On Monday, July 29th  2019, CK (Chang-Keun) Lee joined the Centre for Proficiency Testing team as Consultant Technologist (Transfusion Medicine and Virology). CK comes to IQMH with a strong background in transfusion medicine with current experience from Canadian Blood Services.

We are pleased to announce that the medical laboratory of Union Hospital has achieved ISO 15189 Plus™  accreditation (selected disciplines). In choosing this option, the facility sends a clear signal of commitment to quality for staff, patients, and other healthcare providers.

Ethanol and tobramycin were not included in the new CHEM survey starting in 2020. The Drug Monitoring Proficiency Testing program has been modified to meet the needs of participants by creating a new survey comprised of ethanol and tobramycin only (survey code: DRUG).

A gathering of diagnostic medicine leaders and professionals who want to elevate themselves, learn, share, network and get excited about diagnostic medicine; an IQMH Forum is never a typical conference. Why? Each event is underpinned with a specific theme and intention to ensure the programme will drive meaningful change and infuse a new outlook on quality. Our aim is to energetically inspire the diagnostic medicine community to overcome barriers and embrace the future.

View the new Anatomic Pathology and Hematology e-Learn LAB modules!

The official podcast of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) The Objective Lens speaks with professionals who can best provide professionals with insight and tools to navigate challenges unique to the medical laboratory.

The release of the 2020 Proficiency Testing Programs included changes to the Chemistry survey. The new Serum Chemistry (CHEM) survey consists of analytes that were previously in the Routine Chemistry (CHEM), Drug Monitoring (DRUG), Enzymes and Bilirubin (ENZY), and Lipids (LIPS) surveys, except ethanol and tobramycin which have been removed from the program. The following new analytes have also been added: cholinesterase, CK-MB, fructosamine. Participants can now customize their surveys according to their laboratory’s test menus (serum chemistry only). Choose from a large variety of analytes and pick from several price categories that suit your laboratory’s needs. 

The IQMH Centre for Proficiency Testing is pleased to announce the availability of its Proficiency Testing Programs in the 2020 Catalogue.

These Proficiency Testing Programs are accredited by The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) in accordance with the recognized International Standard ISO/IEC 17043:2010 Conformity assessment — General requirements for proficiency testing (Certificate Number: 3059.01). View the Certificate and Scope of Accreditation.

Lab leaders and senior diagnostic executives must attend the Canadian Diagnostic Executive Forum if you are specifically looking for experiences, ideas, and solutions to take back and apply in your hospitals and laboratories. 

American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbe 2019 was held in San Francisco on June 20–24 and IQMH was there! Dr. Susan Poutanen (former Bacteriology Scientific Committee chair) and Elaine Kerr, Consultant Technologist, Centre for Proficiency Testing attended. Dr. Poutanen gave two oral presentations and Elaine Kerr presented the posters based on an analysis of the data obtained from IQMH Bacteriology program’s patterns-of-practice surveys:

• "How Modern is your Microbiology Laboratory? Results of the 2017 Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) Patterns-of-Practice Survey” 
• “Patterns-of-Practice Survey Demonstrates the Need for National Guidelines Regarding the Implementation of Microbiology Point-of-Care Tests Across Canada.”