By Qing Meng, MD, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Qing Meng, MD, PhD, and Victoria Zhang, PhD, drew an audience of 400 for presentations on research using laboratory and clinical resources and quality control in Xining, China. These presentations were part of the Laboratory Medicine Conference organized by the Qinghai Medical Association and Qinghai Center for Clinical Laboratory in June of this year.
The conference focused on several key themes, including the integration of new concepts and technologies, the training and professional development of laboratory personnel, and the opportunities and challenges posed by big data and artificial intelligence in laboratory settings. Quality control and performance assessment in laboratories were also central topics of discussion.
The topics included in both presentations were well-received by attendees, sparking engaging discussions and interest in these critical aspects of laboratory medicine.
Meng delivered a presentation titled “How to conduct research using laboratory and clinical resources,” which highlighted the strategic use of laboratory and clinical resources to drive impactful research. The presentation topic was requested by the host organization and emphasized the various pathways through which laboratory professionals are conducting their research, such as laboratory investigations, troubleshooting, and interference studies.
Meng explained the importance of the topic which he presented on, stating the fact that laboratory quality is not simply quality control and assurance, but rather a quality system composed of many components, processes, procedures, activities, and policies. Crucial professional research maintains this system to ensure laboratory quality.
Zhang presented “Quality control excellence: Building trust in clinical testing,” emphasizing the importance of rigorous quality control measures in establishing trust and reliability in clinical testing processes. In an effort to develop lab quality early in a laboratorian’s career, Zhang and Meng provided an overview of the education, certification, and practice of laboratory professionals in the United States, offering valuable insights into the high standards that characterize U.S. laboratory medicine.
The event not only deepened participants’ understanding of the evolving role of laboratory medicine, but also underscored the importance of continuous improvement in delivering high-quality services for patient care and public health.
Continuing with the exchange of knowledge and practice at the conference, Meng and Zhang also had an opportunity to learn about the local culture and religion, and to visit the Museum of Tibetan Medicine and Culture. On display was artwork of a Tibetan medicine tree, which mimics an actual tree that is growing from the bottom up. This is called a "Tree Metaphor Diagram." It uses the symbolism of a tree, including its trunk, branches, and leaves, to represent various aspects of physiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Observing the artistic representations of laboratory medicine in the region, along with its historical and cultural representations, added to the overall experience of delivering presentations in Xining, China.
Qing Meng, PhD, DABCC, FADLM, is chair of the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine’s (formerly AACC’s) Asia-Pacific Working Group and is a professor and section chief of clinical chemistry laboratories in the department of laboratory medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The ADLM/Qinghai Medical Association and Qinghai Center for Clinical Laboratory workshop was conducted as a part of the Global Lab Quality Initiative funded by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation. Any society interested in partnering on a similar workshop, please contact [email protected]