Ninth Congress of the Columbian National College of Bacteriologists (Clinical Chemists)

Contributed Dr Andreas Rothstein

Left: Andreas Rothstein Middle: Ana Leticia Caceres de Mazzelli, actual President of COLABIOCLI, Right: Dr. Karen Morris, a member of the Colombian Fedration (Colegio Nacional de Bacteriología)

The 9th Colombian Congress of the National College of Bacteriologists (Clinical Chemists) of Colombia was held between October 10-13, 2008, at the Lucy Tejada Convention Centre and the Hotel of Pereira. Eight international speakers and 1500 attendees were present at the meeting, as well as the diagnostics and pharmaceutical companies that occupied the 36 stands available.

The Congress was organized by the National College of Bacteriologists (Clinical Chemists) of Colombia. Many workshops took place prior to the meeting and covered a variety of subjects such as Chain of Custody, Environmental Management in the Clinical Laboratory, Identification of Blood Cells, Importance of the Quality of Water on the Quality of Analysis, Management of the Adverse Event and Patient Safety; and the use of Control Strains on the Quality in Microbiology.

Israel Alberto Londoño Londoño, Mayor of Pereira, gave the welcoming speech to the audience and underlined the importance of the clinical laboratories to the development of the Country healthcare system, and to the enhancement of the health of the Colombian population in general and especially for that of his region. The president of the CNB-Colombia, gave a summary of all the activities held during the year that was finishing. During the opening ceremony, the President also presented the yearly Awards to the Professionals and Institutions, who distinguished themselves for their long-life commitment to the Columbian Clinical Laboratories. This year Dr. Andreas Rothstein, Dr. Marino Vargas, Dr. Luz Marina Palacio Duque and the University of Antioquia received he awards.

Each day, the 3-day Meeting started with a one-hour plenary session that was followed by simultaneous morning and afternoon symposia. The symposia covered topics such as Biotechnology, HIV/AIDS, Professional Development, Biochemistry, Quality, Risk Markers, Reproductive Medicine, and Industrial and Food Microbiology, among others.

The Minister of Environmental Matters of Colombia gave the talk of the 1st day plenary session on Environment. The meeting was then divided into three morning symposia: Immunology, Environmental Impact and Health Management, followed by afternoon symposia on Hematology, Microbiology and Quality. Of particular importance were the lectures about “Immune Response in Toxoplasmosis”, External Evaluation of Quality”, The Validity of Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) in comparison to culture for the early detection of non-pulmonary tuberculosis”.

The 2nd day plenary lecture, given by Dr. Baruch Rivetz, was entitled “New Tendencies in the Early Detection of HIV. Symposia on: the preservation of the human egg” and the “Metabolic Syndrome”, merit mention and were greatly appreciated by the audience.

Dr. Ana Leticia de Masselli, President of Colabiocli, gave the 3rd day plenary lecture on the “Evaluation of Indicators to Implement a Management Quality System” that was highly valued by the audience. Later lectures on “D-Dimer, from Laboratory to Practice” and the Presentation of the Law 1193, that complements the actual Law for the practice in the Clinical Laboratory, were of paramount importance for the audience.

The “becerrada”, in which amateur bullfighters had the opportunity of showing their aptitudes in the arena in challenging young heifers, and a trip to the mountains to enjoy thermal waters and the marvelous landscape offered by the Coffee Region of Colombia, were the focal point of the social program.

In summary, the Meeting met the expectations of the attendees who are now eagerly looking forward to the next Congress, which will be held next year in Bogotá.

Edited by Edgard Delvin PhD, FCACB, FACB
Editor