Scientific Commission

Pre-analytics

Alexander Leichtle (Chair), Christoph Frick, Roman Fried, Viola Günter, Olivier Golaz, Sandra Mitrovic, Reto Savoca

Preanalytical factors have a huge impact on the quality of laboratory results. Therefore, the standardisation of preanalytical processes is of paramount importance for the quality assurance in laboratory medicine.

The main topics of this working group are:

Identification and evaluation of relevant preanalytical interferences
Implementation of...

Post-analytics

Pierre-Alain Binz (chair), Roberto Della Bruna, Olivier Golaz, Jean-Luc Magnin, Charly Nusbaumer, Véronique Viette, Nicolas Vuilleumier

The main goal of the group is to promote the harmonization of 1) terminology and 2) practices for a) validation and b) reporting results in the swiss clinical chemistry laboratories.
The recommendation documents published by the WG are listed under

SSCC Publications

Mass spectrometry

Pierre-Alain Binz (chair), Marco Cantù, Alessio Cremonesi, Pierre Lescuyer, Daniel Müller, Déborah Mathis, Katharina Rentsch, Christoph Seger, David Tonoli, Véronique Viette

The goals of the Mass Spectrometry (MS) working group are: 1) to organize courses in mass spectrometry to share knowledge on the possibilities and use of the technology in Laboratory Medicine; 2) to inform about the analyses processed in Switzerland that use Mass Spectrometry as analytical tool; a growing list of laboratories is made available on the website of the SSCC; 3) to keep contact and exchange experience with similar activities in other countries; 4) to propose guidelines for validation and use of MS-based technologies.

Medicaments

Katharina Rentsch (chair), Pierre-Alain Binz, Cyril Fuhrer, Pierre Lescuyer, Daniel Müller, Christoph Seger

The goals of the working group "Medicaments" are: 1) To assemble different pharmacokinetic and pre-analytical data on the commonly measured drugs in the context; 2) to organise meeting on therapeutic drug monitoring; 3) to keep contact and exchange experience on therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology within Switzerland and abroad.

The group is currently working on an update of the Swiss Guidelines for Drug of Abuse Testing.

Quality Control

Reto Savoca (chair), Roman Fried, Viola Günther, Hans-Rudolf Kuhn, Sandra Mitrovic

The working group is engaged in the actualisation of the guideline for internal quality control by the QUALAB. It works out suggestions for new analyses to be submitted to external quality control and is also involved in the revision of the limits of acceptance for external and internal quality control. If needed, new limits of acceptance are elaborated and proposed to the QUALAB. Finally, if a technical question from the QUALAB arises, this group is prepared to do the background work and to provide possible answers.

Molecular Diagnostics

Martin Hersberger (chair), Carlo Largiadèr, Joëlle Tchinda

The working group organizes the yearly continous education symposium "MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS". This symposium held in English is aimed at laboratory managers, candidates for the diploma as a laboratory manager (FAMH) and other interested parties of laboratory medicine and clinical medicine, as well as to students and staff of medical laboratories. The aim is to present Molecular Diagnostics in the context of indication, modern technical realization and clinical interpretation.

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Brains on

Déborah Mathis (chair), Barbara Rindlisbacher, Daniel Müller, Viola Günther

Organisation of a one-day seminar for further education of FAMH title holder. The goal of the seminar is to discuss and learn about actual and practical laboratory challenges, to keep contact between FAMH after completing the education, and to harmonize lab practice. Sessions are organized with invited speakers giving short input talks and with moderators to guide discussion on specific topics.

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Education and FAMH Commission

Martin Hersberger (chair), Jean-Luc Magnin, Sandra Mitrovic, Lorenz Risch, Véronique Viette, Nicolas Vuilleumier

The working group represents the Swiss Society of Clinical Chemistry in the FAMH commission responsible for the formation of professionals in laboratory medicine. The FAMH commission organizes the entry and final exams for trainees in laboratory medicine FAMH, decides on the recognition of courses in laboratory medicine for the formation and for continuing education, is responsible for the recognition of laboratories as training institutions, and evaluates the equivalence of any foreign formation in laboratory medicine to the Swiss formation.

Fähigkeitsausweis Praxislabor (KMH-FAPL / CMPR-AFC-LP)

Pierre-Alain Morandi (chair), Lorenz Risch, Reto Savoca, Pierre-Alain Binz

In order to promote a standardised knowledge on quality assurance within the laboratory of the practitioner, the FMH contracting partner of QUALAB ensures a post-graduate training for doctors which offer laboratory analyses. The task was delegated to a commission of the College of physicians from primary care KHM/CMPR (composed of representatives of scientific societies SSCC, SSH, SSM and delegates of the FMH, SSP, SSMIG).