06 Mar

Hei, Tervetuloa
Irish External Quality
Assessment Scheme, CLG (IEQAS) colleagues, Maria Phelan and Anne Kane,
travelled to Helsinki, Finland for Labquality Days 2025, The International
Congress on Quality in Laboratory Medicine and Health Technology, at the Messukeskus Conference Centre (6-7 February). Labquality
Days is one of Northern Europe's largest annual international conferences,
gathering many medical laboratory and health technology professionals from all
over the World.
On 7 January 2025, Labquality and Artimed, Clinical
Consulting, Kasve and Prisma CRO merged under the brand of Aurevia (meaning
Golden Way), a European company advancing healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and
medical technology development. The Labquality name is retained as Labquality
EQAS by Aurevia Oy, for the external quality assessment service, due to its
widespread recognition and accreditation status.
We arrived (as 2 of
over 1,100 professionals) to a meticulously organised conference, its
atmosphere and design comfortably complimenting the aesthetics and design of
the venue itself. Greeted warmly at reception by our Finnish EQA partners,
registration was effortless using the Labquality Days App (complete with ticket
QR code, venue map, travel information, detailed scientific programme, speaker
information with feedback options, lunch menus, E-Poster voting and Quality
Excellence Award).
The main central space
- Market Square - was flush with over 60 medical and technology, company stands
in the centre and to the side, with large blue balloons, some denoting coffee
areas, providing an airy feel to the busy space and a chance to mingle with
other conference delegates. There was plenty of tasty food, coffees, of course
blueberry juice (blueberries so loved by the Finnish) and even a chance to lie
down, relax and meditate at the Neurosonic well-being technology station, using
very low-frequency vibrations to balance the autonomic nervous system.
Opening words were
delivered by Juha-Pekka (JP) Nuutinen (Managing Director of Aurevia) from the
impressive stage and giant screen backdrops, for easy viewing from all angles
and distances. JP spoke of over 90 speakers presenting as part of the Labquality
Days 2025 programme and a celebration of 49 years.
The first
thought-provoking Plenary lecture was delivered by Timo Kupsa, Robotics &
AI Expert and CEO of Ceterio Oy, on the theory of artificial
intelligence, automation, robotics and their benefits. He described AI as the theory and methods to build
machines that think and act like humans. Timo explained about Machine Learning
– computer ability to learn from experience or data without human programming.
He then went on to describe Deep Learning – learning that mimics the human
brain, using artificial neural networks like transformers to allow computers to
perform complex tasks. Timo described Generative AI, which generates new text,
audio, images, video or code based on fed content, then compared Open AI-01
versus DeepSeek-R1. The robots are indeed taking over your jobs, Timo adds, as
he tells us of the prescription delivering robots, in use, in some Finnish
hospitals.
Timo went on to caution
that robots can replace our creativity, artwork, writings and much more, but
still can’t do tasks we might also want them to do – like washing the dishes!
Not yet anyway.
Given the surroundings
and the topic, it brought to mind - books, movies and technologies about a
world far into the future. It seems that we have arrived at this future, boldly
going where no man (or woman) has gone before. Science fiction has become Science
fact.
The scientific
programme then broke out into different parts of the conference centre, with
snug areas, charging stations and rest spaces, with the smooth delivery of
refreshments and food throughout the day, including a fabulous array of food
for the buffet lunch.
The conference continued with further explorations, by
presenters, of QUALITY IN
LABORATORY MEDICINE: AI in the Lab: (Aidian). Speakers
presented on the current AI applications in clinical labs, emergency
healthcare, cancer diagnosis and pathology. Jari Laru, University of Oulu, Finland,
presented research-based insights from early adopters of Generative AI. Professor Ivan Brandslund, University Hospital of Southern
Denmark Vejle, calmed the nerves of the delegates to assure that AI, rather
than replacing us, is just another powerful, analytical tool to aid the
scientist and clinician. Ivan detailed using AI machine learning algorithms to
identify and assess cancer risks and in a second presentation, he outlined his
use of 14 AI algorithms within 60 minutes to manage emergency
received patients.
A second theme of the
conference programme, running simultaneously, was DEVELOPING HEALTH
TECHNOLOGY: (MyLab) – a session on medical device regulation and the challenges
of AI use within this, In-house development of AI in health institutions and an
aptly titled talk, on Day 2, about the new EU AI Act - ‘Regulatory lasagna of
AI act’ by Erik Vollebregt, Netherlands.
A further theme - CLINICAL EVIDENCE GENERATION:(Aurevia)
was a session on medical device clinical investigations, software developments
in health technology and GDPR. Here also was a presentation on ‘Implementation
of AI and its challenges’, delivered by Marina Kemmerer, Otsuka Pharma GmbH,
Germany, including on the use of AI in laboratory Quality Management Systems
(QMS) and Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs).
Late in the afternoon,
Day 1, there was a well-attended and vigorous Q&A and panel discussion with
all the speakers of the day. The conference then wound down, with a seamless
transformation of the Market Square into the central hub for a buffet dinner
and drinks reception, where delegates could continue to mingle and catch up
with colleagues from across the globe.
Day 2 -QUALITY IN
LABORATORY MEDICINE: (Aidian) focused on ‘Laboratory Results Fit for Purpose’.
Speakers included Christa Cobbaert, Netherlands, ‘Laboratory
Medicine: from Evolution to Revolution’ and Anne Elisabeth Solsvik, Noklus, Norway. Featured also
were presentations on guidelines for laboratory analysis in diabetes mellitus,
in addition to the clinician’s perspective on the optimal use of laboratory
results in tumour biomarker testing and result interpretation.
Back at the Market
Square - Plenary presenter - Johannes "Hatsolo" Hattunen,
head coach of Finland’s National Youth Breakdance Team and one of Finland's
most inspiring, motivational speakers, proved to be a fitting close to the
Labquality Days 2025 conference. We left the Messukeskus Conference Centre for our train back to the airport
and Dublin. AI was on our minds on the flight home. I mused that next time, we
may need only to step into the transporter room to get to Labquality Days and
back home to IEQAS. For now, though, we will still have to do the dishes! Kytos to
our Finnish EQA partner, Labquality EQAS by Aurevia Oy, for an excellent
Labquality Days.
By Maria
Phelan (not using AI!)