The Practice of Clinical Chemistry in the European Union
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G. T. Sanders
Abstract
The European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry has been actively engaged in raising the level of clinical chemistry in the European Union. Closer contacts between the national societies for clinical chemistry have resulted in more comparable programs for postgraduate training of clinical chemists, closer similarity of contents and practice of the profession in the different countries, and the official registration of professionals. This article reviews some of the characteristics of professional organisation, practice, and regulation in the fifteen European Union countries. Many similarities appear. In half of the countries microbiology, blood-banking and transfusion medicine fall within the domain of clinical chemistry. The minimum number of years for training (university and postgraduate) is eight, but in practice this will extend to 10 or more years. Official regulation of the profession by law exists in a minority of countries. Continuing education and re-registration have not been officially instituted yet in any country, but these issues will be the next steps forward. In those countries that prepare themselves for entering the European Union, training and practice of clinical chemistry are moving towards the common standards of the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry.
Copyright © 2002 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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- Recommendations for the Routine Use of Pancreatic Amylase Measurement instead of Total Amylase for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Pancreatic Pathology
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- Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity in Hemodialyzed Patients and Its Relationships to other Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation
- Effects of Propofol and Taurine on Intracellular Free Amino Acid Profiles and Immune Function Markers in Neutrophils In Vitro
- Genotyping of Hemochromatosis-Associated Mutations in the HFE Gene by PCR-RFLP and a Novel Revers Hybridization Method
- Comparison of Different CD71 Monoclonal Antibodies for Enrichment of Fetal Cells from Maternal Blood
- The Effects of Marathon Swimming on Serum Leptin and Plasma Neuropeptide Y Levels
- Renal Function Exerts only a Minor Influence on High Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes
- Changes of Biochemical Bone Markers during the Menopausal Transition
- Blood Sampling for Biochemical Analysis from Central Venous Catheters: Minimizing the Volume of Discarded Blood
- Experience with External Quality Assessment of Drugs of Abuse Testing in the Lombardy Region in Italy
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- Intermethod Variation in Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Measurement. Fresh Serum Pools and Control Materials Compared
- Turn-Around Time for Chemical and Endocrinology Analyzers Studied Using Simulation
- A Two-Center Evaluation of the Blood Gas Immediate Response Mobile Analyzer (IRMA)
- Painting, Poetry and Optics: Johannes Vermeer
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