Background

There have been ground breaking advances in the development and application of molecular diagnostic techniques in all laboratory disciplines. However there are many concerns, common to all disciplines, relating to the use of molecular diagnostics within clinical settings, such as analytical and clinical performance standards, quality control measures, and the paucity of external quality control programs and reference materials. Stringent performance standards in the manufacture and clinical validation of commercial kits, as required by national or international IVD directives, pose additional challenges. The C-MD was convened in part to address some of these concerns, and a number of programs have been formulated.

The general aim of the CMD programs is to promote cooperation and harmonization within the field of Molecular Diagnostics in the laboratory medicine. The general objective is to foster the highest standards in the practice of molecular diagnostics in clinical laboratories. 
 

Target group

The C-MD website is primarily targeted at the IFCC community of laboratory professionals, member organisations and corporate members. However, the website may be useful for physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Terms of Refernce

• Fostering dynamic exchanges and collaborations between the IFCC, diagnostic laboratories, and corporate members in molecular diagnostics.
• Creation of a network of locus specific IFCC Molecular Diagnostics Centres.
• Provision of guidelines on the validation, conduct and reporting of molecular diagnostic tests.
• Setting of guidelines for the development of reference materials and methods in molecular diagnostics.
• Establishment of databases of allele frequencies and sequence variations in regions bracketing disease loci.
• In partnership with the CEMBT, to foster educational activities in molecular diagnostics. 

Committee Membership

Chair: Francois Rousseau, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Unité de Recherche en Génétique Humaine et Moléculaire, Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Genetics Services, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec & Université Laval,  Québec, Québec; francois.rousseau@mac.com

Member: Mario Pazzagli, Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Italy; m.pazzagli@dfc.unifi.it

Member: Ron van Schaik, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; r.vanschaik@erasmusmc.nl

Member: Cyril Mamotte, School of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia; C.Mamotte@curtin.edu.au

Member: Heinz Schimmel, European Commission-JRC-IRMM, Retieseweg, Geel, Belgium; Heinz.SCHIMMEL@cec.eu.int

Member: Dennis Lo, Department of Chemical Pathology, Chinese University of Hong Kong; loym@cuhk.edu.hk