The panel discussion included VDGH Deputy Chairman Dr. Thorsten Hilbich, Prof. Dr. Peter Luppa, Senior Consultant at the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathochemistry at the Klinikum rechts der Isar of TUM Munich, Dr. Michael Müller, Chairman of the Board of ALM - Akkreditierte Laborore in der Medizin e.V., Prof. Dr. Mona Tawab, Deputy Scientific Director of the Zentrallaboratorium Deutscher Apotheker e.V. and Dr. Timo Schumacher from the GP group practice in Schwanewede. Dr. Hilbich emphasized the many possible applications of POCT: "It ranges from tests for influenza viruses to the rapid determination of HbA1c levels for diabetes patients. The technology is not only versatile, but also crucial for patient-centered care." However, he also noted that POCT is not a panacea. "It's about finding the right test for the right purpose."
The discussion highlighted the tension between laboratory representatives and proponents of POCT. While the former were critical of POCT, many in the audience and on stage saw the benefits, especially when it comes to lowering the inhibition threshold for certain tests such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). "A self-test can be the first step. A visit to the doctor and subsequent treatment then follow," emphasized Dr. Hilbich. There was a broad consensus among all participants that the tests must be of high quality. Dr. Hilbich assured them: "Quality is our greatest asset."
In total, the VDGH Diagnostic Forum 2023 attracted around 150 participants from medical associations, pharmacists, politicians and other decision-makers. In addition to POCT, there were three other key topics on the agenda:
Mothers - children - laboratory diagnostics
For World Children's Day on September 20, 2023 under the motto "Every child needs a future", the focus was on the role of laboratory diagnostics in pregnancy and birth. Lectures by renowned experts such as Prof. Dr. Susanne Modrow, Professor Dr. Bernd Eiben and Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Durner highlighted the clinical perspective and the latest developments in diagnostics for mother and child. Prof. Modrow made a strong plea for the addition of cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening during pregnancy.
The future is now - the new regulatory system for in-vitro diagnostics
The European IVD Regulation (IVDR) has been fully in force since 2022 and includes far-reaching changes for manufacturers and laboratories. With the aim of understanding and discussing this new regulatory system, the VDGH Diagnostic Forum offered two keynote speeches. Dr. Sascha Wettmarshausen from the VDGH shed light on the extent to which manufacturers are equipped to meet the requirements of the IVDR. He was followed by Prof. Dr. Michael Vogeser from the Institute of Laboratory Medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, who represented the perspective of laboratories. In a subsequent panel discussion, experts exchanged views on the IVDR and its effects. Dr. Heike Möhlig-Zuttermeister, Head of IVD at TÜV Süd, and Steffen Buchholz from the Federal Ministry of Health were also represented on the panel. The discussion was moderated by Stefanie Giesener, board member of the VDGH.
Current developments in laboratory diagnostics
The initial focus here was on microbiome diagnostics. Dr. Christian Schulz and Professor Dr. Andreas Schwiertz provided insights into the clinical significance and practical implementation of microbiome diagnostics. Another hot topic was the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Professor Dr. Nico Mutters gave insights into the transmission dynamics of infectious pathogens in a globally networked world in his lecture "Antibiotic resistance - the silent pandemic".
