BUCHAREST – Today the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association (EDMA) and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) welcome Lab Tests Online-RO, the Romanian version of the award-winning website, to the global network of Lab Tests Online sites. Lab Tests Online empowers patients by providing information on the many clinical lab tests that are part of routine care as well as diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of conditions and diseases. The new website is locally coordinated by AFPM, a national association of medical products suppliers, and the Romanian Society of Laboratory Medicine (RSLM). The involvement of both organizations follows a model successfully applied in nine other EU countries, and ensures that the medical test information provided comes from the professionals who do the testing.

Lab Tests Online was initially developed by AACC in the United States and has since grown to become a global initiative with presence in Europe, Brazil, China and Australia. EDMA coordinates the project for its continental Europe participants – including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, all of whom co-operate and support the mission of providing a peer-reviewed, patient-centered and non-commercial service to individuals, medical professionals and relevant stakeholders.

The clear and easy to understand information that is provided to citizens and physicians alike on Lab Tests Online is an important tool for the education of the public and the optimization of healthcare to suit patient's needs. "Lab Tests Online-Romania is another step toward improved patient literacy throughout Europe and the world," commented Serge Bernasconi, EDMA CEO, on the launch.

Thanks to Lab Tests Online's commitment to providing quality information on diagnostic tests, it has been recognized by the Health on the Net Certification (HONcode) and linked to the European Commission's Health-EU Portal.

"The launch of Lab Tests Online-RO is further evidence that Lab Tests Online is a global leader in patient education," said D. Robert Dufour, MD, executive editor for the global network of sites. "Just as lab testing plays a significant role in medical decision-making, so too does Lab Tests Online have an important role in improving health outcomes."

About IVDs

In Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs) are non-invasive tests performed on biological samples, for example blood, urine or tissue to diagnose or exclude a disease. IVDs provide valuable information about the state of health to effectively diagnose, screen, monitor and assess predisposition of disease(s). They empower patients to monitor and manage their own health with simple self-tests, such as pregnancy tests and blood glucose monitoring. IVDs also provide broad range of functions from monitoring healthcare treatments to ensuring the safety of the blood supply.

About EDMA

EDMA, European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, advocates for the interests of the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry and its enormous contribution to transforming healthcare systems by improving healthcare efficiency and reducing costs. EDMA's strength lies in its close co-operation with European institutions, patients groups, trade associations, health professionals, and academia, working together to shape EU policy that will most impact the lives of Europeans and reinforce the European IVD industry's voice globally. From small businesses to major corporations, the European in vitro diagnostic industry is a market worth over 10.5 billion euro. Driven by research and development, 95% of the industry is comprised of small and medium size enterprises and approximately 1 billion euros per year is reinvested in R&D. For more information, visit www.edma-ivd.eu.

About AACC

Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) brings together more than 50,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of breaking laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.myadlm.org.

More information

Shweta Kulkarni
EDMA, Communications Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +32 2 777 02 78
M: +32 471 19 24 91