Network representative appointed to International Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine

EMN TraceLabMed fosters collaboration to advance metrological traceability in clinical laboratory medicine.

The European Metrology Network for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (EMN TraceLabMed) is delighted to announce the appointment of a new representative to the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (IFCC C-TLM).

The IFCC C-TLM is dedicated to supporting activities related to traceability in laboratory medicine. It serves as the bridge between the IFCC and the Joint Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM). One of its key roles is to provide and continually enhance the External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for reference laboratories, known as RELA. Additionally, the C-TLM serves as the global advisory body for RELA surveys, ensuring the highest levels of quality and precision in the field of laboratory medicine.

The collaboration between the IFCC C-TLM and the EMN TraceLabMed has already shown promising results. Through effective communication within the C-TLM with the network consortium, calibration laboratories, and the European Commissions’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), concerted activities have been planned to advance traceability in laboratory medicine.

One example of this is the planning of activities to support the JRC and the Reference Institute for Bioanalytics (RfB) in establishing commutable reference materials for the drug Estradiol. This step is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and comparability of diagnostic tests in laboratory medicine. Additionally, a comparison project, which involves the Reference Laboratory Network for Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (RELA scheme), and the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology Working Group on Organic Analysis (CCQM-OAWG), is in preparation. This project will engage metrology institutes and calibration laboratories to enhance the precision of clinical measurement results while avoiding duplication of work.

Anja Kessler, the new IFCC C-TLM Chair, said:

‘As the Chair of the IFCC C-TLM, I'm pleased to emphasise our commitment to enhancing the collaborative efforts of the IFFC. The successful and ongoing collaborations within the C-TLM, initiated by discussions within our committee, demonstrate the potential of our collective efforts. This appointment of a new representative from the TraceLabMed network signifies our dedication to advancing traceability in clinical laboratory medicine.’

Gavin O’Connor, nominated representative for the C-TLM, said:

‘The EMN TraceLabMed is an essential way to communicate and coordinate activities across metrology institutes and between stakeholders, enabling us to offer the broadest possible portfolio of services for clinical laboratory medicine. I am deeply honoured to take on this role, with a commitment to fostering continuous and constructive dialogue between the IFCC C-TLM, our network, clinical reference laboratories, and international metrology activities. Together, we will drive innovation and work towards the common goals for standardised results. Our successful and ongoing collaborations, initiated by discussions within the C-TLM, demonstrate the potential of working collectively towards these goals.’

EMN TraceLabMed is supported by the joint network project 18NET02. EMPIR projects are co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the EMPIR Participating States.

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