Conference Program

Morning

CACB Oral Exams

Afternoon

CACB Oral Exams

Morning

CACB Oral Exams

Afternoon

CACB Oral Exams

Morning

CACB Oral Exams

CSCC Council

1300-1500

Fun Walk/Run

Afternoon

CACB Oral Exams

CSCC Council

CACB Board of Directors

1645-1745

Lightning Talks

1800-1815

Opening Ceremonies

1815-1915

Opening Keynote – From Evidence to Influence: Making a Difference for Children in Pain

Christine T. Chambers, PhD RPsych
Professor & Tier 1 Canada Research Chair
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Describe evidence-based practices that are effective in reducing procedural pain in children.
2. Identify the importance of mobilizing research knowledge and describe key elements of this process based on examples provided from Solutions for Kids in Pain, a national knowledge mobilization network.
3. Demonstrate how interprofessional collaboration can strengthen knowledge mobilization efforts that improve evidence‑based pediatric pain practices.

Poorly managed pain in children is a serious health problem resulting in unnecessary suffering and overwhelmingly negative immediate- and long-term effects. Effective treatments exist, yet children and their families continue to suffer due to undertreatment and our failure to prevent pain. The full potential of research can only be realized if it is effectively disseminated to patients, health care providers, policymakers, and others, and implemented in real-world settings through clinical practice and health policy. Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP) is a national network who is bridging the gap between current treatment practices and evidence-informed solutions through their mission to unite partners and mobilize knowledge to improve children’s pain management. This presentation will provide an overview of the evidence-based practices that are effective in reducing procedural pain in children, highlighting the research-to-practice gaps that exist along the translational continuum, and demonstrating how these practices can be mobilized effectively, underscoring that unmanaged pain is not only a quality of care issue but a patient safety issue. It will highlight how, to make gains in moving from research to the real world, one must consider the application of scientific discoveries to different types of knowledge users and settings and the value of partnerships, illustrating how interprofessional collaborations strengthen knowledge mobilization efforts to advance the uptake of evidence based pediatric pain practices.

Dr. Christine Chambers is an international leader in children’s pain research and a national voice for children’s health. Named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, Christine has published over 200 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and is recognized in the top 2% of the most cited scientists in the world. She is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Children’s Pain at Dalhousie University and faculty member in the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research at IWK Health Centre. Her acclaimed research program, The Chambers Lab, has helped establish Canada as a leader in children’s pain research, launching award-winning projects including #ItDoesntHaveToHurt and mentoring over 100 trainees.

Christine is the Scientific Director of Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP), and the Scientific Director of the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

1930-2200

Opening Reception at Alexander Keith’s Brewery

0800-0900

Committee & SIG Meetings

0915-1215

Symposium 1 – Access for All: Supporting Healthcare and Lab Access in Challenging Environments

Chairs:

Miranda Brun, University of Alberta
Jason Robinson, Health PEI

Learning Objectives: At the end of this symposium participants will be able to:

1. Analyze challenges and solutions in delivering laboratory services across large geographical regions and unique patient needs.
2. Assess the impact of equitable access to transplant-related testing on patient outcomes.
3. Explain the advantages of dried blood spot testing for improving access to laboratory testing, and key analytical and logistical considerations for implementing.

Presentations:

09:15 – 10:05

Navigating the Labrador Current: Point-of-Care Testing in Rural Newfoundland and Labrador—Successes, Barriers, and the Path to Diagnostic Accessibility

Edward Randell, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Analyze the geographic and demographic imperatives driving decentralized testing, evaluating how POCT bridges critical accessibility gaps in low-density, extreme-weather environments.
2. Evaluate the technical and pre-analytical vulnerabilities of rural POCT, specifically addressing sub-zero reagent transport and the informatics challenges related to integration of “ghost data” into the Electronic Health Record.
3. Appraise the economic and clinical impact of rural POCT implementations, utilizing evidence-based “cost-avoidance” models.
4. Formulate an evidence-based governance framework to transition fragmented regional POCT practices into a cohesive, provincially integrated laboratory medicine program grounded in diagnostic equity.

This presentation analyzes the evolution of rural Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) in Newfoundland and Labrador, addressing challenges like logistical fragility, workforce instability, and “ghost data” that hinder diagnostic equity in remote, sub-arctic environments. By examining the Labrador Coast’s “hub and spoke” model, the session highlights how integrated POCT improves urgent triage, reduces reliance medical evacuations, and supports a future provincial program focused on connectivity and standardized governance. Attendees will learn to identify environmental barriers to lab standards, evaluate the impact of rural POCT, analyze risks associated with disconnected data, and discuss strategies for implementing a, unified, provincial governance model.

10:05 – 10:35

Refreshment break and exhibit viewing

10:35 – 11:25

Timely Testing in Transplantation: Challenges in Coordinating a Successful Transplant
Mark Walsh, NS Health Authority, Dalhousie University

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Assess the impact of equitable access to transplant-related testing on patient outcomes.
2. Discuss the challenges around virtual crossmatching and real time cross matching.
3. Understand the logistics in coordinating the different organ groups needs as they pertain to a single donor.

11:25 – 12:15

Dried Blood Microsampling: From Bench to Home
Christophe Stove, Ghent University, Belgium

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Point out the possibilities and pitfalls of dried blood microsampling
2. Tell in what contexts dried blood microsampling may prove valuable
3. Point out some major points of attention when setting up dried blood microsampling-based methods

Dried blood microsampling, originating in the newborn screening field, and also currently routinely applied in preclinical (animal) studies in the pharmaceutical industry, is increasingly receiving attention in the field of clinical chemistry. Many dried blood spot (DBS)-based methods have been developed for a variety of applications, e.g. phenotyping, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), doping analysis or toxicology. This presentation will focus on the use of dried blood microsampling in both TDM (including home sampling) and toxicology, with selected applications highlighting the potential (but also limitations) of the technology.

1215-1400

Lunch & Exhibit Viewing

1400-1500

Industry Workshops

1500-1600

Best Poster Presentations

1600-1700

Industry Workshops

1700-1900

Wine & Cheese Reception & Exhibit Viewing

Poster Viewing (posters staffed 1700-1800)

0800-0900

Committee & SIG Meetings

0915-1215

Symposium 2 – New Kids on the Block – Cytokines as Emerging Tools in Rare and Complex Inflammatory Disorders

Chair:

Benjamin Jung, The Hospital for Sick Children

Learning Objectives: At the end of this symposium participants will be able to:

1. Discuss the clinical context and diagnostic challenges of cytokine storm syndromes and rare inflammatory disorders.
   • Describe current definitions and classifications of cytokine storm syndromes.
   • Identify key diagnostic gaps and limitations in existing approaches.
2. Evaluate the current landscape of cytokine testing in clinical laboratories.
   • Summarize commonly used cytokine markers and methodologies.
   • Discuss technical and interpretive challenges, including standardization and quality assurance considerations.
3. Apply principles of cytokine result interpretation to real-world clinical scenarios.
   • Analyze case examples where cytokine testing influenced diagnosis or management.
   • Recognize situations where cytokine testing may provide value beyond current guidelines.
4. Explore emerging tools and future directions for cytokine testing.
   • Highlight innovations that may improve detection and monitoring of rare inflammatory disorders.
   • Consider implications for clinical practice and laboratory workflows.

Presentations:

Part 1: Cytokine Storm Syndrome – Overview of a Concept

09:15 – 09:40

COVID 19 and Cytokine Storm Syndromes – What Did We Learn

Luke Chen, Dalhousie University

09:40 – 10:20

The Current Landscape of Cytokine Testing in Clinical Laboratories

Lusia Sepiashvili, The Hospital for Sick Children

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Recognize commonly measured cytokines and the insights they provide.
2. Describe analytical methodologies for cytokine measurement.
3. Discuss challenges associated with bench to bedside translation of cytokine testing.

Key cytokines and cytokine panels have increasingly been implemented in clinical laboratories as part of specialized services to support the evaluation and management of inflammatory disorders, monitor immunomodulatory therapies, and guide personalized care in complex and often critically ill patients. This session will help participants recognize commonly measured plasma cytokines of potential clinical utility and describe various analytical methodologies for cytokine measurement. Analytical performance evaluation, quality control, quality assurance, and result interpretation and current challenges associated with the above will be presented. Additionally, while reviewing the pitfalls of translating cytokine research from bench to bedside and the importance of continued work to address these gaps through evidence generation and collaborative efforts, attendees will gain an improved understanding of the evolving role of cytokine testing.

10:20 – 10:30

Q & A

10:30 – 11:00

Refreshment break and exhibit viewing

Part 2: Cytokine Storm Syndromes: Practical Diagnosis and Management

11:00 – 11:25

Cytokine Storm syndromes (HLH, Still’s, TAFRO)

Luke Chen, Dalhousie University

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Recognize cytokine storm syndromes (Still’s, HLH, TAFRO).
2. Describe the use of simple inflammatory markers (CRP, ferritin, sCD25) in the diagnosis of cytokine storm syndromes.
3. Provide an overview of the management of cytokine storm syndromes.

This presentation will provide an overview of the diagnosis and management of three cytokine storm syndromes: HLH, Still’s disease and TAFRO.

11:25 – 11:40

Skin Biopsy Findings in Still’s

Sylvia Pasternak, Dalhousie University

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Understand examples of cutaneous findings in Still’s.
2. Demonstrate dyskeratotic keratinocytes.

11:40 – 12:00

Lymph Node and Bone marrow Pathology in Castleman Disease

Allam Shawwa, Dalhousie University, NS Health

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Describe the spectrum of Castleman diseases.
2. Assess and distinguish the morphologic findings of Castleman.
3. Discuss morphology of hemophagocytosis.

This lecture will focus on the current WHO classification of Castleman’s disease and demonstrate the morphologic appearance of the various subtypes. The bone marrow morphology of hemophagocytosis will also be reviewed.

12:00 – 12:15

Q & A

1215-1330

Lunch & Exhibit Viewing

1330-1430

Roundtable Discussions (click here for the details)

• R0501: Implementing Point of Care Glucose Monitoring in Critical Care Settings
• R0502: The Evolving Stream of Biological Diagnosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases: What’s Coming Next
• R0503: Optimizing Test Utilization Across Healthcare Settings: Practical Strategies from Academic Laboratories
• R0504: ISO 5649: A New International Standard for Laboratory Developed Tests
• R0505: Configuring and Validating Open-Channel Tests
• R0506: Updated 2025 International Myeloma Working Group / International Myeloma Society Response Criteria Guidelines and Impact to Laboratory Practice
• R0507: What is the Future of Patient-Based Real-Time Quality Control?
• R0508: Shrinking the Draw: Strategies and Advances in Reducing Sample Volume
• R0509: Strategies for Providing Customized Interpretive Comments for Hemoglobin A1C Results Outside the Analytical Measuring Range on Automated Immunoassay Platforms
• R0510: Levelling Up Point of Care Testing in Acute Care Settings: Building Awareness of the Choosing Wisely Canada Recommendations from the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists

1430-1500

Break & Exhibit Viewing

1500-1600

Scientific Workshops (click here for the details)

• W0511: Challenge Yourself in Pediatric Diagnostics!
• W0512: Practical Approaches for Discordant Laboratory Result Investigations
• W0513: HRMS Toxicology Screening: Validation, Implementation, Quality Monitoring, Data Mining, and Continuous Improvement
• W0514: Advancing Reference Interval Harmonization in Canada: Implementation of CSCC Best Practice Guidelines (2 hours)

1615-1715

Scientific Workshops (click here for the details)

• W0514: Advancing Reference Interval Harmonization in Canada: Implementation of CSCC Best Practice Guidelines (continues)
• W0521: From Total to Transcutaneous Bilirubin: Decoding Bilirubin Testing and Implications of the 2025 CPS Recommendations to the Clinical Laboratory
• W0522: Introducing an Evidence-Based, Environmentally Sustainable, Solution into Your Laboratory
• W0523: Fluid Thinking: Moving Towards Evidence-Based Body Fluid Testing to Meet Clinical Needs in Manitoba and Alberta

1800-2300

President’s Reception and Gala Banquet at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

0900-1200

Symposium 3 – Using Evidence-based Medicine to Guide Utilization of Laboratory Testing

Presented by the IFCC Evidence-Based Laboratory Committee

Chair:

Andrew Don-Wauchope, Laverty Pathology

Learning Objectives: At the end of this symposium participants will be able to:

1. Define and apply evidence-based laboratory medicine (EBLM) to for guiding appropriate test utilization.
2. Describe common approaches to EBLM such as minimum retesting intervals and clinical practice guidelines.
3. Discuss the successes and future directions of EBLM as described in current literature as well as future artificial intelligence applications.

This symposium will provide information on how to use evidence to guide laboratory test utilization. Clinical practice guidelines and minimum repeat testing intervals will be described as tools to help with providing the evidence for laboratory test utilization. Examples of improved test utilization from the literature will be provided and some conceptual and practical applications using artificial intelligence will be discussed.

Presentations:

Appropriate Use of Laboratory Tests Based on Clinical Practice Guidelines

Andrew Craig Don-Wauchope, Laverty Pathology, Australia

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Define evidence-based laboratory medicine.
2. Explain where to find clinical practice guidelines.
3. Use clinical practice guidelines in clinical improvement projects (clinical audit).

The role of evidence-based laboratory medicine in guiding appropriate test utilization will be described, highlighting the role and limitations of clinical practice guidelines. An introduction to implementation will be included.

Appropriate Use of Laboratory Tests Based on Repeat Testing Intervals

Tim Lang, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Define what are minimal retesting intervals.
2. Explain how to implement retesting intervals in practice.
3. Describe assessing the impact of retesting intervals.

This session will focus on the development of minimum retesting intervals, how they can be used in clinical practice and identify unnecessary waste in the whole lab process.

Refreshment break and exhibit viewing

Evidence Based Interventions Targeting Test Utilization

Nathalie Weiss, INSTAND e.V., Germany

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Describe the current interventions targeting test utilization.
2. Identify the impact of some of these interventions.
3. Find additional data on test performance to help classify the utilised tests (or those you plan to utilise).

This session will give a short overview over different evidence-based interventions that targeted test utilizations including the influence of the public health perspective of the intervention. Different intervention strategies will be highlighted followed by a discussion of the impact on test utilization. Additionally, a short excurse will cover independent sources to assess the quality of tests for a better overall diagnostic quality.

Will Artificial Intelligence Based on Evidence Lead to Better Test Utilization

Christopher McCudden, EORLA

Learning Objectives – at the end of this presentation participants will be able to:

1. Describe the current evidence supporting and refuting the impact of AI-driven decision support on laboratory test utilization and ordering behavior.
2. Differentiate between rule-based, statistical, and machine-learning AI approaches used in test utilization management, including their strengths and limitations.
3. Explain how implementation context (workflow integration, clinician trust, incentives, and governance) influences whether AI tools actually improve test utilization in practice.

This presentation is focused on examining the evidence of AI support of lab test utilization. Broadly, the literature supports cautious optimism for AI use for laboratory stewardship. While evidence is limited at this stage, AI can potentially improve test utilization when it is embedded into a well governed, workflow focused decision support tool and evaluated prospectively. Caution is warranted as it is not automatically superior to simpler interventions. Future studies are needed to establish high-quality “evidence-based AI” from programs that treat models as a component of stewardship—measured by net clinical benefit, not just reduced costs.

1200-1215

Closing Remarks