CLSI and bioMérieux launch Global Symposium Series to advance antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in the ongoing efforts to combat global antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

The symposium was a landmark event, featuring keynote speakers from Japan and the US, including CLSI and AST subject matter experts Dr. Romney Humphries and Dr. Patricia Simner, and Japanese Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) Dr. Kazuhiro Tateda, Dr. Katsunori Yanagihara, and Dr. Kiyofumi Ohkusu.

Formalized in December 2023, the partnership between CLSI and bioMérieux is the first of its kind. The initiative aims to elevate the quality of laboratory medicine by promoting translated versions of CLSI’s standards documents and resources including the widely referenced CLSI M100 | Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, as well as conducting workshops on strategic AST topics, and engaging the global AST community.

“CLSI and bioMérieux have a shared goal of driving the adoption of laboratory diagnostic systems that meet international standards,” explained Hari Dwivedi, Vice President, Global Medical Affairs-Microbiology, Immunoassay, who was instrumental in building the collaboration.

The event in Tokyo attracted over 75 participants, including infectious disease physicians, clinical microbiologists, and laboratory professionals.

“The positive feedback from participants highlights the importance of providing high-quality training and certification to laboratory professionals. This initiative will enhance their skills and ultimately improve patient outcomes,” said Charles Cooper, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer at bioMérieux.

Following the success of this first symposium, bioMérieux and CLSI plan to extend their collaboration to other places, including India, China, and Africa, over the next several years.

About CLSI

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) is the recognized leader in the development of international standards for the analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both human and veterinary medicine, and more broadly, laboratory standards and clinical breakpoints worldwide. Importantly, CLSI has led the development of standards that are critical not only for the detection of resistance, but also for understanding the role it plays in the movement of disease between and among species. Thousands of clinicians, laboratorians, industry diagnostics developers, and regulators around the world rely on CLSI standards and breakpoints for providing the necessary diagnostic integrity that is central to healthcare, and particularly, AMR public health efforts.

CLSI is the leading global non-profit laboratory medicine standards development organization, with over 24,000 professional members, 2,000 active volunteers, and 250 standards products. CLSI standards are recognized by laboratories, accreditors, and government agencies worldwide as the best way to improve their testing outcomes, maintain accreditation, bring products to market faster, and navigate regulatory hurdles.

About bioMérieux

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics since 1963, bioMérieux is present in 45 countries and serves more than 160 countries with the support of a large network of distributors. In 2024, revenues reached €4 billion, with over 93% of sales outside of France.

bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (systems, reagents, software, and services) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are mainly used for diagnosing infectious diseases. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.