Joining the ACB - Benefits of Membership

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Benefits of Membership

• Six issues per annum of Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, an internationally acclaimed journal dedicated to Clinical Biochemistry and related disciplines, also online access via the ACB members area
• A monthly publication, ACB News, which is a forum for communication with the Membership and updating on hot issues in pathology
• Complimentary copy of new books published by Venture Publications (on average one book per annum with a retail price of about £30)
• An annual Merbers' Handbook
• Access to the Members Area of the ACB Website
• Access to experts in various fields of Clinical Biochemistry
• Membership of the Federation of Clinical Scientists, a certified trade union recognised by the NHS
• A programme of National and Regional Meetings accredited for CPD. Members are eligible for reduced registration fees for National Meetings
• Use of members’ facilities in central London, including a members lounge and studies facilities. A conference suite consisting of seminar and committee rooms are available for hire in central London at reduced rates for members
• Membership of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC)
• Reciprocal arrangements are in place for the purchase of books and journals from other professional bodies across the world
• Open dialogue between providers and deliverers of Healthcare Diagnostics
• Tax–deductible annual subscription
• Registration as a Chartered Scientist (CSci) through the ACB

Scientific Scholarship, Educational Bursaries and Benevolent Fund

Scientific scholarships are available to members for the progress of relevant projects with the aim of training in Research and Development

Members of the Association are eligible to apply for educational bursaries to attend scientific meetings and training courses. Regional committees also award bursaries for attendance at meetings

Awards from the CP Stewart Memorial Fund are available to enable member under 35 years of age to visit other laboratories to learn specialised techniques or procedures, or to obtain first hand knowledge from an expert to assist in their studies

Applications are considered from members for disbursements from the Benevolent Fund in case of hardship

Categories of Membership

There are a number of categories of Membership that give access to the benefits and activities of the Association and allow participation in national and regional meetings and training courses.

Ordinary Membership: This category of Membership is usually reserved for persons occupied or mainly in the practice of Clinical Biochemistry. They must be University Graduates in science or medicine or hold such qualifications as Council may from time to time accept as equivalent to a university degree. Others interested in the subject working in allied disciplines, and holding similar academic qualifications may also be admitted to Ordinary membership subject to the discretion of Council.

Overseas Membership: Individuals fulfilling the criteria for Ordinary membership (see above) but working overseas may be elected to membership at the discretion of Council. In addition to the application form they must provide copies of certificates or other proofs of qualifications. They will receive the benefits of Ordinary members.

Federation Membership: This category of membership is open to individuals engaged in the practice of laboratory medicine (other than clinical biochemistry since membership of the Federation is included in Ordinary membership) or allied disciplines in the NHS e.g. immunology, microbiology or cytogenetics. They must hold academic qualifications equivalent to those required for Ordinary membership and wish to be represented by the Federation of Clinical Scientists although wider participation as Ordinary members of the Association would be inappropriate. (Federation Members do not receive Annals of Clinical Biochemistry or Venture publications books).

Affiliate Membership: This category of membership is available to registered biomedical scientists working in clinical biochemistry laboratories, or similar posts in academia, industry and overseas.

Student Membership: This category of membership is available to under graduates or wholly grant supported post graduate research students resident in the UK and who are not subject to UK income tax. Student membership will cease on the 31st December in the year of completion of studies but on gaining permanent employment the person may, at the discretion of Council apply for another category of Membership.

Retired Membership: This category of membership is available to Ordinary members retiring after 10 years or more continued Ordinary membership. There are no annual dues for this category, however journals may be purchased at subsidised rates.

Categories of Membership given by the Association

Honorary Membership: Persons who have made a distinguished contribution to clinical biochemistry at international level may, following the recommendation of the Council and by a majority of at least two-thirds of those voting at a General Meeting, be elected Honorary Members of the Association.

Emeritus Membership: Persons who have been Ordinary members for at least 10 years and have retired from full time employment and who have made an exceptional contribution to the objects of the Association may following the recommendation of the Council and by a majority of at least two-thirds of those voting at a General Meeting, be elected Emeritus Members of the Association.

Fellow Membership: Persons who have been Ordinary or Affiliate Members of the Association for at least ten preceding consecutive years and have retired from full-time employment may, on the recommendation of Council and by a majority of at least two-thirds of those voting at a General Meeting, be awarded the title of Fellow.

Award Lectures and Prizes

There are a number of Awards currently in the gift of the Association that Members are eligible to apply for or to nominate individuals for.

ACB Foundation Award: This Award, initiated by the Association in 1990, is awarded annually to a Member of the Association who has made an outstanding contribution to clinical biochemistry. The recipient is invited to present the Foundation Award Lecture at the Association's National Meeting and receives a suitable memento and honorarium.

Siemens Medal Award: This Award was first donated in 1971 by Miles Laboratories Limited, Ames Division and later by Bayer Diagnostics UK Limited. It is now donated by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. The Award is made on the basis of an oral communication presented by a Member of the Association at the Annual National Meeting (Focus). The winner receives a silver medal and a bursary for £1000. The runner-up receives a bursary for £500. The bursaries are intended to help attendance at a scientific meeting, or to fund research work.

Siemens Award Lecture: This Award was first donated in 1981 by Kone Diagnostics, then by Dade Behring and now by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. The Award comprises a certificate and honorarium and is given to recognise work that has been of major importance to clinical biochemistry – in practice, research or in education – leading to improved international co-operation between workers in the speciality, particularly those within Europe.

Siemens Poster Prizes (Formerly DPC Analytical Bursary): Two bursaries of £500 and £250 for the two best clinical case posters are funded by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. These prizes were initiated in 1998 by Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC) UK Limited. The original emphasis of the Prize was on posters describing analytical techniques, but as laboratories moved towards more commercial methods and fewer in-house methods this was changed to “promoting innovation in clinical laboratories”. In 2008 the emphasis was again changed, such that the Prize was for posters that described clinical cases. The bursaries are intended to help attendance at a scientific meeting, or to fund research work.

Roche Diagnostics Award: The Roche Diagnostics Award (formerly the Boehringer Mannheim Award) is a generous donation. It will be used by the Association to finance the visit of an international lecturer.

Professors' Prize: The Professors of the Academic Forum for Clinical Biochemistry (formerly the Heads of Academic Clinical Biochemistry Departments in the United Kingdom) have established a prize, which is a prestigious research award for general achievement within the field of Clinical Biochemistry. The prize lecture will be presented at a session of the ACB National Meeting and will consist of an engraved decanter plus expenses for one night at the meeting.

The Activities of the Association

Clinical Practice Section:
Raise the profile of clinical practice within clinical chemistry community
Inform healthcare community of the medical work within clinical chemistry
Support best clinical practice by clinical biochemists

Education Committee:
Professional overview of training and continuing professional development (CPD) for clinical biochemists (both scientists and medical) at a national level
Regional Tutors who monitor the training provision to pre-registrant trainees and higher specialist trainees
ACB national training course, training day, update and management sessions at Focus
Disbursement of education bursaries and CP Stewart Memorial Fund.

National Meetings Committee:
Organisation of the ACB National Meeting and major scientific equipment exhibition, FOCUS
Further information from www.focus-acb.org
Co-ordination of regional scientific meetings with themed topics and members papers

Publications Committee:
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry: six issues per annum
ACB News: 12 issues per annum
Venture Publications: series of monographs on areas of laboratory medicine
CAL Discs: Computer aided interactive learning
The Web Site: www.acb.org.uk
Lab Tests Online UK
Other ad hoc publications of the Association: Members' Handbook, Proceeding and Handbook for Focus Meeting, Annual Report

Scientific Committee:
Commissioning of review articles on clinical and analytical aspects of laboratory medicine
Monitors and advises on standards and quality issues
Development of clinical science through Scientific Scholarships
Chartered scientist status through the ACB

Trainees Committee:
Communication between the trainees

Work Force Advisory Committee:
Monitors and advises on Manpower planning

Regional Committees:
Organisation of Scientific Meetings
Social events for Members and guests

Representation on varies bodies:
The ACB has representatives on national, European and international bodies relating to science, accreditation, standards and education. A complete list of current representation is available on request from the administrative office

Chartered Scientists (CSci):
The ACB is a member body of the Science Council, awarded licensing status for Chartered Scientist (CSci). To be eligible you must meet the criteria for the Chartered Scientist and also be a member of the ACB (not available to trainees). Full details can be found at http://www.acb.org.uk/site/membership.asp

Joining the ACB

Fill in an application form and return it together with any relevant documentation to:

The Association for Clinical Biochemistry
130-132 Tooley Street
LONDON
SE1 2TU

Follow the links at the top of the page to download the application form

On receipt your application form will be processed by the Administrative Office and an acknowledgement will be sent to you. Your application will then be presented to the next meeting of the Association Council for consideration and you will be duly informed of the outcome. Please note that it can take up to eight weeks approved by the Association Council