By MEDLAB Magazine Staff

Following 15 years of success in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, and with its recent launch in Europe, MEDLAB - a proven successful exhibition and conference model on an international scale – marks its debut in the Americas at the Florida International Medical Expo (FIME), to be held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, from August 8-10, 2017.

Now in its 27^th year, the Florida International Medical Expo is without doubt, the largest medical trade fair across the Americas and serves as an opportunity for more than 1,500 national and international medical technology and device manufacturers to showcase new and refurbished medical and hospital equipment, technology, products and supplies. With 40 countries participating this year, FIME 2017 is expected to welcome more than 22,000 medical and healthcare trade professionals from North, Central and South America, as well as from across the globe.

With exceptional year-on-year growth within the already established MEDLAB portfolio, the launch edition of MEDLAB Americas is expected to satisfy the incessant demand for a broad medical laboratory expo in the Americas. 

Medical laboratory services form an indispensable part of the global healthcare diagnostics industry contributing to over 80% of healthcare diagnoses, according to a 2016 report by Global Market Insights, a US-based global market research and management consulting company. The demand for such services, adds the report, is constantly on the rise owing to multiple contributing factors including rising geriatric population, technological advancements, the existence of leading pharma, medi-tech and biotech companies and patient demand for newer, more specific testing.

The diagnostics and medical laboratories sectors (in vivo and in vitro) in the US are worth 40-45% of the global market and with annual growth projected at 0.9%, the demand for an annual networking opportunity to meet and do business and which also covers all areas of medical laboratories is high. This naturally paved the way for the launch of MEDLAB Americas which will now exist as a dedicated area onsite at FIME to cater to the medical lab industry across the Americas.

The launch edition will include an international offering of over 163 medical lab products/services from leading exhibitors from China, Germany, Korea, USA and more. MEDLAB Americas will also facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise with its three CME-accredited laboratory medicine and diagnostics conferences that will focus specifically on Clinical Microbiology, Haematology and Point of Care Testing (POCT). The tracks are CME accredited, offering up to 13.5 CME credits.

Bringing together leading laboratory experts, scientists, researchers, educators and clinicians, this premier interdisciplinary platform will enable them to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the modern medical laboratory.

The entire Laboratory Zone (exhibition + congress) is free to attend for registrations completed before July 24, 2017, following which an $80 registration fee will apply. Registration at the event will grant you access to all areas of FIME 2017 including exhibition halls featuring over 1,650 exhibitors from 40+ countries worldwide; over 500 medical devices, equipment and technology products/services; dedicated Dealers & Distributors Zone which connects dealers, distributors and agents with specific exhibitors; and seminars on medical device procurement and regulations across the Americas, and business skills to improve your ROI through sales and marketing.

Clinical laboratories in the USA represent an area of healthcare that is continuously evolving chiefly because of ongoing technological advances and external economic pressures. In the recent past, new diagnostic techniques and laboratory tests have been introduced as a result of both research on the fundamental pathogenesis of diseases and the development of new methods.

There are wide variations in the types of technology employed by different types of laboratories - technological innovations that have altered the way samples are collected and analysed and the way results are interpreted.

Addressing these broad challenges, the MEDLAB Americas Congress will provide unparalleled education and management solutions to help advance laboratory skills and improve laboratory services thereby fulfilling its ultimate objective of bridging the gap in medical knowledge. The conferences are provided by Cleveland Clinic and Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, and supported by the College of American Pathologists.

Clinical Microbiology: August 8, 2017

For clinical scientists, young researchers, and consultants in clinical and medical microbiology, attendance at this day-long conference will give an insight into the most current research related to the laboratory diagnosis of human infections, role of the laboratory in both the management of infectious diseases and epidemiology of infections, and the latest developments in clinical microbiology.

With opening remarks by the Chair, Dr Robert Sautter, Consultant, RL Sautter Consulting LLC, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA; the Conference will also serve as an opportunity to discover key technological breakthroughs in diagnostic and therapeutic platforms to improve laboratory work processes and discuss challenges surrounding quality in specimen processing to reduce the chance of laboratory errors and improving patient care.

Haematology: August 9, 2017

Chaired by Dr Horatiu Olteanu, Associate Professor and Haematopathology Fellowship Director; Director, Clinical Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; this medically-led conference aims to discuss a high-level of clinical and scientific guidance and support around test choice and test interpretation. This will include educational sessions in different aspects of haematopathology, haemoglobinopathies, coagulation, haemostasis and will also address everyday quality challenges in the haematology lab.

Attendees at the event will also learn about the importance of cytogenetic studies and molecular genetic studies to improve management of haematological malignancies; discover ways to assess the value and risks involved in transfusion medicine to reduce the chance of medical errors; and gain relevant information on the quality, value and risks of transfusion medicine.

Point of Care Testing: August 10, 2017

Academic and industry leaders under the Chair of Dr Edmunds Reineks, Director, Center for Point of Care Testing, Robert Tomsich Pathology and Lab Med Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA will discuss best practices in Point of Care Testing and disease management and the myriad challenges it presents for healthcare providers. They will also address the latest developments in regulatory requirements, validation, and clinical applications that ought to be considered for the integration of POC.

Attendees will learn of the connectivity between POCT instruments and electronic medical records to ensure quality of results; and understand how implementation of POCT can improve patient outcomes, lead to advanced care and faster diagnosis.