CSCC News September

CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CL IN ICAL CHEMISTS

LA SOC IÉTÉ CANADIENNE DES CL IN ICO-CHIMISTES

CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CL IN ICAL CHEMISTS

LA SOC IÉTÉ CANADIENNE DES CL IN ICO-CHIMISTES

P.O. Box 1570 Kingston, Ontario, K7L 5C8 Canada 613.531.8899 [email protected]

Vol. 57 No. 5 September 2015 ISSN 0826-1024

Updates from the Maintenance of Competence CommitteeCSCC By-Law Change: What does this mean for me?

What is the by-law that was ratifi ed at the annual meet-ing in Montreal?

Article 7 (revision shown in italics)

7.3.4 A person shall be eligible to apply for Fellowship who is a Full Member of the Society and who has met, in the opinion of the Board of the Academy, the requirements for Fellowship approved by the membership of the Academy. To remain a Fellow of the Academy, a person must pay annual membership dues and comply with the professional development program for the maintenance of competence.

Why did the By-Law change?

As our members move towards accountability under provincially regulated colleges, the Academy has the responsibility to ensure its members have fulfi lled the requirements for maintenance of competence. Previously there was no documented process to remove a Fellow from the Academy. The revised by-law clarifi es the meaning of the term “Fellow in good standing”. There are two requirements to maintain this status: a) Payment of annual dues, and

b) Demonstrated compliance with the Professional Development (PD) Program.

Who needs to participate in the PD program?

Clinical Biochemists who have met the requirements for Fellowship must participate to be in good standing with the Academy and to remain entitled to append FCACB after their name. Furthermore, compliance with the PD program demonstrates continuing education as a requirement under health professions regulation. As a self-regulating body, the Academy’s PD program is a core activity that assures the public and our stakeholders that clinical biochemists uphold high standards. It is

anticipated that as regulation of the profession is implemented within each province, Clinical Biochemists will be required to provide their employers with evidence of their maintenance of competence.

What is non-compliance with the PD program?

The vast majority of Fellows continue to meet the requirements of the PD program as verifi ed by the Maintenance of Competence (MOC) Committee through the audit process. Compliance requires a minimum of 25 credits per year and a minimum of 150 credits over 3-year period. In addition:

• Education credits are accumulated on a 3-year rolling basis. However documentation must be submitted annually.

• A minimum of 25 credits per 3-year period is required for Category 1.

• Credits must be claimed from at least 3 categories for any 3-year period.

Non-compliance occurs when the requirements have not been met. When this occurs the MOC Committee then intervenes to assist the member to regain good standing. Persistent non-compliance results in a series of warnings and escalations including:

• Removal of the person from the list of Fellows who have met the requirements of the PD program. The list of those in good standing is published annually on the CACB website and is available to the public.

• The certifi cate of compliance with the PD program over the 3-year period is withheld.

• Fellowship in the Academy is revoked.

What if I work part-time as a laboratory consultant?

The number of part-time positions for Clinical Biochemists continues to increase as part of the ongoing evolution of healthcare delivery. The Academy asserts that ANY practice (full or part-time) involving professional responsibilities, especially those that directly affect patient care, requires a Clinical Biochemist to comply with the maintenance of competence program. The reasons for working part-time are varied, but it is important

to demonstrate to the employer (present or prospective) that one has a sound knowledge of current best practices.

CSCC News • September 20152

What if I take a leave of absence?

Fellows are encouraged to continue with the PD program during time away from employment. If you anticipate a leave of absence or have returned from a leave where compliance may be or has been affected, please inform the Head Offi ce. It is better to be proactive than fi nd out that your request cannot be accommodated.

Can I remain an Emeritus Fellow?

The Board has discussed extensively the implications for Fellows with Emeritus status. The previous understanding prior to the by-law change was that retirement from FULL-TIME employment was one criterion for eligibility. For the reasons above, in the future, the defi nition of an Emeritus Fellow will require that one is no longer engaged in professional practice as a clinical biochemist. To determine whether Fellows are eligible for Emeritus status, implementation of a formal confi rmation of retired status, similar to the process used by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is under consideration. As a distinction for those who wish to remain as, or transfer to Emeritus status, Emeritus Fellows shall append FCACB (Ret) after their name when the designation is used.

What is the process for reinstatement to a Full Fellow?

Emeritus Fellows who currently practice as consultants to a medical laboratory are expected to participate in the PD program. A process to reinstate Fellows will be announced in early 2016, with a grace period before full changes takes effect. One important fi rst step is to determine the Emeritus Fellows who wish to return to active Fellowship status. Although this entails the return to paying annual dues, Fellows in good standing can participate in all activities of the Academy including elections, annual meetings, and participation on committees.

Should I wait before resuming participation in the PD program?

No. If you anticipate that reinstatement is necessary, you should resume the entry of credits immediately to ensure you are compliant with the PD program starting with the 2015 year. Details of the PD program are on the CSCC Website under “Academy” then follow the menu to “Professional Development”. Please contact the Head Offi ce to make arrangements and a training session on entering PD credits if necessary. Submission of credits from prior years will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Most of all, feel free to ask any questions regarding the by-law change and its impact on your status as a Fellow of the CACB. We will do our best to assist you.

Paul Yip, PhD, FCACBChair, Maintenance of Competence Committee

CSCC Interest Groups Meet in MontrealToxicology Interest Group

The Toxicology Interest Group met at the CSCC Annual Meeting in Montreal. Presentations were provided by Dr. Cristiana Stefan, Dr. Bhushan Kapur and Dr. Curtis Oleschuk as follows:

• Curtis Oleschuk: Case of poisoning by denture cleaner

• Bhushan Kapur: Phosphine poisoning overview and review of Alberta cases

• Cristiana Stefan: Reporting on Positive Cannabis cases and explaining analytical challenges to lay people

It was a fairly well attended session, although formal attendance was not taken. Several attendees inquired as to whether the meeting could have been given a code and considered more formal CME.

A Roundtable on the Emerging Psychoactive Drug Market was also provided by Dr. Curtis Oleschuk under the title of acting chair of the Toxicology Interest Group. There was a very lively discussion which underscored the need to provide this topic to the larger CSCC audience. It was decided at the roundtable to develop a network of laboratories to begin sharing information more actively and working towards reporting on drug trends in Canada.

Curtis Oleschuk

POCT Interest Group

The CSCC POCT interest group held their second meeting at the CSCC annual meeting in Montreal. The group reviewed data from the National POCT survey conducted by the interest group in the fall of 2014. The biggest challenge facing POCT identifi ed by survey respondents is having suffi cient staff to support POCT programs and meet accreditation standards. The group discussed this issue and it was suggested that the interest group review the most recent ISO standards as they pertain to POCT and provide feedback to ISO. A subgroup will be formed to work on this over the next year.

There was a spirited discussion on the topic of POCT performed outside the hospital setting. Interest group participants feel that there is a risk to quality with this testing moving outside of the lab into non-regulated environments. The group agreed that we, as laboratory professionals, cannot ignore this increasingly prevalent use of POCT and it will be imperative for us to work with industry and provincial authorities to ensure quality standards are upheld.

Julie Shaw

CSCC Utilization Management Special Interest Group

The CSCC Utilization Management Special Interest Group (UM SIG) had its fi rst meeting at the CLM Congress in Montreal. In spite of a busy schedule of activities in Montreal and some of our members being in Paris for the IFCC Congress, the UM SIG meeting was very well attended with over 20 participants. First on the agenda

CSCC News • September 2014 3

was a discussion of the Terms of Reference. These were accepted as written, with the reinforced understanding that the mandate of this group is greater than just reducing unnecessary testing, and includes efforts to support the increased use of underutilized testing and the appropriate use of laboratory testing overall. Future activities of the UM SIG will include:

• Support for the activities of Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC; CSCC is a listed Partner) and provincial Choosing Wisely groups

• CSCC members working with physician specialty organizations to jointly develop CWC recommendations and other laboratory guidelines

• Establishing a website to share UM SIG information

• Support for a training event (webinar, teleconference, etc.) to assist Canadian laboratories in getting utilization data out of their Laboratory Information Management Systems and working with that data

• Continued collaboration with Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) on UM and other laboratory related initiatives

• Continued collaboration with other Laboratory Medicine associations (CAP, IFCC, AACC, ACB, etc.) on UM initiatives, including CWC recommendations

David Kinniburgh

Pediatric Focus Group

The Canadian Focus Group for Pediatric and Perinatal Biochemistry – or Pediatric Focus Group for short – is a community that exists to provide a necessary forum for the CSCC membership to: raise, identify, and discuss current pediatric issues in laboratory medicine; engage people with pediatric interests in order to develop and share ideas for solutions and research collaborations; create awareness, provide education, and share experiences in the practice of pediatric and perinatal medicine. Participation is open to all. On June 21, the Pediatric Focus Group held its annual meeting during the CLM Congress. There are four main highlights to pass along to the membership:

1. Upcoming pediatric meetings and IFCC pediatric critical values initiative – On behalf of Dr. Vijay Grey, a summary of the highlights from the 2014 ICPLM meeting in Istanbul and announcement of the upcoming 2017 ICPLM meeting in Durban, South Africa were presented. Dr. Grey also informed the group that the IFCC Task Force for Pediatric Laboratory Medicine is developing guidelines on critical values in pediatric laboratory medicine. Additionally, Dr. Fergall Magee mentioned the Pediatric Academic Society Meeting to be hosted in Baltimore, Maryland, April 30-May 3 2016 should be of interest.

2. New CALIPER publications in Clinical Chemistry – Dr. Khosrow Adeli, absent due to the concurrent IFCC meeting, sent an update on CALIPER activities. Most noteworthy was the announcement of several publications. Three companion articles

in the August Issue of Clinical Chemistry describe reference intervals for biochemical, endocrine and special chemistry, and hematological markers determined in a very large number of healthy Canadian children and adults in collaboration with the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Also, new transference studies on Abbott, Beckman and Roche platforms were near publication.

3. Pediatric Topics for CSCC Education Roundtables – If there is a good pediatric talk that any of our membership hears at a meeting, local or national level, please forward to the organizers of the CSCC Education Roundtables for consideration for presentation in the series.

4. Posting pediatric issues on the CSCC Listserv – Many issues came up and there was not time to cover them all. Issues we briefl y discussed included: urinalysis protocols in pediatrics, fetal scalp lactate POCT and Health Canada approval, testing and interpretation of sweat chloride when collection volume is below CF guideline limits, and the need for pediatric reference intervals for biomarkers in random and 24 hour urine collections. Everyone was asked to post pediatric items to the main CSCC Listserv, which will be educational for all, but also inform us of what the PFG could focus on or help address.

Keep the conversation going and help advance pediatric laboratory medicine!

Benjamin Jung

Introducing the2015 CACB FellowsEach September it has become a tradition to introduce new CACB Fellows. Here is the latest group in their own words!

Dana Bailey

I am a Clinical Chemist with Dynacare, Western Ontario Division, and provide scientifi c and technical expertise for routine and special biochemistry, at a regional, provincial, and national level. My role includes method development, implementation and evaluation; summarizing clinical information and trends; preparing technical reports and partner updates; quality assurance monitoring; publication and presentation of scientifi c fi ndings; teaching; test selection/interpretation; and assisting our staff and our clients/physicians as required.I obtained my BSc in Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Specialization, at McMaster University; my MSc in Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University; and my PhD in Biochemistry at McGill University. My Clinical Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship was completed at the University of Toronto. I have over 10 years of scientifi c teaching experience, with 11 years of technical and analytical experience in academic and community laboratories of various disciplines.


Anna Fuezery

I serve as the clinical chemist for 13 community/rural laboratories around Edmonton, Alberta and am also a clinical assistant professor at the University of Alberta. I really enjoy what I do and feel fortunate to have found this career. I completed my undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Toronto and went on to do a PhD in structural biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. UW is very interesting in that it does not have a clinical chemistry postdoctoral training program and yet is a magnet for budding clinical chemists. To give you an idea of the individuals who have passed through its halls, George Cemrowski (U Alberta), Ann Gronowski (U Washington), Kara Lynch (UCSF), and Joely Strasesky (ARUP) are all UW alumni. Perhaps it was inevitable then that I should discover clinical chemistry while studying there.Subsequent to my PhD, I completed the clinical chemistry training program of the Johns Hopkins University and then moved to Edmonton to take up my position. While standardization across my laboratories simplifi es my job signifi cantly, each laboratory continues to have its own unique challenges and thereby keeps me intrigued every day. Besides clinical service, I also enjoy teaching and am involved in the University of Alberta's undergraduate medical laboratory science program. Presently I contribute through lectures and case-based discussions but over time I'd like to contribute to curriculum development as well. In my spare time I continue to foster my long-standing passion, namely travelling. Last summer I spent two weeks exploring Mexico and this year I took a month off to travel around Hungary and Transylvania (Romania). In fact, I write these lines while in a little town called Bodos; a place of 432 inhabitants where an out-of-town visitor is still big news and where greeting each other on the street is still considered mandatory instead of being thought of as weird.

Kristin Hauff

I am a Prairie Girl at heart who’s fallen in love with the BC mountains. After studying Microbiology and obtaining my PhD in Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Manitoba, I moved to Hamilton to enjoy Ontario’s wine country and study Clinical Biochemistry with the great team of Biochemists at McMaster University. After completing my training, I moved to Vancouver to join the wonderful Medical/Scientifi c staff at LifeLabs in the department of Biochemistry with a specialty in Toxicology. I have since expanded my expertise to cover the area of Immunopathology and am working on gaining expertise in the fi elds of skiing and kayaking to compliment my long-term passion of Ultimate Frisbee. In fact, I can boast with experience playing on Ultimate Frisbee teams in three provinces, and not only enjoy the game, but met my fi ancée while playing on a team in Hamilton. I also hold an appointment

as Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia and am pleased to add Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry to my repertoire.

Saranya Kittanakom

I have been interested in clinical laboratory services since my undergraduate studies in Medical Technology, Thailand. Following my degree, I had the opportunity to work as a medical technologist for a year. This opportunity allowed me to learn about the discipline of healthcare, teamwork and to enhance my communication skills.My second opportunity was to receive the Royal Golden Jubilee PhD scholarship, supported by the Thailand Research Fund. This award opened up new horizons for me, including the chance to conduct research in Canada. Once in Canada, I had a great opportunity to join Dr. Reinhart Reithmeier’s laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, which further sharpened my technical and interpersonal skills and much more.After completion of my PhD and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto, I was fortunate to be able to pursue my interest in the Clinical Chemistry Fellowship program at McMaster University. I really enjoyed my training during the program and am grateful to my mentors and colleagues from both McMaster University and the University of Toronto for their guidance and support. This program not only trained me to be a competent clinical chemist, but also gave me the opportunity to make some great friends. I am excited for the upcoming opportunity to join the London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care in September.These experiences have presented as “opportunity”: not fate, an accident, or a lucky star. I have put much effort into making the most of all of these opportunities, but all of the work would have been in vain if not for the immense support from my family and friends, my parents who always cheer me up from across the world, my husband and 4-year-old daughter who tried to be quiet while her mom studied. I would not have gotten this far without all of you.

Lawrence de Koning

I completed my PhD in Health Research Methodology (Nutritional and Genetic Epidemiology) at McMaster University in 2009. I completed concurrent postdoctoral fellowship in nutritional epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and clinical chemistry at Boston Children’s Hospital from 2009-2012. In 2013 I became board certifi ed in clinical chemistry by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. I am currently a clinical biochemist with Calgary Laboratory Services at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Site, and Clinical Associate Professor


in the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. My clinical interests are in pediatric clinical chemistry, and I have an active research program in epidemiology and laboratory testing. My research interests include cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease, nutrition, obesity and genetics. I hold grants from the MSI foundation of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary Laboratory Services and the University of Calgary. In my spare time, I enjoy running, double bass, and good espresso.

Angela Rutledge

My undergraduate degree is in Honours Biology and Pharmacology (Co-op) from McMaster University. During the last semester of my undergraduate program, I took a course in clinical biochemistry, taught by Stephen Hill, Joe Macri, and Eamonn Ryan. Until that point, I hadn’t been sure what career path I wanted to follow, but I was motivated by that course to pursue clinical biochemistry. Since a PhD was required, I applied to graduate school. My PhD was completed with Khosrow Adeli at the University of Toronto, studying the mechanisms of intrahepatic apolipoprotein B100 degradation. I was then fortunate to be admitted to the clinical biochemistry training program at McMaster University. A few days after my training at McMaster University had fi nished in 2013, and about nine years after I decided that I wanted to be a clinical biochemist, I fi nally began working as one at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), where I’m the section head of the Endocrinology and Maternal Serum Screening Laboratory. With the other clinical biochemists at LHSC, I now teach an undergraduate course in clinical biochemistry at Western University, which is potentially inspiring a few more future clinical biochemists.

Tracy Teodoro-Morrison

I am a recent graduate of the Clinical Chemistry post-doctoral training program at the University of Toronto. During my training I participated in a variety of laboratory projects including instrument and method evaluations, and laboratory test utilization reviews. Currently, I am working for Mount Sinai Hospital and consulting for Humber River Hospital in Toronto. Humber River Hospital is transitioning to a new building on Wilson Avenue in Toronto with over 650 beds and fully digitalized medical care, including laboratory automation. This is an exciting time for Humber and I am happy to be assisting in their transition. In the future, I hope to develop my interests in endocrinology, specifi cally the role of the clinical laboratory in the diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes. I also hope to be an active educator in the fi eld of laboratory medicine both within and outside of my institution. I look forward to the years ahead as I begin my career as a Clinical Biochemist.

The Archives Corner

30th Anniversary of Canadian Academy of Clinical BiochemistsCelebration during 2016 CSCC Annual National Conference in Edmonton in 2016!

During the coming year, readers of the Archives Corner will not be surprised that this column is marking not one but two important anniversaries in 2016, the 60th anniversary of the founding of CSCC and the 30th anniversary of that of CACB, with a glance back in this column at the latter particularly. Since we have just refreshed our memories at the 2015 conference about the role of several Montrealers in founding the

CSCC, it will be easily recalled that CSCC founding member Dr. William Bauld in 1956 succinctly stated two primary goals for our new Society – namely, “to raise the standards of performance, and to raise the professional standing of clinical chemists”. The gap of thirty years between progress in the fi rst of these aims and the ultimate formation of the Academy tells a bit of the rather tortuous path that consumed so many years and energies of successive CSCC Councils and many other members to accomplish the Academy’s birth. Just the high points of the various attempts to achieve the founding of the CACB will be mentioned here, but may make that course appear somewhat smoother than was the actual case (at times seeming more like “two steps forward, one step back”!).

The fi rst step was taken not quite sixty years ago when the CSCC Council of 1958 asked Dr. Abram Neufeld of Montreal to draw up a document outlining what would be required for a process of Certifi cation, and recommendations towards this. Dr. Neufeld travelled the western and central provinces to meet with “as many practising clinical chemists in Canada as possible” (although he regretted running out of time before consulting clinical chemists in the Atlantic provinces), and the comprehensive report he produced contained three options for Council to consider: 1) modelling on the British Society (the Association of Clinical Biochemists, ACB)


via national and regional meetings and active committees “looking into the various phases of our daily problems”; 2) establishing a Committee on Certification for the purpose of conducting examinations to certify members, and a policy for “various grades of membership” from Student right up to Full Certifi ed and Fellow (similar to the Chemical Institute of Canada); or 3) setting up an “independent Board of Certifi cation” (see Reference 1 for a full description). The 1961 Annual General Meeting in Guelph, presided over by President Dr. Marcel Blanchaer of Winnipeg, had a lengthy and thorough debate which then led to acceptance of the Neufeld report but with two changes on certain qualifi cations and grandfathering. Legal advice strongly recommended that CSCC be incorporated before any Certifi cates be issued, and this went forward swiftly so that in 1965 Letters Patent were received from the Government of Canada. A Book List was drawn up by Dr. Sanford Jackson of Toronto for candidates preparing for examination, and in 1968 Drs. J. Gilbert Hill and John Griffi ths were the fi rst to complete the written and oral examinations. Dr. Allan G. Gornall, the Chair of the Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Toronto, supervised a Diploma Program for post-doctoral candidates that was also used for training medically qualifi ed candidates proceeding to the Royal College’s Fellowship in Medical Biochemistry (see Reference 2), and a concentrated two-week version was offered as a refresher course to working clinical chemists several consecutive summers. Other post-doctoral training programs were introduced in Edmonton, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Windsor and Vancouver. Because the province of Quebec proceeded by a slightly different route with the formation of l’Ordre des Clinico-Chimistes, eventual participation by Quebec members in the CACB is not reviewed here as it is a topic deserving of its own article.

Despite the steady improvement in both the numbers and the qualifi cations of certifi ed clinical chemists, there was a persistent unhappiness with the lack of recognition for the certifi ed PhD clinical chemists by medical and hospital associations and boards. In 1980, the Chair of CSCC’s Professional Development Committee, Dr. J. Keith Todd of Calgary, reported that Dr. Lionel McLeod of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons had been asked by the College “to investigate the pros and cons of giving non-medically qualifi ed specialists certifi cation”, and Dr. McLeod had given the idea a favourable report (see Reference 3); in 1982 “a meeting of certifi ed clinical chemists from fi ve cities took place in Toronto and in effect transformed the Ontario Society [OSCC]’s debate into a national majority view” (see Reference 4). Because this view was in favour of the formation of an Academy outside the CSCC, President Dr. Paul Desjardins of Winnipeg reported to the CSCC membership that Council could not agree with this, but he then put forward a Position Paper soon afterward in 1983 for formation of an Academy within CSCC. Dr. Matthew J. McQueen of Hamilton, in his fi rst President’s Column in CSCC News, April 1984, summarized the discussion that took place at the 1983 AGM

in Quebec City (where Dr. McQueen succeeded Dr. Desjardins as President), with the result that by the time of the 1986 joint AACC/CSCC conference in Chicago all the necessary changes to CSCC’s By-Laws and other aspects had taken place (such as approval by the federal Dept. of Consumer and Corporate Affairs) (see Reference 5). A formal “Call for Applications to Become Founding Members of the CACB” had appeared in the CSCC News of April, 1985 (Reference 6), the lead article in April 1986 titled “Nominations Sought for the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry” was written by Dr. Gornall (Reference 7), and in February, 1987 the lead article by Dr. Desjardins, under the title “Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry – Fait Accompli” lists the fi rst Board of Directors (appointed at the Chicago meeting) and the names of the 175 Founding Members (Reference 8).

Readers will have noted how much time had transpired for the developments so briefl y reviewed here, from acceptance of Dr. Neufeld’s report in 1958 to the grandfathering of CSCC members meeting certain qualifi cations in 1964, to the fi rst written and oral examinations in 1968, to the accelerated rate of developments in the fi rst half of the 1980's; therein lies the explanation (or at least a major part of it) for the CACB being thirty years younger than CSCC! Just as today the CACB Board of Directors works with very little publicity as it fulfi lls its responsibilities for accreditation of training programs, credentials of candidates’ academic and professional qualifi cations, setting and holding written and oral examinations, and also continuing education programs, so too have consecutive CSCC Councils and a host of other members at both the national and provincial levels contributed their perseverance and clear-sighted efforts to the establishment of the Academy.

Dr. Arlene Crowe, Member, Archives Committee

References:1. Crowe, AJ. “The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists: Highlights of its fi rst

50 years.” Clin Bchm 39,2006:427-43. Pages 429 - 430 contain a description of the Neufeld report.

2. Gornall, AG. “CSCC: Society fi lls gap for chemists”. Clin Chem News1986 July:15. On the occasion of the AACC/CSCC joint meeting in Chicago, Dr. Gornall’s article describing the Diploma Course at U of Toronto appeared in the daily newspaper printed for the meeting.

3. Crowe, AJ. Ref. 1 Ibid. Page 434, lower part of Col. 1 - 2 reports on Dr. Todd’s statement to CSCC 1980 AGM .

4. Gornall, AG. “Toward a Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists”. CSCC News 1982 (Oct.) 24:1. The response of Dr. Gornall and OSCC to Dr. Todd’s report at CSCC’s 1980 AGM.

5) McQueen, MJ. President’s Column. CSCC News 1984 (Dec.) :3. See also Pg. 1 for offi cial announcement that Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada had approved the CSCC amendments for formation of the CACB.

6) AG Gornall, AG. “Call for Applications to be a Founding Member of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochem-istry”. CSCC News 1985 (Apr.) 27:2.

7) Gornall, AG. “Nominations Sought for Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry.” CSCC News 1986 (Apr.)28.1.

8) Desjardins, PR. “Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry – Fait Accompli.” CSCC News 1987 (Feb.)29:1.


CSCC Council ReportThe third meeting of the 2014-2015 Council of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists was held on June 20, 2015 during the CLMC meeting in Montreal, QC.

President’s Report

Dr. Kinniburgh, in his fi nal report, has recommended that CSCC undergoes a strategic planning process to position the society to embrace the opportunities and face the challenges that it will encounter in the next 5-10 years. Drs. Kinniburgh and Lyon have drafted an initial scope and design document and will continue to work on this process together. The overarching themes that will feature prominently in future planning include:1) Utilization management and adding value in laboratory medicine

2) Promoting laboratory medicine and the changing landscape of healthcare delivery and potential impact on laboratory medicine.

CSCC members have been actively collaborating in utilization initiatives with other stakeholders in healthcare. CSCC members working with Choosing Wisely Canada include Drs. Tony Chetty and Curtis Oleschuk who are working on a recommendation related to OGTT with the Endocrinologists; Drs. LeGatt, Colbourne and Kinniburgh are working with the Psychiatrists and ER Physicians on a recommendation for Stat Drug Testing; and Dr. Abdi Sokoro who is working with the Gastroenterologists on a recommendation relating to FOBT.

MEDEC is a non-profi t organization created to advance healthcare by accelerating access to proven and safe medical technologies representing Canadian medical device industry. Through advocacy, education and sharing information, MEDEC has become the leading voice of medical technology companies, ensuring their interests are heard. This group represents public labs, private labs and vendor interests in laboratory medicine and has recently issued a “Call to Action” document relating to a strategy for promoting the value of Laboratory Medicine. Their mandate is to address overarching issues that affect laboratory medicine overall. The steering committee working on how to advance the “Call to Action” includes Dr. Curtis Oleschuck, Dr. David Kinniburgh, Dr. Gordon Hoag, Naseem Somani and Jeff Sumner.

Upcoming Meetings

Dr. Andrew Lyon reported on the upcoming meetings of the society. The CLMC 2015, a joint meeting between CSCC/CAP held June 21-24, 2015 in Montreal this summer was highly successful and attracted more than 700 registrants. Electronic posters were a fi rst for this year. Feedback and comments from CSCC members for future meetings are welcome. The 2016 meeting will be a joint meeting between the CSCC and the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG) and is scheduled for June 19-22, 2016 in Edmonton, Alberta. The meeting theme is “Clinical Chemistry in Wild Rose Country” and the organizing committee co-chairs are Dr. Allison Venner and Dr. Anna Fuezery. Further to the efforts of CSCC to establish closer ties with the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB), the two societies are discussing the establishment of a reciprocal lectureship. CSCC will invite a member of the ACB to attend and present a lecture at

the annual meeting of the CSCC in Edmonton in 2016. Similarly, the ACB will invite a member of the CSCC to attend and present a lecture at the annual meeting of the ACB. The 2017 CSCC meeting will be a joint meeting with AACC in San Diego, California. CSCC will sponsor a symposium and will nominate two representatives for this meeting. If anyone has an interest in this role, please get in touch with Dr. Stephen Hill, who is the 2015-17 president elect.

Welcome to our new Council Members for 2015:

Dr. Vathany Kulasingam – Councillor 2015-17 Dr. Danijela Konforte – Councillor 2015-17Dr. Curtis Oleschuk – Head, Publications Division 2015-18Dr. Jennifer Shea – Secretary 2015-18Dr. Stephen Hill – President-Elect 2015-2018

Education & Scientifi c Affairs Division – Dr. Allison Venner

This year’s CSCC 2015 Travelling Lectureship speaker will be Dr. Robert Kyle, who will travel to Toronto, Montreal (SQBC Meeting), Halifax, Edmonton (ASCC Meeting), and Vancouver. The 2016 Travelling Lecturer will be Dr. Pranesh Chakraborty who will speak on Newborn screening and standardization recommendations. Updates to travelling lectureship grant and provincial education grants terms of reference have been completed to respond to some questions arising from provincial societies from last year’s lecture series.

Professional Affairs Division - Dr. Julie Shaw

The 2014 salary survey is now posted on the CSCC website. The division is still working on public and professional defi nitions of a Clinical biochemist which will be coming soon to the website. There is a new section on the CSCC website to link member publications to their Google scholar accounts. Please send your Google scholar profi le links to Julie Shaw to get your publications highlighted on the CSCC website.

Publications Division - Dr. Curtis Oleschuk

The CSCC has hired a consultant to help implement the Publications Division communications strategy. This additional support will be used to promote ongoing CSCC events i.e. promotion for Charity run and assist with strategy for governmental relations.

The Clinical Biochemistry Impact factor continues to increase (2013: 2.229 and 2014/2015: 2.275). The CSCC thanks Dr. Peter Kavsak for all his efforts as editor. The journal needs more reviewers and CSCC requests that members update their member profi le and become reviewers for our journal.

The EPOCC committee has had a change in leadership. Dr. Curtis Oleschuk has stepped down and the new committee co-chairs are Drs. Ron Booth and Dominique Guerette. Currently EPOCC is in discussions on creating mechanisms for CSCC to respond to requests for endorsing clinical guidelines and how to engage our society members when CSCC gets requests to comment, endorse, or develop clinical practise guidelines.

Dr. Isolde Seiden-Long


2015 CSCC “Charity Race” Donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and CHU Sainte-JustineThe CSCC Charity Race that was to take place at this year’s annual meeting in Montreal was unfortunately cancelled due to permit and scheduling issues. The organizing committee, through the support of the CSCC, was still able to commit to the chosen charities and make a donation to both The Montreal Children’s Hospital and CHU Sainte-Justine.

Blood ammonia is the only biomarker for the diagnosis and follow up of patients affected with Urea Cycle Disorders (UCD), a group of inherited diseases in which the ammonia cannot be metabolized properly by the body. The clinical presentation of UCD is highly variable and depends on the age of the patient, and the type and severity of the underlying disorder. Regardless of the cause and age, an increase in blood ammonia leads to severe irreversible brain damage, neurodevelopmental retardation and even death. Effi cient treatments are available to reduce blood ammonia concentration, therefore a rapid and accurate measurement of blood ammonia is essential for the management and follow up of patients with primary hyperammonemic disorders. However, there are multiple pre-analytical factors that can lead to falsely increased measurements of ammonia resulting in sub-optimal patient management, unnecessary additional testing and an increase in hospitalization time. A POCT ammonia device has been available for about 10 years; the latest version is the PocketChemTM BA PA-4140 (Arkray ©). This type of device bypasses most pre-analytical issues, and is less invasive than venous sampling. This is a very important factor when repeated ammonia measurements are needed for treatment monitoring in young children.

The CSCC Charity Race donation made to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation will be directed to the lab to help support the training of the laboratory staff in order to validate and implement the PocketChemTM BA PA-4140, which will drastically improve the quality of care of patients affected with UCD in our institution.

Fabienne Parente, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FCCMG, Medical Biochemist, Assistant Professor McGill University Health Center (MUHC)

National Science Award Sponsored by CSCC158 Springfi eld Blvd, Hamilton, ONJune 25/14

Dr. Curtis OleschukCanadian Society for Clinical ChemistsKingston, ON

Dear Dr. Oleschuk,

My name is Samna Aziz and I am a Grade 12 student at Westmount Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario. A few months ago, I participated in the 2015 Canada Wide Science Fair held in Fredericton, New Brunswick. My trip was sponsored by my regional fair (BASEF- the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair ). I was honored to receive the Canadian Society for Clinical Chemists Award at the national fair. I would like to thank you very much for the award and distinction.

I would also like to thank you for your support of CWSF 2015- it is truly a fantastic event. I had an unforgettable experience being able to spend a week with Team BASEF for the national science competition- through which I was given the chance to present the research I have conducted in the past year to peers, judges, and professionals from across Canada.

My project focused on the redevelopment of the material bone cements, composed of transitioning from an acrylic to a ceramic- based material. Standard acrylic cements have high tensile strength, which can cause additional fractures in the trabecular bone of a patient, whereas the new material has reduced strength as well as being biocompatible and degradable.

The Canada Wide Science Fair was by far the highlight of my secondary school experience. I was inspired and awed by the research being conducted by students at the fair and was able to meet like-minded individuals and professionals from across the country. Through workshops and public viewing, I was able to gain exposure to fi elds of science and engineering I had been particularly interested in for postsecondary education. I have learned so much about my work and the work of others by attending the national event, and was inspired to continue my research for next year!

Again, thank you very much for your encouragement for youth pursuing science and engineering in Canada, and your support of the fair.

Sincerely,Samna Aziz


Call for Nominations for 2016 AwardsAppel de candidatures pour les prix annuels

CSCC 2016 Awards/ Prix de la SCCC 2016Members of CSCC are invited to nominate a member who they feel is deserving of these awards./ Les membres de la SCCC sont invites à faire parvenir le nom d’un candidat méritoire.• Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry/ Prix pour Contribution exceptionnelle

à la chimie clinique Sponsored by/Commandité par Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics

• CSCC Award for Innovation in Laboratory Medicine / Prix pour l’innovation en biologie médicaleSponsored by/Commandité par Roche Diagnostics

• Research Excellence Award/Prix d’Excellence en RechercheSponsored by/Commandité par Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics

• Education Excellence Award/Prix d’Excellence en ÉducationSponsored by/Commandité par Beckman Coulter Inc.

CACB 2016 Award/ Prix de l’ACBC 2016• Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession of Clinical Biochemistry/ Prix pour

Contribution exceptionnelle à la profession de biochimiste clinique

The Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry would like to honour a Fellow of the Academy for outstanding contributions that has advanced the standards and recognition of Clinical Biochemistry as a health care profession./ L’Académie canadienne de biochimie clinique désire honorer un Fellow de l’Académie pour sa contribution à l’amélioration des standards de pratique et à la reconnaissance du biochimiste clinique comme Professionnel de la santé.

Members of the Academy are invited to nominate a Fellow who they feel is deserving of this award./ Les membres de l’Académie sont invités à faire parvenir le nom d’un candidat méritoire.

Nominations must include/ Les dossiers de candidature doivent inclure:

• Letter of nomination with supporting information indicating why the nominee is deserving of the award/ Une lettre de mise en candidature incluant toute information décrivant les raisons justifi ant la demande

• CV of nominee/ Le Curriculum vitae du candidat• Letter from the seconder of the award nomination/ Une lettre d’appui à la candidature

Nominations must be received by November 30, 2015/Les dossiers de candidature doivent être reçus avant le 30 novembre 2015

Sent to/Envoyer à : offi [email protected]

A list of all past award winners is available on the CSCC website.


www.cscc.ca

Call for Applications for 2016 GrantsMembers of CSCC are invited to apply for the following grants:

• CSCC Educational Activities and Professional Development GrantSponsored by CSCC

• CSCC Grant for Leadership and/or AdministrationSponsored by Abbott Laboratories

Terms of Reference and application forms are available on the CSCC website under About Us / Awards and Grants

Call for Nominations / Appel de candidatures

CSCC Council / Conseil de la SCCC

Position / Poste mandat Term of Offi ce/Terme duHead, Education & Scientifi c Affairs Division / Chef, Division des affaires pédagogiques et scientifi ques 2016-2019

Head, Professional Affairs Division / Chef, Division des affaires professionnelles 2016-2019

Councillor / Conseiller – 1 position open (1 poste vacante) 2016-2018

CACB Board of Directors / Conseil d’administration de l’ACBC

Position / Poste mandat Term of Offi ce/Terme du3 members / trois membres 2016-2019

Nominations must be signed by three (3) members who are eligible to nominate, one (1) of whom shall act as the proposer, and shall be accompanied by the written consent of the nominee. / Les avis de candidature doivent être signés par trois (3) membres qualifi és (avec droit de vote) dont un (1) devra agir comme proposeur. Les avis de candidature doivent également être accompagnés du consentement écrit des candidats.

Chair, Nominations Committee / le président du Comité des nominations CSCC: Dr. David Kinniburgh CACB: Dr. Ihssan Bouhtiauy

Nominations must be received by November 30, 2015 /Les avis de candidatures doivent être reçus avant le 30 novembre 2015.

Sent to / Envoyer à: offi [email protected]


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Position Profile - Saskatoon Health Region Department of Pathology & Laboratory Services currently seeks a full time Clinical Biochemist to provide consultation and liaison with physicians in the interpretation of laboratory test results while utilizing Lean Management methodology in providing proactive leadership. The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine combines academic, research and service components within the Saskatoon Health Region and College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. The Department has an accredited residency training program in General Pathology and provides training/teaching at the undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral levels as well as training for medical laboratory technologists and assistants. The successful candidate will join a group of laboratory professionals (pathologists, microbiologists, biochemists, hematopathologists, geneticists) providing specialty testing/consultation to health care providers at the three acute care centers in Saskatoon as well as referral and consultant services to the surrounding Regional centers and community based physicians. Compensation Details – salary scale $ Benefits – Vacation/Health/Dental benefits package as per Out of Scope Terms & Conditions of Employment The Applicant The successful candidate will hold a PhD degree with formal training in Clinical Biochemistry, be certified or eligible for certification in Clinical Biochemistry by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists and be eligible for membership on the SHR Practitioner Staff The City Saskatoon Shines – with more hours of sunshine than any other major Canadian city. With a population of 250,000, Saskatoon is the largest city in Saskatchewan, boasting small town spirit and big city amenities. World class events, festivals and attractions …strong arts and music focus … a short drive to the northern lake country … a variety of indoor and outdoor sporting facilities … and more golf courses per capita than anywhere in North America. The city is noted for its outstanding walking and biking trails along the riverbank and excellent educational facilities, including the University of Saskatchewan. The Region Saskatoon Health Region is one of the most integrated and complex health delivery agencies in Canada. We are the largest health region in Saskatchewan serving more than 300,000 residents in over 100 cities, towns, and rural municipalities. Saskatoon Health Region is the largest single employer in the province with over 13,000 staff and 900 physicians across the Region providing a complete range of health services to residents of central and northern Saskatchewan. The city’s three acute care hospitals – St. Paul’s, City, and Royal University – comprise three of the province’s tertiary teaching centres. The University The beautiful University of Saskatchewan campus is located on the shores of South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, SK, with a diverse and thriving economic base and a vibrant cultural life. The UofS is a research-intensive institution with 22,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, and a strong reputation for innovation and excellence. It is home to two of the largest science projects in the country – the Canadian Light Source synchrotron (www.lightsource.ca), the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization / International Vaccine Centre (www.vido.org) and the newly constructed Academic Health Sciences Complex (http://library.usask.ca/hsl/new-building.php). The Department’s broad range of clinical programs are well suited for educational and research activities. Apply in confidence to: Dr. Joe Blondeau, Head Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine University of Saskatchewan/ Saskatoon Health Region Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada S7N 0W8 Tel: 306 655-2167 Fax 306 655-8049 Email: [email protected] In accordance with Immigration requirements, first preference will be given to Canadian applicants.

CLINICAL BIOCHEMIST, PHD J O B # 2 8 0


The CSCC News is published bimonthly by the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists and distributed to the members by the Society. Letters to the Editor must be signed and should not exceed 200 words in length. Chairs of Committees and Local Sections are requested to submit announcements and reports of activities.

Deadline for Submissions:

December 31 January issueFebruary 28 March issueApril 30 May issueJune 30 July issueAugust 30 September issueOctober 30 November issue

Notices from members seeking employment may be inserted without charge, and box-number replies may be arranged. Notices from institutions will be invoiced at $150 and include a notice on the website on the Job Opportunities page.

Views and reports appearing in CSCC News do not necessarily have the endorsement of the Society. Address general communications to the Editor care of the CSCC Head Offi ce.

Editor in Chief: Dr. Isolde Seiden Long

Associate Editors: Dr. Danijela Konforte, Dr. Vilte Barakauskas

Publication Offi ce:

CSCC News

C/o CSCC Head Offi ce4 Cataraqui St., Suite 310, Kingston ON K7K 1Z7Tel: 613-531-8899 • Fax: 613-531-0626offi [email protected]

CALENDAR OF EVENTSIf you would like to announce your meeting, please send at least 3 months in advance to offi [email protected]

October 5, 2015CSCC Travelling Lectureship Symposium TorontoDaniels Hollywood Theatre (1246, Elm Wing)Hospital for Sick Children, TorontoProgram available on CSCC website calendar

October 6-7, 2015Understanding Myeloma in 2015Edmonton AlbertaProgram and Registration available on CSCC website calendar

October 11-15, 201514th International Congress of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring & Clinical Toxicology 2015Rotterdam, the Netherlands, http://iatdmct2015.org/

October 17, 2015IQMH/EORLA SymposiumBeyond quality: The laboratory as a high reliability organizationOttawa ONhttps://iqmh.org/Services/Centre-For-Education/Events/IQMH-EORLA-Symposium-2015

October 21-23, 2015SQBC Annual Conference“Dans le point de mire de la biologie clinique”Château Bromont, Bromont QC

October 28-30, 2015Laboratory Quality Management Conference 2015UBC Program Offi ce for Laboratory Quality ManagementVancouver, BC

November 4-5, 2015OSCC Annual Scientifi c MeetingChoosing Wisely in the LabHamilton, ONProgram and registration available on CSCC website calendar

T H A N K S T O O U R C S C C N E W S S P O N S O R S !

2015-2016 Executive & Council of CSCC

President Andrew Lyon 2015-2017President-Elect Stephen Hill 2015-2017Secretary Jennifer Shea 2015-2018Treasurer Ivan Blasutig 2014-2017Councillors Danijela Konforte 2015-2017 Vathany Kulasingham 2015-2017 Isolde Seiden Long 2014-2016Division Heads

Education & Scientifi c Affairs Allison Venner 2013-2016Professional Affairs Julie Shaw 2013-2016Publications Curtis Oleschuk 2015-2018Executive Director Pamela Lyons

2015-2016 Board of Directors of CACB

Chair Cheryl Tomalty 2014-2017Secretary Abdulrazaq Sokoro 2015-2018Chair, Accreditation Lianna Kyriakopoulou 2015-2018Chair Certifi cation Mary-Ann Kallai-Sanfaçon 2013-2016Chair, Credentials Sheila Boss 2014-2017Chair, Maintenance of Competence Paul Yip 2013-2016Liaison, Nominations & Ihssan Bouhtiauy 2013-2016Awards Committees

Application Deadline!To sit the Oral Exams

Fellowship Applications under Category 3 or 4 andTrainees Re-Sitting the Oral Exam

Applicants who are applying for Fellowship under category 3 or 4 and trainees who are re-sitting the oral exam must apply by November 30, 2015. Applications received after November 30, 2015 if eligible, would take the oral exam in July 2017.


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Clinical Biochemist/Biochemical Geneticist (1.0 FTE)

The Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, ON, an academic health science centre dedicated exclusively to infants, children and adolescents, affiliated with the University of Toronto, is recruiting a full-time Clinical Biochemist/Biochemical Geneticist. The anticipated start date is November 1, 2015, or at a mutually agreeable date.

The Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine at Sick Kids is internationally recognized as a major diagnostic and academic centre of excellence in service, teaching, and clinically-oriented research in Paediatric Laboratory Medicine.

Qualified candidates must hold a PhD degree and be certified (or eligible for certification) in clinical chemistry by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (CACB) and/or in biochemical genetics by the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG). The successful candidate should have a strong record of scholarship, experience or special training in paediatric clinical biochemistry, biochemical genetics, genetic-metabolic disease, mass spectrometry and other state-of-the art methodologies. Preference will be given to candidates with at least 3 years of relevant experience in metabolic and biochemical genetics with CCMG certification. Reporting to the Clinical Biochemistry Division Head, the ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with demonstrated professional skills, able to work in team settings, and have excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. Clinical laboratory functions will include oversight of analytical and quality aspects of laboratory analysis, interpretation of results, consultation with physicians, and teaching (staff, students, residents and fellows (including CCMG and CACB) and continuing education activities). The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop an independent and collaborative research program related to Paediatric disease. The successful candidate will be appointed to the SickKids’ Medical and Scientific Staff, obtain an appointment in SickKids Research Institute and an academic appointment in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. Rank and salary ($140,000- $160,000 per annum) will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will be eligible for a benefits package which includes medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability insurance, group insurance, pension plan, vision care, academic allowance, and assistance with relocation.

Applications should be accompanied by an application letter, a curriculum vitae, an outline of research interests, along with the name and addresses of at least 3 referees to Dr. Richard Hegele, Chief, Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario. M5G 1X8. Telephone: (416) 813-5970, Fax: (416) 813-2156. Email: [email protected]. The Search Committee will begin to consider applications received by September 30, 2015 for shortlisting. The position will remain open until filled. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

SickKids and the University of Toronto are strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.


Government of Manitoba Department of Health, Healthy Living & Seniors

REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMIST

Request for Proposal (RFP) #: MHHLS-01 Issued by: Manitoba Health, Healthy Living Seniors (MHHLS) Issue Date: September 4, 2015 Submission Deadline: October 2, 2015 at 16:00 hours CST Contract Period: Proposed from December 1, 2015 – November 30, 2017 (possibility for extension) Cadham Provincial Laboratory (CPL) is looking for a Clinical Biochemist with a PhD and formal training in Clinical Biochemistry. The candidate should be certified or eligible for certification in Clinical Biochemistry by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists. CPL is a key support to central public health programs through laboratory screening, detection, characterization and response. This includes enhanced surveillance of infectious diseases to aid in outbreak identification, control and prevention, with particular expertise in laboratory virology. Senior CPL staff provide strategic and operational advice relating to public health programming, surveillance activities, diagnostic laboratory programming and its interface with the broader health system, infection control, screening programs, research, regulated health professionals and other matters pertinent to Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors (MHHLS). Three biochemistry-based screening programs, Newborn Screening (NBS), Maternal Serum Screening (MSS) and Fecal Occult Blood for Colon Cancer Screening are operated out of CPL. The NBS and the MSS programs are highly complex and require expert level guidance to maintain accreditation, and evaluate and implement emerging technologies and testing strategies. CPL is seeking a qualified Clinical Biochemist with experience/expertise in Newborn Screening and/or Maternal Serum Screening, hand-on experience with Tandem Mass Spectrometry, and experience in the day-to-day operations of a clinical perinatal chemistry service. Candidates must have strong references and possess a strong track record of collaboration. Expertise in and adherence to quality assurance measures is a must. In 2011, Manitoba’s Newborn Screening Program was expanded to include testing for Cystic Fibrosis and expanded screening by MS-MS. According to the Canadian Organization of Rare Disorders (CORD) report, Manitoba’s Newborn Screening Program now screens for the largest complement of disorders in the country. Cadham Provincial Laboratory also performs Maternal Serum Screening for Pregnant women in the province of Manitoba. The screening results provide women with a risk assessment for pregnancy affected by open neural tube defects, Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. In context of the current organization, CPL is seeking a Clinical Biochemist to perform a technical, clinical, and scientific review of both the Newborn Screening Program and the Maternal Serum Screening Program. This individual’s work would inform future decision regarding testing protocols and technology requirements for screening in the province of Manitoba. For qualifications, services to be provided and submission requirements, please go to: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cpl/

J O B # 2 8 2

Documents

CSCC News September