The Association for Laboratory Medicine (previously the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine) is a

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

-based

learned society A learned society ( ; also scholarly, intellectual, or academic society) is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and sciences. Membership may be open to al ...

dedicated to the practice and promotion of

laboratory medicine A medical laboratory or clinical laboratory is a laboratory where tests are conducted out on clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient to aid in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Clinical medical labor ...

which consists of the clinical

biochemistry Biochemistry, or biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology, a ...

immunology Immunology is a branch of biology and medicine that covers the study of Immune system, immune systems in all Organism, organisms. Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the Physiology, physiological functioning of the immune system in ...

and

microbiology Microbiology () is the branches of science, scientific study of microorganisms, those being of unicellular organism, unicellular (single-celled), multicellular organism, multicellular (consisting of complex cells), or non-cellular life, acellula ...

professions. It was founded on 28 March 1953 at the inaugural meeting attended by 75 members at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, and its official journal is the '' Annals of Clinical Biochemistry''. The association is a full, national society member of the

International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 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. It was established in Paris in 1952 as the Internationa ...

IFCC as well as a full member of the regional European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Its qualifying members are automatically members of the certificated trade union called Federation of Clinical Scientists (FCS), which represents the interests of clinical scientists. Some members who meet the eligibility criteria are enrolled to the register of European Specialists in Laboratory Medicine (EuSpLM).

History

Founded as the "Association of Clinical Biochemists", the association has evolved as

has changed with advances in

. Recognizing an increasing number of medical members, the name was changed in 2005 to "Association for Clinical Biochemistry". In 2007 the "Association of Clinical Scientists in Immunology" merged with the ACB. The membership expanded in 2010 with the merger with the "Association of Clinical Microbiologists". The broader nature of the membership contributed to its renaming as ACB in 2013. The name was abbreviated to the Association for Laboratory Medicine in 2024.

Functions

LabMed is one of the world's leading professional membership organisations dedicated to the practice and promotion of clinical science. As the major body for clinical biochemistry, immunology and microbiology in the United Kingdom, it works nationally and internationally to promote the highest standards in laboratory testing and patient care. Its functions includes fostering the highest standards in laboratory medicine and patient care; using data, science and technology to support human health; trade union support for members and promoting laboratory medicine to the wider community; training, professional leadership, examples of best practice and guidance to the profession, governments, the public and media; scientific and educational initiatives, bursaries and awards. For example, LabMed is responsible for determining the specific content for courses related to certification as a clinical biochemist in the UK. Papers published by LabMed members are related to the use of laboratories by doctors and patient health diagnostic testing in the UK. LabMed was part of a 2008 effort by a consortium to support a Scottish government initiative aimed at emphasizing the need for quality laboratory services to the practice of medicine.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine Biochemistry organizations British biology societies Clinical pathology Health in the London Borough of Southwark Medical associations based in the United Kingdom 1952 establishments in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the London Borough of Southwark Scientific organizations established in 1952

History

Functions

References

Further reading

External links