Laboratory Testing To Be Topic Of International Symposium In Baltimore

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Bird Flu / Avian Flu;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 29 Jul 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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COLA, a leader in accreditation, education and consultation services, will convene its first International Symposium July 30-August 1, 2006 to bring together key thought leaders who share a passion for improving the quality of laboratory medicine.

The two-day symposium will explore a global vision for creating quality in medical laboratory testing through cafe-style discussions and presentations with the following speakers and themes:

- The Role of Laboratory Medicine in a World at Risk - Leslie Mancuso, Ph.D., JHPIEGO and Susan Berger, Ph.D., Pfizer

- Looking Forward: Our Vision for Lab Quality Worldwide - Klaus Stinshoff, Chair, ISO/TC 212 and Rosa Sierra Amor, Ph.D., Mexican Association of Biochemistry

- Closing the Gap: What Must be Done to Achieve our Future Vision - John C. Nelson, M.D., Past President, American Medical Association

- Building a Community of Action - Thuppil Venkatesh, Ph.D., Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, India

COLA will also articulate its commitment to ISO initiatives and standards scaleability and how they are critical to safe and effective laboratory environments.

Dr. John G. Bartlett, M.D., Chief of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will keynote the symposium at a reception held Sunday evening. Bartlett will discuss avian flu crisis management and other public health risks.

Additional participants of the International Symposium include public health leaders from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); industry leaders from the World Medical Association and World Health Organization (WHO); and government and industry leaders from Egypt, Southern Africa, India, Singapore, Mexico, Thailand, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

"Urgent public health crises including the avian flu, the recent tsunami and the ever-looming threat of bio-terrorism have driven this call to action worldwide," said Max Williams, Director of Policy and External Affairs for COLA. "There is an extreme need for high-quality, accurate, trusted diagnostic information to aid in the treatment of patients. Medical laboratories are at a critical spot to support and respond to these global health crises."

The International Symposium is an opportunity for COLA and the attendees to meet and learn from one another to gain a collective awareness and understanding of the unique and varying needs of different countries and regions and prepare laboratories for the challenges ahead.

To learn more about the International Symposium, please visit http://www.worldlabforum.org.

About COLA

COLA, completing over 33,000 laboratory surveys, is the premier clinical laboratory education, consultation, and accreditation organization. We are an independent accreditor whose practical, educational standards have a positive and immediate impact. Our services enable clinical laboratories and staff to meet U.S. CLIA and other regulatory requirements, act in accordance with quality systems, and provide the best possible patient care. For more information about COLA accreditation services and educational products, and on-line educational opportunities please call 800-981-9883 or visit COLA's Web Site at http://www.cola.org.

COLA
http://www.cola.org

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