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May 09, 2012
Welcome to the web site of Canadian
Association of HIV Clinical Laboratory Specialists (CAHCLS), where members
from all over Canada dedicate their professionalism to the advancement of
HIV laboratory excellence.
Read more about the
visions and goals of CAHCLS
Read more about CAHCLS's executive members
Next ... Victoria
The
next consensus meeting on HIV clinical laboratory testing is to be held
in June 2012 in Victoria, British Columbia. The host members for this
event are Darrel Cook (photo at left) of BCCDC and
Linda Merrick (photo at right) of
Virology Laboratory St. Paul's Hospital..
Read
more about the event
Read more about BCCDC
Read more about
St. Paul's new HIV routine testing initiative
What about CAHCLS?
CAHCLS's new president Dr Tony Mazzulli
shares his insight: "The one thing I like about CAHCLS is that
it is a smaller group, a smaller organization with a very focused
purpose in terms of HIV diagnostic related processes..." ;
"...Hopefully people will continue to support us, those who are
frontline people, those who are from the industry, and those who are in
the reference lab as well ..."
Watch the video of
Dr Mazzulli's speech
Ride To Transform Lives
CAHCLS member John Kim from the reference
laboratory achieved 153% of his goal in a bike event to raise fund for
the Grassroot Grannies and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. John rode a
3-day 270 km cycle tour in September 2010, the money raised was put
directly into the hands of the African grandmothers, children, and women
who need it most.
Read more about John's plight
Read more about the Ottawa event
Into our 10th Anniversary
CAHCLS has been meeting for 10 years
counting to 2010.
Steve Thompson (photo at right) has recorded ten years of CAHCLS
activities and put them into two photoshows. You are welcome to send
your comment to the executives.
Photoshow CAHCLS 10th Anniversary Part
1
Photoshow CAHCLS 10th Anniversary Part 2
The Canadian Advantage
How good is HIV testing in Canada?
Dr. John Kim of PHAC indicated that the HIV/HTLV serology and HIV viral
load participants in PHAC's proficiency testing programs should get an
interesting perspective by reading the latest (2006) copy of the APHL (formerly ASTPHLD) Survey
on HIV Diagnostics in USA. Particularly worth noticing are the tests
described on page 3 (current lab screening algorithm) that are still in
use.
Read
the APHL Survey on HIV Diagnostics in USA
CAHCLS's
annual consensus meeting on HIV clinical laboratory testing is into its
10th year. Barry Plant (photo at left) completed
a Needs Assessment Survey for CAHCLS members in December 2008. What has
been most successful? What do members see lacking? Where does CAHCLS go
from here? Can CAHCLS take on larger roles?
Read the Survey
Summary (password protected)
Read the complete
Survey Report (password protected)
Turn the Tide of AIDS in Africa
Sue Cousineau (photo at left) of
Grassroot Grannies delivered a compassionate presentation in June
2009 to CAHCLS members, recounting what she saw and felt from her visit to
sub-Saharan Africa last year. Grassroot Grannies are a group of
Canadian grandmothers who dedicated their effects to support African
grandmothers who have buried their own children to HIV/AIDS and then
struggle to raise orphan grandchildren alone.
Read more about Cousineau's visit to Africa
Read more about Grassroot Grannies
ISO 15189 Accredited
The
National HIV Reference Lab has become the first lab in Canada to become
accredited to the new ISO 15189 (Medical Laboratories-Particular
Requirements for Quality and Competence) standard by Standards Council
of Canada. Dr. John Kim of PHAC expressed his appreciation to many of the labs
which CAHCLS members work with whose quality systems have played an
important role in the accredition, "This has been the impetus for us in
our ISO accreditation process and hopefully demonstrates our commitment
from the National HIV/AIDS Labs and PHAC to provide high-quality lab
activities in the area of HIV and retrovirus testing."
Read more about the accredition
Look at the certificate in details
Copyright 2008, Canadian Association of HIV Clinical Laboratory Specialists, All Rights Reserved.