{{Primary sources|date=February 2021}} The '''International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine''' ('''IFCC)''' is a global professional association that promotes the fields of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine.<ref name="About IFCC">{{cite web |title=About - IFCC |url=https://www.ifcc.org/about/ |website=IFCC}}</ref> It was established in Paris in 1952 as the International Association of Clinical Biochemists to organize the various national societies of these fields and is based in Milan, Italy. <ref name="IFCC Milestones 2022" />
The IFCC's aims are to set global standards, support and educate its members, and provide conferences and other gatherings for sharing knowledge among the global laboratory medicine community.<ref name="About IFCC" />
IFCC members fall into three groups: national societies of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, corporations, and affiliate international or national societies involved in laboratory medicine.<ref name="IFCC Milestones 2022">{{cite web |title=IFCC Milestones 2022 |url=https://cms.ifcc.org/media/479832/ifcc_milestones_2022.pdf |website=IFCC |access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref> As of 2023, these members represented more than 45,000 individual clinical chemists, laboratory scientists, and laboratory physicians.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifcc/about/ |website=LinkedIn |access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>
==Structure and organization== The IFCC is governed by a council consisting of representatives appointed by member groups. The council elects an executive board, which carries out objectives via committees and the organization's divisions.<ref>{{cite web |title=IFCC - Executive Board (EB) and Council |url=https://ifcc.org/executive-board-and-council/ |website=IFCC |access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>
===Divisions=== The '''Scientific Division''' works to advance the science of clinical chemistry and to apply it to the practice of clinical laboratory medicine. It is responsible for responding to the scientific and technical needs of IFCC member societies, IFCC corporate members and external agencies. It instigates and promotes theoretical and practical developments in the field of standards and standardization in clinical chemistry.
The '''Education and Management Division''' provides IFCC members and the health-care community with education relevant to clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. It administers a visiting lecturer program as well as clinical courses and workshops in molecular biology and other specialized areas.
The '''Communications and Publications Division''' promotes the work of the IFCC to scientists, physicians, and global health policy makers. It also publishes the academic journal '''eJIFCC'''.
The '''Emerging Technologies Division''' identifies new technologies that could be applied to laboratory medicine and explores applications for those technologies.
===Committees=== The '''Congresses and Conferences Committee''' administers and manages IFCC meetings and conferences.
==Partnerships== The IFCC partners with International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation to educate the public and industry professionals on accreditation standards.<ref>{{cite web |title=ILAC – IFCC PARTNERSHIP |url=https://ilac.org/about-ilac/partnerships/international-partners/ifcc/ |website=ilac |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>
==See also== * National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) * Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) * Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) * International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation * ISO 15189 * Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine * National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) * Reference values
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.ifcc.org/ International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine] (IFCC) * [http://www.iso15189.com ISO15189.com] * A [https://web.archive.org/web/20120417074954/http://www.ifcc.org/about-us/history/ brief history of the IFCC] and its leaders.
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Category:Standards organisations in Italy Category:Accreditation in health care Category:Chemistry organizations Category:Clinical pathology Category:International medical and health organizations Category:Scientific organizations established in 1952 Category:1952 establishments in Italy Category:Organizations established in 1952