Symposium Program
ISLH is happy to present the 2025 Corporate Symposia. Please note the following:
- Each event is planned independently of the ISLH program committee and ISLH does not endorse the programming content.
- You must be registered for ISLH 2025 in order to attend any satellite symposium.
- There is no cost to attend these symposia.
- All symposia occur during a lunch slot, food will be provided.
- All admittance will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wednesday, May 7th
The Biggest Breakthrough Since the CBC Analyzer? The Evolving Journey from State-of-the-Art Digital Imaging and AI-Driven Decision Support to the Imminent Reality of Fully Automated Peripheral Blood Smear Review
Sponsored By: Scopio Labs
12:00 - 1:00 PM, Convention Hall C3
What if we could confidently leave every routine peripheral blood smear (PBS) analysis to technology and AI the same way we leverage our CBC analyzer? The result would not only be faster turnaround, better standardization, and a countless number of staff hours diverted to higher value tasks; it could also mean access to far richer diagnostic information from every sample. This session will unpack just how close we are to this major disruption.
It has been nearly 70 years since the advent of the automated complete blood count (CBC) transformed laboratory hematology, and we are now on the cusp of what represents a similarly significant milestone: an AI-driven, fully automated blood morphology analyzer that analyzes thousands of cells and dozens of morphological parameters to transform qualitative observations into quantitative and standardized results.
In this session, you’ll get context from a major reference lab’s experience with Full-Field digital technology; how that technology has improved their efficiency, staff satisfaction, and remote review capabilities, and how this unique technology sets the stage for full peripheral blood smear review automation. Then, you’ll get an exciting first look at preliminary clinical data comparing manual and automated PBS analyses from investigators at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
Presenters:
Robin Dobson, MD, FCAP
Director of Hematopathology, PathGroup
Daniel Dees, DCLS, MLS (ASCP)
Medical Director, Clinical Hematology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Christopher B. Hergott, MD, PhD
Associate Hematopathologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Digital Morphology: A Laboratory Tool with Clinical Impact & So Many Options! Von Willebrand Factor Activity
Sponsored By: Sysmex
12:00 - 1:00 PM, Convention Hall C4
Digital Morphology: A Laboratory Tool with Clinical Impact
The presentation will discuss how implementation of digital cell morphology improved efficiency and connectivity in the Hematology Laboratory at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK. Educational case studies will highlight the benefits of remote review capability from a hematologist’s perspective.
- Discuss how automated morphology can improve laboratory efficiency and quality.
- Use case studies to demonstrate the clinical benefits of a remote review capability.
- Discuss the overall impact of these digital tools on healthcare providers and patients.
Dr. Toby Nicholson, Consultant Haematologist
Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom
So Many Options! Von Willebrand Factor Activity
The landscape of VWF activity testing has been evolving from one very manual assay to several commercially available automated assays. In this session, we will go through the currently available assays, while discussing some of their strengths and weaknesses.
- Review the current guidelines for screening for von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
- Understand Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) activity assays, including Ristocetin CoFactor (RCo) dependent and independent activity assays
- Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the available VWF activity assays, including information gained from external quality assessment (EQA)
Marian Rollins-Raval, MD MPH, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division Chief, Hematopathology, Coagulation, and Genomic Medicine Section Medical Director
Hematology University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT
Thursday, May 8th
The ACL TOP Family 70 Series, Learning from an Early Adopter
Sponsored By: Werfen
12:00 - 1:00 PM, Convention Hall C3
Introducing the new ACL TOP® Family 70 Series Hemostasis Testing System. Auburn Community Hospital - the first system in clinical use in the world will share their experience with the new Systems. Located in Auburn, NY, Auburn Community Hospital is a 99-bed provider of acute and general hospital services facility serving the Finger Lakes region.
The next generation of market-leading ACL TOP Systems, building upon Werfen’s established legacy of quality and innovation in Hemostasis testing, with enhanced efficiency and connectivity across an entire laboratory network. The broadest portfolio of truly standardized Hemostasis systems, five ACL TOP Family 70 Series models accommodate a range of testing needs from low- to high-volume labs. All models offer the same quality results, intuitive software, reagent portfolio, features, usability and training, for superior performance, flexibility and scalability throughout the testing process.
When connected to HemoHub™ Intelligent Data Manager, integration allows uniform application of a laboratory’s Quality Management System, across multiple instruments and sites, from one centralized location. With the introduction of Performance Verification studies (required, for example, with new lots of reagents), transcription errors are eliminated, and report generation and storage automated.
ACL TOP Family 70 Series systems are not available in all countries.
Presenter:
Jessica Giacona, MLS (ASCP)CM
Core Laboratory Supervisor and Laboratory Safety Officer for Auburn Community Hospital
Please pre-register using this link or by scanning the below QR Code.
Innovating Digital Hematology with Full-Field Peripheral Blood Smear Application for Comprehensive Patient Insights’
Sponsored By: Beckman Coulter
12:00 - 1:00 PM, Convention Hall C4
Join us to learn how the Beckman Coulter DxH 900 workcell, combined with Scopio’s Full-Field Digital Cell morphology, is advancing the capabilities of hematology labs. This seminar will address the common issues of time-consuming PBS manual reviews, slide evaluation delays, and remote collaboration challenges. Through real-world case studies, see how this cutting-edge technology minimizes flagged samples, boosts review efficiency, and provides in-depth PBS slide insights. Discover how these advancements can streamline lab operations and elevate patient care.
Presenters:
Brystal Romero, MBA, PMP, CLS, MLS (ASCP)CM
Director, Clinical Laboratory Adventist Health and Rideout
Dr. Ahmed Bentahar, MD
Medical Director, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
Friday, May 9th
Laboratory Implications for Hemophilia Gene Therapy and Other Novel Hemophilia Treatments
Sponsored By: Siemen Healthineers
12:15 - 1:15 PM, Convention Hall C4
After several decades of basic science and pre-clinical investigation hemophilia gene therapy has entered the clinic. Several Phase 3 studies have now been completed, and three hemophilia gene therapy products have received regulatory approvals. As these products begin to appear in regular clinical practice it is important to appreciate the range of laboratory studies that have contributed to the advancement of this treatment paradigm. This presentation will discuss details of laboratory studies employed in the development of gene therapy programs and the requirements of laboratory monitoring in patients who have undergone gene therapy treatment. In addition to "routine" substitution gene therapy, the presentation will also highlight challenges for the laboratory in the evaluation of other novel hemophilia treatments that are in early phases of development.
Presenter:
David Lillicrap, MD, FRCPC
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University