specific goals of the event was to
increase knowledge in fundamentals of new molecular investigation,
areas which show the tendency of becoming routine in our daily
activity. Also Lab management and the place of Medical Laboratories
in the process of translational medicine were subjects of concern.
A prominent consideration was given to value added to Laboratory
Medicine in the frame of managed care and quality management. The
Conference was accompanied by a laboratory equipment and reagents
exhibition.
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From the Uruguayan Society
Contributed by: Dra.
Ana-Maria Piana,
Member of the IFCC eNewsletter Working Group
A consortium of
Uruguayan health professional societies holds a meeting on glycated
hemoglobin.
On July 30th 2011, The Uruguayan Society for
Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Society of Diabetology and
Nutrition of Uruguay, the Cathedra of Endocrinology and Metabolism
of Uruguay, the Uruguayan Society of Clinical Pathology (SUPAC),
the Department of Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, the
Committee of Standardization and Quality Control (CECC), the
Cathedra of Clinical Analysis of Faculty of Chemistry, the
Uruguayan Biochemistry Association (ABU) and Bayer SA, Diabetes
Division sponsored and held a meeting on glycated hemoglobin during
which the attendees addressed the value of glycated hemoglobin in
the diagnosis and follow-up of diabetes, the harmonization of
measurements and quality control in terms of the National
reality.
On September 3rd 2011, the Uruguayan Biochemistry
Association (ABU), in association with the Centre of Nephrology of
Clinicas Hospital, the Committee of Standardization and Quality
Control (CECC), the Medical Federation of the Provinces,
(FEMI), the National Fund of Resources,(FNR), the
Clinical Laboratory of Clinicas Hospital, the National Programme of
Renal Health, the Uruguayan Society of Nephrology,(SUN) and The
Uruguayan Society of Clinical Pathology (SUPAC) has held a
meeting aiming at acquiring a consensus on the role of total
urinary protein in assessment and diagnosis of Chronic Kidney
Disease. The Organizing Committee members met at the end of the
meeting to write the recommendations and to plan the dissemination
the information.
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From CUBRA, Argentina
Contributed by Dra.
Alajandra Arias, Pro Treasurer CUBRA
The Medical
Confederation of Argentina (COMRA) and the Confederation of Health
Professionals (COPROSA)
hold the 1st National Health Congress
On 8 and 9 September took place in the city of Buenos Aires the
first National Health Congress, organized by the Medical
Confederation of Argentina (COMRA) and the Confederation of Health
Professionals (COPROSA) organized by the Confederation Medical,
Pharmaceutical Federation, Confederation Biochemistry and
Dentistry.
The motto was, "Health Policy 2012 - 2020 - towards a
policy of national consensus"
Attended by special guests
(speakers): Drs. Ginés González García, Aldo Neri, Alberto Mazza
and Hector Lombardo, Mario Rovere, Francisco Maglio, Carlos
Castrillón, Elías Hurtado Hoyo, William Williams, Jorge Gilardi,
Ruben Tucci, Avellaneda Roque, Ricardo Aizcorbe, Dr. Carlos
Navarro, Gustavo Mammoni, Cdor. Ricardo Bellagio. This meeting was
honored by the presence of national and international authorities.
Two plenary lectures were developed, present and future of health
care in the public, private and social security and State Health
Policy for the coming years. The workshops addressed issues such
as, training of human resources for health: pre and post-graduate
human resource management in health, financing of health care,
occupational hazards and working conditions in each of the
subsystems. At the conference talked about sawing off the Medical
Health situation.
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From the Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular
Pathology
Contributed by Felip Antoja
Ribò, Secretary of the Spanish Societyof Clinical Biochemistry
andMolecularPathology,
Member of the IFCC Newsletter Working Group
Professor
Francesca Canalías receives the Scientific Award
from the Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular
Pathology
The 2011 award winner of the Scientific Award is Professor
Francesca Canalías, former President of the Education Committee of
the SEQC, Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and
the Director of the Laboratory of Clinical Enzymology Reference
(LREC). Sh e is one of the few who are members of the
laboratory network Reference Joint Committee for Traceability in
Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM). She also has been member of the IFCC
Committee on Reference Systems for Enzymes (C-RSE) from 2005 to
2011. The award was given to Professor Francesca Canalias, on May
26, in Ibiza (Balearic Islands), by the President of the Scientific
Committee, Dr. Carmen Mar.
The Scientific Committee (Comité Científico) is one of the
various sections involved in the Spanish Society (SEQC). Currently
it consists of 19 committees and two working groups, each one with
a chairperson and at least six members. They are engaged in
drafting documents, organizing courses and conferences and
developing monographs.
The Scientific Committee in 1999 created an award that bears his
name in order to recognize the scientific activity and the
contribution of a member of SEQC for the dissemination of
scientific knowledge to the scientific community through the
Society. The Scientific Committee decides the award, from some
candidates that may be proposed by any member of the Society.
Dr. Carmen Mar hands the award to Professor Francesca Canalias
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From the Vietnam Association of Clinical Biochemists
Contributed by Prof. Hoang
Thi Bich Ngoc, President,
Vietnam Association of Clinical Biochemists (VACB)
More than 300 delegates
attend the Xth Annual Congress of the Vietnam
Association of Clinical Biochemists in Do Son
On August 19th ann 20th 2011, in Do Son (Hai Phong
province), the Vietnam Association of Clinical Biochemists (VACB)
held its Xth Annual Congress in conjunction with Annual
Scientific Conference of Clinical Biochemistry of Hanoi and
Northern Provinces of Vietnam, to which more than 300 delegates of
many provinces of Vietnam participated.
Prof. Dai Duy Ban, President of the VACB, chaired this event and
conducted the election of the new Executive Board that will serve
until December 2015. Prof. Hoang Thi Bich Ngoc was elected
President (hoangbichngoc.hs@gmail.com);
Prof Pham Thien Ngoc, Vice-President and General secretary
(thienngoc2001@hotmail.com),
Dr. Tran Hoai Nam, Executive Vice-President (HoaiNamVThos@yahoo.com.vn)
Dr.Tran Huu Thang, Executive Vice-President of the Vietnam
Medical Association (VMA), no behalf of the VMA, recognized and
congratulated the new VACB National Committee.
The Scientific Conference included nearly 20 presentations in a
wide array of fields in Clinical Chemistry such Tumor Markers,
Molecular Biology, Immunology, Proteomics, Genomics,
Pharmacogenomics, Endocrinology, Quality Control and others. The
scientific discussions were very active and cheerful.
The VACB Congress has outlined an interesting program for the
2011-2015 period: organization of the Golden Jubilee of the
50th Anniversary of the foundation of the VACB
(1963-2013) and active international cooperation.
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Left to right: Prof Hoang Van Son,
member of the Executive National Committee of the VACB;
Prof Le Duc Trinh; Prof Do Dinh Ho,member of the ENC of VACB; Prof
Bach Vong Hai;
Prof Dang Hanh Phuc; Prof Hoang Thi Bich Ngoc, VACB new President;
Prof Pham Thi Mai
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Dr.Tran Huu Thang, Executive
Vice-President of the Vietnam General Medical Association
(VGMA) (right) congratulated Prof Hoang Thi Bich Ngoc (left) - new
President of the VACB
The Executive National Committee of
the VACB
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From the Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry - Clinical
Biochemistry.
Contributed by A.
Grigoratou, Eur Clin Chem,
member of the scientific committee of Greek Society of
Clinical Chemistry - Clinical Biochemistry
Brief report on the
9th National Congress of Clinical Chemistry held in
Athens in 2010
The Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry - Clinical
Biochemistry, founded in 1989 counts more than 500 members. The
report concerns the 9th National Congress of Clinical
Chemistry that was held in Athens, from 7th to
9th October2010 with many participants coming from all
over the country. The program was of high quality and wide-ranged
and included all the latest information about the scientific
progress on Clinical Chemistry.
During the opening ceremony professor E Frangoulis presented the
prominent and inspiring work of the late Professor K Sekeris.
Professor M Pazzagli from Florence, Italy, gave the opening lecture
on the standardization and improvement of genetic pre-analytical
tools and procedures for in vitro diagnostics (SPIDIA project).
Lectures during the meeting covered a vast array of subjects
such as: Special issues of quality goals and quality indicators in
diagnostic laboratories, Mechanisms of the immune system and
ageing, Medical applications of recombinant erythropoietins
and analogs, Detection and clinical relevance of circulating tumor
cells, The present and the future of Point of Care
Testing -PoCT, The physiological and pathological process of
the mechanisms of inflammation, The role of inflammation in
metabolic syndrome, The present and the future of diagnostic
testing (M Ferrari), Postmenopausal obesity.
Four symposiums dealt with new developments on the cancer
molecular diagnosis (Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, novel
biomarkers for the diagnosis and the prognosis of cancer, the
contribution of the diagnostic lab to clinical practice and
personalized medicine); testing strategies on transfusion
transmitted infections (The serological confirmatory testing in
transfusion, Molecular techniques for donated blood testing, Global
warming and blood-transmitted infectious diseases); cardiovascular
biomarkers (Next generation cardiovascular biomarkers, Serum
homocysteine and paraoxonase-1, Lp-pla-2, myeloperoxidase and
gdf-15 in cardiovascular diseases). One symposium was devoted to
the postdoctoral studies on Clinical Chemistry and Clinical
Biochemistry in Greece.
The 9th National Congress also included two
workshops. The first was dedicated to molecular diagnosis in modern
clinical lab and the second referred to the importance of
bioinformatics in molecular biology.
Two industry-sponsored workshops were included: one by Medimec
and one by Abbott (Pathway/Lean & Six Sigma). An exhibition of
equipment and reagents in the field of clinical lab was on
display.
During the closing ceremony five women senior scientists,
members of our society (E Anagnostou - Cacaras, V Ioannidou, S
Kakari, A Sarandakou and I Fokas) were honored for their
contribution in the development of Clinical Chemistry in
Greece.
The 14th Continuing Education Course on "Analytical
methods used in clinical chemistry labs" that took place on 9th
April 2011 also in Athens, consisted of six lectures: The past, the
present and the future of automation in the clinical lab, the
evolution of reagents of automated analysis, Immunological assays,
Chemiluminescence and HPLC-MS analysis.
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From the South African Association for Clinical Biochemistry
(SAACB)
Contributed By Prof Rajiv
Erasmus, IFCC eNewsletter WG Member
 The South African
Association for Clinical Biochemistry (SAACB) held a very
successful annual meeting held at Sandton Convention Centre,
Johannesburg from 1st to 4th September, 2011. Dr Remaley from NIH
was the SAACB invited guest. Apart from Dr Remaley there were 4
other international invited guests. They included Ms Janice Gills,
Quality Manager from RCPA, Australia and Prof Leonard,
paediatrician from London . SAACB held its 2nd
Council meeting and its annual AGM on 2nd September 2012. While the
Council meeting was well attended the AGM was poorly attended. The
president's report noted the various achievements that the SAACB
has made in the last year. The key focus for 2012 will be to
strengthen its relationships with sister societies in Africa, Asia
and Europe
Two SAACB members (Professor Erasmus and Professor Matsha)
participated in a research methodology workshop given to
postgraduate students from the College of Health Sciences,
University of Kwazulu Natal (UKZN) . This workshop took place
in Durban at the Westville Campus from 16th
-18th of September.
The IFCC sponsored a course in Quality Management in Nairobi,
Kenya. The course was held from 26th to 27th September and was a
huge success with nearly 150 participants. There were participants
from nearly 7 countries in Africa. 18 pathologists from
Nigeria also attended this course and certificates of
participation were awarded by the IFCC.
SAACB members are playing a key role in National Health
Laboratory Services (NHLS ) activities. These
include Dr Jaya George who is on the NHLS Point of
Care Committee and Dr George van der Watt who is on the NHLS
Standardization subcommittee. Dr Rhena Delport and Dr Tsagaane
represented SAACB at the Human Resource Planning Committee of
the Ministry of Health of South Africa in Pretoria that was
held on 8th September, 2011
The Human Quality Assurance Systems Annual Congress
(HUQAS) will be held in Nairobi, Kenya on the 29th
October, 2011.
The Federation of South African Societies of
Pathology (FSASP ) has nominated Professor Erasmus, the
SAACB President, as secretary for 2 years.
The next FSASP meeting will take place in Cape Town from
27th to 30th September, 2012. This meeting
will jointly be held with the Association of Pathologists of East,
Central and Southern Africa (APECSA). The FSASP Organizing
Committee is made up of: Dr G van der Watt (SAACB); Dr J Simpson
(Microbiology); Prof A Abayomi (Haematology); Prof Erasmus
(APECSA)
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From the Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia
Contributed by Prof. Snežana
Jovičić, Institute of Medical Biochemistry Clinical Centre of
Serbia, Belgrade
and Member of the IFCC eNews Working Group
The 7th IFCC
Symposium for Balkan Region hosted by the Society of Medical
Biochemists of Serbia in Belgrade
dedicated to the standardization and performance of
biomarkers
Last June, the Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia once
again had the pleasure to welcome colleagues to the 7th
IFCC Symposium for Balkan Region, organized traditionally under the
auspices of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry
(IFCC) and European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory
Medicine (EFCC) in Belgrade. This year, the Symposium was dedicated
to the burning issue of biomarkers, entitled "Biomarkers: From
Standardization to Performance". Like in the past six years, many
renowned lecturers marked this meeting.
Topics covered a vast array of domains from fetal life to aging
and included among many other, the validation and development of
biomarkers and to guidelines for their application, the definition
of biomarker performance and clinical validity in terms of the
marker's diagnostic accuracy, prospective biomarkers in
cardiovascular events, the non-enzymatic post-translational
modification derived products as new biomarkers of protein aging,
biomarkers for the prediction of ovarian cancer, biomarkers of
fetal anomalies in first and second trimester screening strategies.
Glycomics was also introduced as a promising source of new
biomarkers as part of the experience from the Balkan region.
The presentation on the importance of the European bio-banking
infrastructure initiative for translational research was of high
interest in the perspective of possible European multi-national
collaborative studies in developing and validating new biomarkers
using large databases.
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Symposium lecturers during trip to Mokra Gora (from left to
right): Aslan Diler, Grazyna Sypniewska, Bernard Gouget,
Nada Majkić-Singh, Patrick MM Bossuyt, Sanja Stanković, Victor
Blaton
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