The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) is a global organization that promotes progress and quality in laboratory medicine. It was founded in Paris in 1952, at that time still under the name “International Association of Clinical Biochemists”. Today, it is based in Milan, Italy, and brings together over 90 national specialist societies, more than 40 companies and numerous scientists from the field of laboratory medicine. But what exactly does the IFCC do and why is it so important for this field? Let us explain this simply.

The IFCC has a clear mission: to advance laboratory medicine worldwide in order to improve healthcare. It does this by setting standards, promoting research and disseminating knowledge. Laboratory medicine is the field of medicine that deals with laboratory tests – i.e. tests of blood, urine or tissue to detect or monitor diseases. The IFCC ensures that such tests are reliable and comparable all over the world. For example: If a blood test gives a certain result in Germany, it should mean the same thing in Brazil or Japan. To this end, the IFCC develops international reference methods and materials that laboratories can use as a benchmark.

Standardization is a major topic for the IFCC. It is working to ensure that measured values – for cholesterol or blood sugar, for example – are uniform everywhere. This is not only important for doctors who rely on the results, but also for patients who rely on an accurate diagnosis. The IFCC has various working groups that deal with specific issues, such as the standardization of tests for heart markers or kidney function. This work helps to avoid errors and improve the quality of laboratory diagnostics.

In addition to research, education plays a huge role. The IFCC organizes congresses, workshops and online seminars where experts from all over the world come together to learn new things and exchange ideas. It also offers training courses, for example for young scientists, and publishes its own specialist journal, the “eJIFCC”. In this way, it ensures that knowledge in laboratory medicine remains up-to-date and is disseminated – from large university hospitals to small laboratories in developing countries.

The importance of the IFCC for laboratory medicine is also reflected in its collaboration with other organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). Together, they work on global standards that not only improve science, but also practice in hospitals or at the doctor’s office. Especially in times of pandemics, such as Corona, it becomes clear how important uniform and rapid laboratory tests are – the IFCC has helped to set up such tests worldwide.

The IFCC is therefore a kind of guiding star for laboratory medicine. It connects people and ideas, sets standards and ensures that laboratory work is not only precise, but also useful for patients. Without it, modern medicine would be less reliable – because behind every diagnosis is a laboratory test, and behind many of these tests is the work of the IFCC. In this way, it contributes to better treatment for people all over the world.

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