Editorial
IFCC SCIENTIFIC DIVISION
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Contributed by Prof. Ian S.Young, Vice-Chair, on behalf of IFCC SD

The Scientific Division (SD) of the IFCC aims to advance the science of Laboratory Medicine by identifying technical innovations and diagnostic strategies of relevance to Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and assisting the transfer of these to the profession. In particular, the SD promotes the standardization of laboratory tests and the comparability of patient results through the development of reference measurement systems, or harmonization activities where this is not possible at present. The overall purpose of this activity is to benefit clinical care and improve patient outcomes. The SD also seeks to respond to the scientific and technical needs of IFCC Member Societies, IFCC Corporate Members and external agencies, and participates actively in the scientific programs of IFCC congresses and other scientific meetings. An additional role is to establish standards for scientific and technical aspects of good laboratory practice.

The SD initiates and manages projects with its own resources or through its Committees (C) and Working Groups (WG). Work is conducted in cooperation with other IFCC units and increasingly with relevant National and International Organisations. Each of the C/WGs functions has clear terms of reference together with an agreed schedule of activity. The SD assists in the development of project proposals, maintains oversight of the work carried out by C/WGs, undertakes an annual review of progress and reviews and approves any documents that result from the work. In addition, the SD organizes scientific symposia at international conferences to promote its work and publicise important outcomes from the work of Cs and WGs.

SD committees are theme orientated, carrying out a range of projects in an area of particular importance to the laboratory medicine community. Working Groups are task orientated, focussing on a single goal or closely related set of goals that can usually be achieved in a limited timescale. The SD currently coordinates the activities of eight Cs and fourteen WGs (for more details, see IFCC web site )

Proposals for new C/WGs often originate from within the SD, but it is also possible for a new group to be proposed to the SD by any member of an IFCC affiliated organisation. The best initial approach is to discuss an idea with the SD Chair or one of the Members of the SD Executive, and then to prepare a formal proposal that will be considered at the next SD meeting. Current C/WG activities cover much of Laboratory Medicine, and it is only possible to review some of the most important issues here. Further details can be obtained on the SD web pages.

Committees and Working Groups of the Scientific Division:

The Committee on Nomenclature, Properties and Units (C-NPU) maintains a generic database of properties and units which can be accessed via the IFCC website. This is important for the development and maintenance of laboratory information systems and contributes to a common global language for Laboratory Medicine. The task of linking the NPU database to the SNOMED-CT electronic health record project is now under way. This will provide a systematically organized computer collection covering all medical terminology , which can be used to underpin electronic organization of healthcare information.

The Committee on Molecular Diagnostics (C-MD) has this year focused on how reference methods for sequencing genetic material might be developed, and will shortly publish a proposal in this area in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (November 2009 issue). In addition, a further call will be circulated before the end of the year for applications from laboratories interested in joining the network of IFCC Expert Molecular Diagnostics Centres. C-MD continues to liaise with other international laboratory organizations and with regulatory authorities with an interest in development of standards, guidelines and reference materials for molecular diagnostic testing.

The Committee on Plasma Proteins (C-PP) is currently carrying out work on the development of new reference materials for specific plasma proteins, i.e. beta-2 microglobulin and ceruloplasmin, together with an analytical and clinical protocol evaluating the measurement of serum free light chains.

The Committee on Standarisation of Markers of Cardiac Damage (C-SMCD) (a joint initiative between the IFCC and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry) has a broad remit to produce analytical and clinical recommendations pertaining to standardization and evaluation of available biomarker assays. B-type natriuretic peptides are the main analytes of focus at present.

The Committee on Reference Systems of Enzymes (C-RSE) has successfully developed reference procedures for several commonly measured enzymes in recent years, which have had significant impact in reducing between-laboratory variability. At present, alkaline phosphatase and pancreatic lipase are the main areas of ongoing work.

The Committee on Reference Intervals and Decision Limits (C-RIDL) is making use of reference systems developed by C-RSE to establish common reference intervals for a range of enzymes, including GGT, AST and ALT, and is also working on recommendations for the determination of decision limits where they are indicated in preference to or in addition to reference intervals.

The Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (C-TLM) continues to organize IFCC External Quality Assessment Schemes for reference laboratories, an essential activity for maintaining a number of reference systems.

While the tasks of all of the WGs are important, the work of three in particular will be highlighted here. The WG on Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests (WG-STFT) has been particularly active, with proposals for standardization of free thyroid hormones at advanced stage and attention turning to TSH. The Working Group on Standardization of Albumin Assay in Urine (WH-SUA) is embarking on a series of projects to investigate all aspects of urinary album excretion, metabolism and analysis, including the development of a reference method and reference materials. A new Working Group on Allowable Errors for Traceable Results (WG-AETR) has just been established, and will define clinically acceptable limits for the traceability of results for specific analytes, which can be used as acceptance criteria in the harmonisation of laboratory results between different measuring systems.

As can be seen, the work of the SD stretches across the full remit of Clinical Chemistry and seeks to address the issues of greatest importance to the profession, laboratory users and patients. Members of the SD are always happy to discuss ongoing or future projects with interested parties, and suggestions as to other areas that the SD might address in the future are welcome.

Members of the SD Executive in the photo are as follows: Front row - left to right: Paola Bramati (IFCC Office); Jean-Claude Forest; Naotaka Hamasaki; Mauro Panteghini (Chair); Gary Myers (Secretary); Heinz Schimmel; Graham Beastall (IFCC President) Back row - left to right: George Brotea; Philippe Gillery; David Bunk; Ian Young (Vice-Chair); Lothar Siekmann