MEDICAL LABORATORY AND EQAS NEWS

Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Pathology Images

2012-02-19T15:29:00.001+02:00

Source: Flickr Group Pool

Pathology and Lab Medicine

Huge image pool of laboratory medicine related images. The image pool includes images of bacterial cultures, histopathology, pathology, parasitology and hematology.
There are 435 membersin this group at the moment and the image library is growing all the time.

Open gallery here and enjoy

Flickr: The Pathology and Lab Medicine Pool

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Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine in Vilnius

2012-02-17T06:53:00.002+02:00

Source: Baltic Association of Laboratory Medicine / Balm 2012

11th Baltic Congress in Laboratory Medicine
Vilnius, Lithuania, 10 – 12 May, 2012

The 11th Baltic Congress in Laboratory Medicine will be devoted to a very challenging programme focusing on the recent advances in different areas of laboratory medicine and human genetics. To create the opportunity to discuss the latest research, submission of abstracts would be much appreciated. In addition, the Congress will include an exhibition by the diagnostic industry and it will form an integral part of the meeting.
The Congress will take place in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania and its largest city, known in written record from Gediminas’ letters in 1323. Today Vilnius has emerged as a modern European city.

Main topics in scientific program are:

Biology and Laboratory Diagnostics of Atherosclerosis and Related Diseases
Laboratory Hematology and Coagulation disorders
Cancer Biology and Tumour Markers
Clinical Immunology and Allergology
Neurobiology and Brain Damage Markers
Endocrinology and Metabolism
Laboratory Diagnostics of Kidney Function
Laboratory Diagnostics of Infectious Diseases and Drug Resistance
Innovative techniques in Genomic Diagnostics:
New challenges in clinical cytogenetics – from chromosome to CNV’s;
The applications of novel molecular genetics techniques in clinical practice;
New approaches in laboratory diagnostics of inherited metabolic disorders.
Education and Laboratory Management Strategies

20 year Anniversary of the Baltic Congresses of Laboratory Medicine

1st Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine – 1992, Tartu Estonia
2nd Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine- 1994, Vilnius Lithuania
3rd Baltic Congess of Laboratory Medicine – 1996, Jūrmala Latvia
4th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine – 1998,Tartu Estonia
5th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine- 2000, Vilnius Lithuania
6th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine – 2002, Riga Latvia
7th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine -2004, Pärnu Estonia
8th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine -2006, Vilnius Lithuania
9th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine -2008, Jūrmala Latvia
10th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine- 2010, Tallinn Estonia
11th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine -2012, Vilnius Lithuania

Read more from BALM 2012 web site

11th Baltic Congress of Laboratory Medicine

A Pocket Size Microscope from Finland

2012-02-16T21:11:00.002+02:00

Source: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Finnish research organisation VTT combines mobile phone technology and microscopy

A pocket-size microscope accessory developed by Finnish scientists will be accurate to one hundredth of a millimetre.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the leading multi-technological applied research organisation in Northern Europe, has developed an optical accessory that turns an ordinary camera phone into a high-resolution microscope. The device is accurate to one hundredth of a millimetre. Among those who will benefit from the device are the printing industry, consumers, the security business, and even health care professionals. A new Finnish enterprise called KeepLoop Oy and VTT are already exploring the commercial potential of the invention. The first industrial applications and consumer models will be released in early 2012.

Read full article

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland - Business from technology

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Malaria Pictures

2012-02-15T07:24:00.002+02:00

Source: National Geographic

National Geographic Malaria Image Gallery

Open gallery here:
Malaria Pictures, Malaria Photos -- National Geographic

Malaria Parasites Amid Red Blood Cells

The invasion has begun. Microscopic magnification shows Plasmodium falciparum—the most virulent of the four malaria parasites that infect humans—destroying red blood cells in the liver. It digests a cell's hemoglobin, multiplies inside to the point of rupturing the cell, and rapidly spreads a new generation of infection.

Open gallery here:
Malaria Pictures, Malaria Photos -- National Geographic

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Dilution Calculator

2012-02-12T07:45:00.001+02:00

Source: Tocris bioscience

The Tocris Dilution Calculator

Calculate the dilution required to prepare a stock solution
The Tocris dilution calculator is a useful tool which allows you to calculate how to dilute a stock solution of known concentration.

Concentration(start) x Volume(start) = Concentration(final) x Volume(final)
This equation is commonly abbreviated as: C1V1 = C2V2

Dilution Calculator | C1V1 = C2V2 | Tocris Bioscience
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External quality assessment programs (EQA) for medical laboratories and POC
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Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science

2012-02-05T09:36:00.000+02:00

Source: Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science

Medical Laboratory Community-Page Got 8000 Likes in Facebook

Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science is an international community for all medical laboratory professionals and students. This Facebook site is publishing and sharing clinical laboratory related news, videos and images daily.

Medical laboratory and Biomedical Science is one of the fastest growing clinical laboratory science related communities in Facebook.

Open the page here, click "like" and you are a member of this community.

www.facebook.com/LaboratoryEQAS

World Cancer Day 2012

2012-02-04T08:13:00.001+02:00

Source: Union for International Cancer Control

4 February - World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is fast approaching this Saturday, 4 February 2012. It is the occassion to unite the world in the fight against the disease through raising awareness, educating the public, and lobbying for change.
It is only by every person, organisation, and government, individually doing their part, that the world will be able to reduce the global cancer burden.
So get involved and do something this World Cancer Day - because Together it is possible!

Stand Up and Do Something

Wordl Cancer Day

Arab Health MEDLAB Congress and Exhibition

2012-01-29T12:58:00.000+02:00

Source: eqa-eqas.blogspot.com

Memories from Dubai

Last week I worked in Arab Health MEDLAB exhibition with my colleagues. The congress and exhibition was excellent and we made lot of new contacts and business there. Also Dubai is worth to see. The city full of skyscrapers and people from all over the world. Absolutely worth to visit.

Please visit my congress blog and enjoy the vies from Dubai.

http://eqa-eqas.blogspot.com/

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External quality assessment programs (EQA) for medical laboratories and POC
Labquality, www.labquality.fi
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Clinical Microbiology Portal

2012-01-16T19:58:00.004+02:00

Sourse: ASM

ASM Clinical Microbiology Portal

American Society for Microbiology has a new web portal.

Clinical Microbiology Portal is a global forum for clinical microbiologists and immunologists where you can find clinical resources contributed by peers and leaders in the field. It hosts a variety of information needed for your day-to-day work and the opportunity to connect and communicate. You can participate in online presentations, seek expert advice, and suggest additional content.

Open portal here and explore

ASM microbiology portal - Home

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Visit Helsinki during Labquality Days

2012-01-08T11:41:00.000+02:00

Source: Labquality Days

Welcome to Labquality Days 2012

Labquality Days & Exhibition 2012 will be held on 9 – 10 February 2012 in the Congress Wing of the Helsinki Fair Centre.

There will be over 80 lectures in wide-ranging, high quality scientific program and wide exhibition that consistsall the major Finnish and some international clinical-biochemistry and laboratory-medicine companies.

Welcome to Labquality Days!

Helsinki World Design Capital 2012

World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 is much more than just a hip design festival. It is about creating a better city, and that makes it so exciting.

Helsinki World Design Capital 2012

Art Meets Ice 2012

An international ice sculpture event in Korkeasaari is looking to make history.
The individual competition to be organised on 4–5 February will challenge artists to produce ice sculptures on the theme ‘200 Years Ago’. The event will continue the following weekend, with two-person teams competing on 11–12 February with the theme ‘Designed by Nature’

Picture by: Maarit Hohteri, Art Meets Ice 2011

Art meet ice 2012

Laboratory – Art Space for Now 10

Laboratory is a gallery located in the creative heart of Helsinki. Run and curated with love by Finnish photo agency Viewmasters, Laboratory offers exhibitions, experiences and events during the world design capital year. Nothing permanent – just like the moments of sheer brilliance good photography captures.

Laboratory – Art Space for Now 10

Helsinki International Boat Show 2012

The 2012 Helsinki International Boat Show presents the newest boating products and services conveniently under one roof. We welcome you to this popular launch of the boating season!

Helsinki International Boat Show

Helsinki Audio Sightseeing Tour

Audio Sightseeing Tour is a popular sightseeing tour by bus with recorded commentary, giving you a wide variety of information about Helsinki. The tour includes sound effects and commentary in 12 languages.

Helsinki Audio Sightseeing Tour

Image: Visithelsinki.fi

Helsinki City Official Tourism Website

World Design Capital Helsinki 2012
Official recognition for decades of work - Presenting WDC Helsinki 2012

Visithelsinki.fi

Labquality Days 2012 -The best place to be in February 2012

Welcome to Labquality Days!

New Way Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

2012-01-06T08:35:00.000+02:00

New Lab on a Chip Device for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is one of the most important values in the clinical bacteriology.
Researchers from the department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, published about a portable self-loading technology for determining MIC values in journal Lab on a Chip this week. The device is kept as simple as possible and requires only a single user pipetting step to introduce the sample.

Read more

New Lab on a Chip Device for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

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Happy New Year 2012 Laboratorians

2012-01-01T06:38:00.001+02:00

I wish you happy and successful year 2012.

Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science at Facebook
Medical laboratory circle at Google+
@LaboratoryEQAS at Twitter

Blood Cell Morphology Atlas

2011-12-30T16:15:00.000+02:00

Source: Cellavision

CellAtlas – Blood Cell Morphology Guide

CellaVision provides a basic blood cell morphology guide. Web site includes lectures from CellAtlas, the online CellaVision cell image database launched in 2000. The lectures provide a basic knowledge of the wide field of morphology. Each section contains a brief summary and additional links provide further explanations or addtional images.

Cell atlas is also available for iPhone and Anroid phones.

Open atlas here

CellAtlas – Blood Cell Morphology Guide

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Transfusion Medicine Education

2011-12-30T08:51:00.000+02:00

Source: Blood Bank Guy

Blood Bank Guy

This website is designed for anyone with an interest in learning more about Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine. Pathology residents, pathologists, blood bank fellows, clinicians, nurses, lab technologists, and SBBs, as well as those of you with no medical background at all should be able to find useful stuff here.

This site provides:

Podcast and videos
Education materials
Quizzes
Blog

It's simple: BBGuy.org's mission is to make blood banking and transfusion medicine as simple and accessible as possible.

Explore the site

Blood Bank Guy - Transfusion Medicine Education

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Transfusion medicine

2011-12-29T15:45:00.000+02:00

Source: MLO

Making transfusion medicine information accessible for all

A common challenge faced by many healthcare organizations is the lack of access and availability of transfusion medicine information to clinicians. Information on sample availability, antibodies, and transfusion reactions may not be easily accessible.
The lack of accessibility can cause delays in transfusions, increased patient time in the operating room, increased transfusion service workload, increased patient risk, and poor customer service—all significant negatives for both clinicians and patients.

Learning objectives of this article

The reader will be able to:

Identify common problems in providing pertinent transfusion medicine information to healthcare workers.
Understand the impact the lack of information has on transfusion medicine practices.
Identify signifi cant transfusion information that can be made available using the Quick View electronic page or a similar system.
Describe the steps involved to develop and implement a similar software system.
Compare traditional and newer testing methodologies in transfusion medicine in terms of effi ciency and safety.
Discuss underlying reasons for improving efficiency and safety in transfusion medicine.

Read full story

Making transfusion medicine information accessible for all >> Medical Laboratory Observer January 2012

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Chemistry Christmas Carols

2011-12-17T14:32:00.000+02:00

Source: Bu.edu

Chemistry Carols

Silent wish from a student "Oh--Please Santa bring me an 'A'"

Silent Labs

Silent labs, difficult labs
All with math, all with graphs
Observations of colors and smells
Calculations and graph curves like bells
Memories of tests that have past
Oh--how long will chemistry last?

Silent labs, difficult labs
All with math, all with graphs
Lots of equations that need balancing
Gas pressure problems that make my head ring
Santa Chlorine's on his way
Oh--Please Santa bring me an 'A'.

View also other carols

Humor: Chemistry Carols

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Labquality Days 2012 - Final Program

2011-12-17T06:00:00.001+02:00

Source: Labquality

Best Place to be in February 9-10, 2012: Helsinki, Finland

Interested in Future Laboratory trends? Quality goals in Laboratory Medicine? Pre- post- and analytical quality challenges in diagnostics? EQA’s role? Patient Safety? If these issues are in your mind in your daily work, you would like to learn the latest news, or you are just interested what it is all about – come to Helsinki.

World class lecturers lead our thoughts to those important bits and pieces in Laboratory Medicine practices, which sum up to quality in diagnostics and finally in patient safety. Many opinion leaders and Lab Med scientists choose cold & snowy Helsinki the best place to be in February. Come you too to put your piece in the quality puzzle! It may be cold outside, but our hearts are warm for our important mission and for you.

More information on www.labqualitydays.fi
Registration before 15 January 2012. Registration is open
Scientific program. Final program (pdf)

Scientific Program

Thursday 9 February

Lab of the future
1. The future of laboratory medicine
Graham Beastall, UK
2. Laboratory errors and patient safety – IFCC’s LEPS project and MQI
Mario Plebani, Italy
3. Molecular genetics and individualized medicine
Juha Kere, Finland/Sweden

QC update - Where should we aim
1. Different quality goals and best practices – How good is good enough?
Solveig Linko, Finland
2. Quality management challenges in POCT: Regulatory background & state of the art requirements
Folker Spizenberger, Germany
3. Challenges in QC procedures with qualitative assays. Virology labs experience
Jukka Suni, Finland

Preanalytical quality - Incidents before the test
1. Introduction to preanalytical variables
Stephen Church, UK
2. How to screen populations - role of organised screening programs in saving lives
Nea Malila, Finland
3. Experience from questionnaire studies about blood sample collection and other
preanalytical issues
Kjell Grankvist, Sweden

Friday 10 February

Analytical quality -How to assess the clinical effectiveness of laboratory / POC tests
1. Harmonizing laboratory assays
Linda Thienpont, Belgium
2. Industry’s role and perspective putting new tests in the market
Thomas Brinkmann, Switzerland
3. Laboratory and patient perspective. Diagnostic use of PSA as an example
Ulf-Håkan Stenman, Finland

Postanalytical quality - How to interpret test results
1. The extra-analytical phase: What information should we communicate to the clinicians?
Sverre Sandberg, Norway
2. Clinical Decision Support System and Quality Metrics
Timo Haikonen, Finland
3. Post-analytical EQA surveys - lessons learnt
Dunja Rogic, Croatia

EQA update – The role of EQA for better patient safety
1. EQA’s role: laboratory’s perspective
Dalius Vitkus, Lithuania
2. Visions about the ideal EQAS
Dietmar Stöckl, Belgium
3. The impact of ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation to EQA and EQA providers
Harri Laitinen, Finland

More information on www.labqualitydays.fi
Registration before 15 January 2012. Registration is open
Scientific program. Final program (pdf)

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External quality assessment schemes (EQA) for medical laboratories and POCT
Labquality, www.labquality.fi
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Malaria deaths are down

2011-12-13T17:21:00.000+02:00

Source: WHO

Malaria deaths are down but progress remains fragile

Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000, and by 33% in the WHO African Region, according to the World malaria report 2011, issued today by WHO. This is the result of a significant scaling-up of malaria prevention and control measures in the last decade, including the widespread use of bed nets, better diagnostics and a wider availability of effective medicines to treat malaria.

The World malaria report 2011 is an annual publication from WHO. It summarizes information received from malaria-endemic countries and malaria control partners, and analyses prevention and control measures according to a comprehensive set of indicators. This year's report builds primarily on data received from countries for the year 2010. For the first time, the report contains individual profiles for 99 countries with ongoing malaria transmission.

Read more

WHO | Malaria deaths are down but progress remains fragile

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Art of Science - Chromosome Work

2011-12-11T06:59:00.000+02:00

Source: Katharine Dawson

Gallery - Chromosome Work

'Self Portrait' 2005 are Katharine´s Chromosomes printed on to 23 glass tiles. Each is numbered with personal attributes associated with the specific chromosome underneath. 'Chromosome Puzzle' is an acrylic form board made from my sequenced chromosomes with removable pieces.

Ongoing exhibition "Images of the Mind"
9 Nov 2011 - 18 Mar 2012
Moravian Gallery Brno Czech Republic - Bruno

Open gallery
Chromosome Work - Katharine Dowson

Virtual Laboratory for Biomedical Scientists

2011-12-09T20:20:00.000+02:00

Source: virtuallab.co.uk

Virtual Lab

Virtual Lab is a Medical Research Council project for schools. It offers an interactive web-based experiment designed to allow anyone, anywhere in the world, to engage with contemporary medical research. The aim of the website is to increase confidence among young people to discuss science; to provide experiences in support of their university applications and career development.

There is currently a scarcity of opportunities for students to access contemporary research. Modern medical research requires expensive equipment and reagents and highly specialised expertise, but Virtual Lab provides a means for students to take part in a research project. The web-based user interface invites you to become a virtual apprentice researcher in a real study.

Read more:

Virtual Lab - Home

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Clinical Chemistry - Questions & Answers

2011-12-09T06:46:00.000+02:00

Source: AACC

Clinical Chemistry Q&A

Clinical Chemistry’s Q&A offers a rare opportunity to have a panel of experts at your fingertips. A moderator highlights a timely and important issue by questioning key expert in the field.

All Q&As are free to access. They feature exclusive discussions with top scientists.

Topics of 2011

Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Reliable or Risky?
Circulating Cancer Cells and Their Clinical Applications
Painting a Moving Picture: Large-Scale Proteomics Efforts and Their Potential for Changing Patient Care
Clinical Applications for Vitamin D Assays: What Is Known and What Is Wished for
Oral Fluid Testing: Promises and Pitfalls
Alzheimer Disease: Advances in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapy
Individually Tailored Immunosuppression: Is There a Role for Biomarkers?
The Quest for Clean Competition in Sports: Are the Testers Catching the Dopers?
The Use of Human Tissues in Research: What Do We Owe the Research Subjects?

Read more from AACC:

AACC Clinical Chemisrty Q&A

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Cytology Resources

2011-12-08T20:06:00.000+02:00

Source: CytologyStuff

Cytology stuff

Cytologystuff is an educational service provided to cytotechnologists, pathologists and other professionals by Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA. This website features ThinPrep® Gyn and Non-Gyn morphology, as well as other training materials. It is not intended to be a comprehensive catalogue of cytopathology. Examples of conventional cytology, or other preparation methods are available through other sources.

Read more and explore

http://www.cytologystuff.com/start.htm

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IFCC - International Federation of Clinical Chemistry

2011-12-03T08:47:00.000+02:00

Source: IFCC

New IFCC Website

IFCC announces the re-launch of their web presence at www.ifcc.org 2011-12-01.

New site allows IFCC web users to access all IFCC activities, with fresh news about our scientific initiatives, Congresses, IFCC eJournal and IFCC eNews, publication databases, webinars, documents, and much more. The move to the new platform will allow IFCC to offer you a revised page structure that makes performing your research easier and simplifies access to our electronic content.

IFCC on Facebook

IFCC invites you to send feedback on the first impressions; your feedback is important to complete the new website to your needs and requirements. Should you have any questions or proposals regarding the new website.

Read more and explore

IFCC - Welcome

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Microbiology eLearning for Medical Laboratory Professionals

2011-11-27T11:45:00.000+02:00

Source: iYi

Learn Microbiology Online - Certificate Courses

The online microbiology courses have become popular in recent years because of the increase in the employment opportunities in this domain.

Some of the various job profiles and industries that are available to the graduates of these programs may be mentioned as below:

Bacteriologists
Immunologists
Biomedical Scientists
Virologists
Medical Microbiologists
Marine Microbiologists
Biotechnologists
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Medical Research
Forensic Sciences

Online Microbiology Course Types:

Microbiology fundamentals courses
Microbiology courses for healthcare professionals
Microbiology courses with medical emphasis
Environmental microbiology courses

Read more about courses from:

Learn Microbiology Online - Certificate Cources (Distance Education) | iNVISIBLE YET iNVINCIBLE

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Microbiology e-learning for children and teachers

2011-11-27T11:25:00.001+02:00

Source: e-bug

e-Bug - A place to play games and learn about microbes

e-Bug is a European wide antibiotic and hygiene teaching resource for junior and senior school children.

This resource not only reinforces an awareness of the benefits of antibiotics, but also teaches prudent antibiotic use and how inappropriate use can have an adverse effect on an individual's good microbes and antibiotic resistance in the community. The areas of hand and respiratory hygiene and spread of infections in the community are also covered, including teaching how to wash hands most effectively.

The e-Bug pack is accompanied by an interactive website hosting complementary games, interactive quizzes, disease fact sheets and much more.

Open e-Bug site here:

http://www.e-bug.eu/

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External quality assessment schemes (EQA) for microbiology
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