Klinisk Biokemi i Norden · 1 2019
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The second Nordic course in specialist training
Lukas Löwing Svensson
1
, Anna Lundbäck
2
, Johan Skogö
3
, Paul Pettersson-Pablo
4
1
Linköping University Hospital,
2
Umeå University Hospital,
3
Västmanland Regional Hospital, Västerås,
4
Örebro University Hospital
In the middle of October thirty-one future clinical
biochemists gathered in the middle of Denmark’s
beautiful capital Copenhagen. The occasion was the
second Nordic course in specialist training arranged
by NFKK and organized by Nete Hornung, Randers
Regional Hospital, and Linda Hilsted, Rigshospitalet,
Copenhagen. This year, just like the first time the
course was held in 2015, the subtitle was
the profes-
sional role of a clinical biochemist/laboratory doctor
.
Those who attended the course in 2015 had informed
us that this course was something special and an
opportunity not to be missed. It was thus with high
expectations that eleven Swedes left for our southern
neighbouring country.
During three days we enjoyed expert lecturers,
exchanged experiences and socialized with our
Nordic colleagues. The speakers came from Den-
mark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and spoke on
four principal themes: hematology, goldmining in
clinical biochemistry, P4 molecular medicine and
communication and leadership. All speakers began
their presentation by giving an account of how they
ended up working in clinical biochemistry and what
their aims for the future was. An interesting observa-
tion was that several had stumbled into the world of
clinical biochemistry by chance and then stayed for
the inspiring work.
The majority of the participants were from Den-
mark, for whom the course was mandatory. There
were eleven Swedes, two Norwegians and one Fin-
nish participant. During the course we were given
ample opportunity to discuss our work with our
Nordic colleagues and discovered similarities as well
as differences between our laboratories: the diverse
names for our speciality in different languages, dif-
fering units for the same analytes and a variation of
traditions concerning the division of labour between
different disciplines and professionals.
Day 1
The first day started with four lectures about hemato-
logy and hemostasis. Erik Koldberg Amundsen, Oslo
University Hospital, offered an interesting summary
of the history of analytical hematology as he took us
through the different techniques, from microscopy
to flow cytometry, that have marked the growth of
the discipline. The analytical principles employed
by a multi-channel hematology instrument were
accounted for as well as the secrets behind the so-
called flag reports. Reticulocytes and why they can be
challenging to measure were also touched upon. Helle
Borgstrøm Hager, Vestfold Hospital, continued the
winding journey through hematology and provided
insight into the clinical biochemist’s quotidian in a
hospital where most of the blood smears are assessed
by doctors. An engaging lecture on how to improve
the morphological analysis and evaluation!
After that Anne Mette Hvas, Aarhus University
Hospital, proceeded on the topic
from red blood cells
to platelets
, with a focus on whole blood coagulation
tests, and their relationship in critical bleeding situa-
tions and NOAC treatment. She elaborated on when
to use platelet function tests and how to approach
NOAC related issues when it comes to monitoring
and concentrations. The hematology and hemostasis
theme was wrapped up with a lecture on hemoglo-
binopathies. Tor-Arne Hagve, Akerhus University
Hospital, managed to tackle a difficult (to pronounce)
subject and make it clear and understandable even
for the uninitiated.
To finish the first day, two talks were held on g
old-
