Date: 15^th June 2021 at 18:00 CET

Speaker: Dr. Ali Unlu (TR)   Moderator: Dr. Sedat Abusoglu (TR)     Webinar manager: Dr. Oguzhan Zengi (TR)

The health effects of vitamin D were determined on bone health and calcium-phosphate metabolism. The association of vitamin D with many diseases caused a serious increase in scientific articles as well as an increase in analysis in routine laboratory practice. Vitamin D analysis, which is increasingly emphasized with both scientific and media approaches, seriously occupies routine biochemistry laboratories. The efficacy of vitamin D in various diseases is observed in the lower steps of the evidence-based medicine pyramid such as animal and laboratory studies. However, vitamin D cannot find a place for itself in cohort studies, meta-analyses, and clinical practice treatment guidelines, which are the higher steps of the pyramid. This presentation will address the myths and facts about vitamin D from the perspective of evidence-based medicine. This presentation will also examine vitamin D from a laboratory point of view, such as reference intervals, analytical techniques...

The webinar is accessible for EFLM Academy members only.

Date: 2^nd March 2021 at 18:00 CET

Speaker: Dr. Matteo Vidali (IT)   Moderator: Dr. Andrea Padoan (IT)     Webinar manager: Dr. Dganit Itzhaky (IL)

Indirect methods are data mining techniques for establishing reference intervals. Despite limitations (no precise control of the reference population and preanalytical factors, no consensus on the best procedure to select data or the best statistical algorithm), they present many advantages over the traditional direct approach: reduced costs, better matching between preanalytical and analytical conditions with routine conditions, narrower confidence limits, usefulness in specific age groups or with uncommon sample types, possibility to derive continuous reference limits.

In this presentation, advantages, limitations and the main statistical algorithms of the indirect approach will be introduced. The use of indirect methods for reference intervals verification will be discussed.

The webinar is accessible for EFLM Academy members only.

Date: 29^th September 2020 at 18:00 CET

Speaker: Kleanthi Dima (GR)   Moderator: Petros Karkalousos (GR)     Webinar manager: Petros Karkalousos (GR)

Dr Kleanthi Dima will provide an overview– from the European perspective – of the opportunities that POCT can provide while identifying the limitations to be considered when choosing whether to implement POCT or not, the  clinically relevant analytical techniques, the current technologies, clinical applications, networking and quality issues, and regulatory aspects. In addition, latest technologies, e.g., novel POCT applications of molecular testing for the rapid identification of infectious agents as well as for non-pathogen-related problems will be presented. Another new area of POCT includes the companion diagnostics which help with the appropriate treatment choice, the continuous measurement of metabolites such as continuous transdermal glucose testing, and the Wearables. Finally, a short review of POCT for COVIT 19 will close the presentation.

Speaker: Giuseppe LIPPI (IT)
Moderator: Daniel Rajdl (CZ)
Date: 28^th May 2020

ABSTRACT : The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic infectious disease sustained by a member of the Coronaviridae family, finally called acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The human-to-human transmission is principally conveyed by droplets or physical contact with infected biological material. The range of clinical pictures is quite heterogeneous, with the vast majority of patients being asymptomatic or only experiencing mild respiratory symptoms. Nevertheless, in nearly 15% and 5% of all patients COVID-19 may progress towards severe or even critical illness, requiring sub-intensive or intensive care. The current death rate is comprised between 6-7%, but is highly variable worldwide depending on genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. The etiological diagnosis of COVID-19 is, and will remain for long based on direct identification of viral RNA using molecular biology techniques in respiratory tracts samples (especially naso- and oro-pharyngeal swabs). Serological testing has also been recently developed, thus allowing to recognize that most COVID-19 patients develop an immune response against the virus, especially characterized by appearance of IgG and IgA anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins one to two weeks after symptoms onset. The availability of rapid tests for detecting either viral antigens or anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies has also recently emerged as a valid opportunity for epidemiologic surveillance, though a number of clear quality criteria will need to be fulfilled before any commercially available assay could be safely introduced into clinical practice.

Date: March 10, 2020 at 18:00 CET
Presenter: Evgenija Homšak (SL), Chair EFLM Profession Committee
Moderator: Sverre Sandberg (NO), past past EFLM president, Member EFLM TFG: Practical Approach to Measurement Uncertainty

Webinar will present the main aims of the project and practical approach how to use the EFLMLabX platform/website https://eflmlabx.eflm.eu/en for application and management for the users and offerers of the practice in Laboratory Medicine.

Date: 18th September 2018 at 18:00 CET Speaker: Stephen Church (BD)     Moderator: Zorica Sumarac (SRB)

Date: 18th October 2017 at 18:00 CET   Speaker: Ralf Lichtinghagen (GER)    Moderator:  Merve Sibel Gungoren (TR)

Emerging Challenges in Laboratory Medicine

Plenary sessions from Euromedlab 2017 in Athens.

The availability of highly sensitive troponin assays (hsTn) allows the safe clinical application of international recommendations and the introduction of fast-track protocols for the definition of AMI. However, hsTn assays have not always been welcomed by clinicians, claiming an increase in false-positive results. To guide interpretation of results, laboratory specialists need to get involved in communicating with clinicians through education, test interpretation and internal audits of test usage and patient outcomes.

Presenter: Arend Bökenkamp (Department of Pediatric Nephrology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands)

The presentation reviews the characteristics of cystatin C from a clinical point of view, focusing on its use in children.

Discussion and information forum

Restricted access to TF-ERA members and National Societies Representatives.