6th WORKSHOP

PROFICIENCY TESTING IN ANALYTICALCHEMISTRY, MICROBIOLOGYAND LABORATORY MEDICINECurrent Practice and Future Directions

ROME (ITALY) 5-6-7 OCTOBER 2008

IN CO-OPERATION WITH

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We welcome you to attend the 6th event of a series of internationalworkshops addressing current practice and future directions of proficiencytesting (PT) and external quality assurance (EQA) in analytical chemistry,microbiology and laboratory medicine.

These events are structured to include both key-note lectures anddiscussions in working groups, to enable interactive participation and cross-fertilisation of ideas.

This will also be supplemented by an exhibition and poster sessions forwhich you are invited to contribute.

This Workshop will provide an excellent opportunity for providers, users andregulators of PT/EQA to come together to address the following key topics:

› Frequency of PT/EQA and monitoring performance over time;

› Developments in PT/EQA within the EU;

› PT/EQA in developing countries;

› PT/EQA in microbiology;

› PT/EQA in forensic science;

› The new standard for PT/EQA: ISO/IEC 17043;

› End-user perspective of PT/EQA;

› Quality of test items used in PT/EQA.

We look forward to seeing you in Rome.

WELCOME ADDRESS

Brian BrookmanScientific Committee Chair

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WELCOME ADDRESS

Following the long tradition of Roman history in promotingstandardization, whilst also providing a bridge for cultures fromdifferent parts of the world to meet, we welcome the opportunity to offera forum for discussion to delegates from different countries, withspecial attention to emerging issues such as the new standard forPT/EQA and the status and needs of PT/EQA in new EU accession anddeveloping areas.

On behalf of the Organising Committee, we wish all delegates a fruitfuland successful meeting as well as a pleasant stay in the eternal city.

Organising Committee Chairs

Antonio Menditto Marina Patriarca

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MINISTERO DEL LAVORO DELLA SALUTE E DELLE POLITICHE SOCIALI

MINISTERO DELL'AMBIENTE E DELLA TUTELA DEL TERRITORIO E DEL MARE

PROVINCIA DI ROMA

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF

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The Eurachem Proficiency Testing Working Group aims to:

› Improve the organisation, and promote best practice, of proficiencytesting in Europe.

› Provide a forum for organisers and users of proficiency testing schemeson issues affecting the practice of proficiency testing.

› Provide input into international activities related to proficiency testing.

To meet these aims, the key activities of the Working Group are:

› Organizing international workshops on proficiency testing in analyticalchemistry, microbiology and laboratory medicine.

› Preparing discussion documents, guides and information leaflets ontopics related to proficiency testing.

› Publishing a bibliographic listing of references relating to proficiencytesting.

› Collaborating with other international groups with regards to proficiencytesting.

PROFICIENCY TESTING WORKING GROUP

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KYRIACOS TSIMILLIS Eurachem Chair

STEVE ELLISON Eurachem Past Chair

ILYA KUSELMAN CITAC Chair

GUNNAR NORDIN EQALM Chair

AGOSTINO MACRÌ Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of PublicVeterinary Health and Food Safety, Director

HONOUR COMMITTEE

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BRIAN BROOKMAN (Chair), LGC Standards, UK

ILDI IPOLYI QualityConsult, Italy

MICHAEL KOCH Universität Stuttgart, Germany

NINETA MAJCEN Metrology Institute of the Republic of Slovenia

IRMA MÄKINEN Finnish Environment Institute, Finland

ANTONIO MENDITTO Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy

MIKLOS NARAY Hungarian Institute of Occupational Health, Hungary

TRACEY NOBLETT LGC Standards, UK

ENDER OKANDAN Petroleum Research Laboratory, Turkey

ULF ÖRNEMARK LGC Standards, Sweden

MARINA PATRIARCA Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy

HALINA POLKOWSKA

MOTRENKO Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Poland

PIOTR ROBOUCH Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, EU

BARRY TYLEE Health & Safety Laboratory, UK

KEES VAN PUTTEN DUCARES B.V., The Netherlands

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

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ANTONIO MENDITTO (Chair), Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy

MARINA PATRIARCA (Chair), Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy

ELENA AMICO DI MEANE Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Italy

MARIA BELLI Agenzia per la Protezione dell'Ambiente e per i ServiziTecnici (APAT), Italy

PAOLO BIANCO Sistema Nazionale per l'Accreditamento dei Laboratori,Federazione Italiana degli Enti di Accreditamento (SINAL-FIDEA), Italy

CLAUDIA BRUNORI Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente(ENEA), Italy

CARLO CORNO Associazione per l'Unificazione nel settore dell'IndustriaChimica (UNICHIM), Italy

ENZO FERRARA Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Italy

ROBERTO MORABITO Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente(ENEA), Italy

MARIO MOSCA Servizio di Taratura in Italia, Federazione Italiana degliEnti di Accreditamento (SIT-FIDEA), Italy

ANTONIO PAOLETTI Sistema Nazionale per l’Accreditamento dei Laboratori,Federazione Italiana degli Enti di Accreditamento (SINAL-FIDEA), Italy

GIOVANNI PEREGO Associazione per l'Unificazione nel settore dell'IndustriaChimica (UNICHIM), Italy

FILIPPO TRIFILETTI Sistema Nazionale per l'Accreditamento degli Organismidi Certificazione e Ispezione, Federazione Italiana degliEnti di Accreditamento (SINCERT-FIDEA), Italy

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

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TRAINING COURSES

09.00-12.30 STATISTICS FOR PT/EQA SCHEMESPiotr Robouch, European Commission's Joint Research CentreInstitute for Reference Materials and Measurements Michael Koch, Universität Stuttgart, GermanyIlya Kuselman, National Phisical Laboratory of IsraelOBJECTIVE: To understand the different statistical approaches used in PT/EQATOPICS:- The jungle of standards and guidelines for the statistical treatment of PT data- Assigned values and statistical methods for calculation, if consensus mean

is used- The Algorithm A in detail- Z-score, z-score and colleagues - scoring procedures in PT and how to

determine the standard deviation for proficiency assessment- New guidance from IUPAC/CITAC on the “Implementation of PT schemes for a

limited number of participants and interpretation of their results”Real datasets from existing PT/EQA schemes will be handled during theexercises. Data from participants are most welcome.

14.00-17.30 SELECTION, USE AND INTERPRETATION OF PT/EQA SCHEMESIan Mann, Swiss Accreditation Service, SwitzerlandAntonio Menditto, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ItalyOBJECTIVE: To gain a better understanding of PT/EQA and to use and interpretthe results of the PT/EQA schemes as an improvement tool. TOPICS:- Presentation of the revised Eurachem guide on selection, use and

interpretation of PT schemes- Selection of an appropriate PT/EQA provider and establishment of a PT/EQA plan- Evaluation and use of PT/EQA results by the laboratory- How to perform an efficient investigation following non conformance- How to use PT/EQA as an improvement toolReal scopes from laboratories will be presented as basis for the selection ofappropriate PT/EQA providers as well as real results for interpretation.

FOR BOTH TRAINING COURSES:- Participants are asked to bring along their own laptop if possible. - A limited number of places for participants is available.

19.00 Get together party

PROGRAMME - SUNDAY 5TH OCTOBER

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CHAIR: BRIAN BROOKMAN

09.00 - 09.15 Welcome

09.15 - 09.45 FREQUENCY OF EQA SCHEMES IN LABORATORY MEDICINEAND MONITORING PERFORMANCE OVER TIMEAnnette Thomas, Quality Laboratory, Cardiff and Vale NHSTrust, UK

09.45 - 10.15 DEVELOPMENTS IN PT WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNIONPhilip Taylor, European Commission's Joint ResearchCentre Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements

10.15 - 11.00 Coffee & poster session

11.00 - 11.30 IAEA INTERLABORATORY STUDIES IN SERVICE OFANALYTICAL QUALITY CONTROL OF MEMBER STATESLABORATORIESAbdulghani Shakhashiro, International Atomic EnergyAgency, Austria

11.30 - 12.00 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A MICROBIOLOGICAL FOODAND DRINKING WATER PT PROTOCOL IN THE NORDICCOUNTRIESTommy Slapokas, National Food Administration, Sweden

12.00 - 12.30 POSTER SESSION

12.30 - 14.00 Lunch

14.00 - 15.45 WORKING GROUP DISCUSSIONS

15.45 - 16.30 Coffee & poster session

16.30 - 17.30 PRESENTATION OF CONCLUSIONS OF WORKING GROUPS

20.00 Workshop dinner

PROGRAMME - MONDAY 6TH OCTOBER

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CHAIR: BRIAN BROOKMAN

09.00 - 09.30 FORENSIC PT: THE ENFSI PROFICIENCY TESTINGPROGRAMME ON IDENTFICATION OF GUNSHOT RESIDUEPARTICLES BY SEM/EDXLudwig Niewöhner, Forensic Science Institute of theBundeskriminalamt, Germany

09.30 - 10.00 ISO/IEC 17043: CURRENT STATUS AND PROPOSEDCHANGESDaniel W Tholen, Convenor of ISO WG on ISO/IEC 17043,Dan Tholen Statistical Consulting, USA

10.00 - 10.45 Coffee & poster session

10.45 - 11.15 PTs, HEAVEN OR HELL FOR THE LABORATORIES?LABORATORIES VIEW ON PT/EQAMagnus Holmgren, SP Technical Research Institute ofSweden

11.15 - 11.45 PT/EQA STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: QUALITY ANDRELIABILITY OF TEST ITEMSMaria Belli, Environmental Protection Agency of Italy

11.45 - 12.30 POSTER SESSION

12.30 - 14.00 Lunch

14.00 - 15.45 WORKING GROUP DISCUSSIONS

15.45 - 16.30 Coffee & poster session

16.30 - 17.30 PRESENTATION OF CONCLUSIONS OF WORKING GROUPS

17.30 Closing of the workshop

PROGRAMME - TUESDAY 7TH OCTOBER

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MARIA BELLIMaria is the Head of the Environmental Metrology Laboratories at the Agenzia per laProtezione dell'Ambiente ed I Servizi Tecnici (APAT) - the Environmental Protection Agency ofItaly. The APAT laboratories produce matrix reference materials and organise inter-laboratorycomparisons and proficiency testing in the field of environmental chemical/biologicalanalysis. She represents the Italian Standardization Body (UNI) at ISO/REMCO.

MAGNUS HOLMGRENMagnus is the Quality Manager at the SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden and isalso responsible for Engineering solid Mechanics. SP both organises and participates inproficiency tests. He is a member of the EA-Eurolab-Eurachem Permanent Liaison Group(PLG) and a member of the EA-Eurolab-Eurachem (EEE) Working Group on ProficiencyTesting in Accreditation.

MICHAEL KOCHMichael is a scientist (chemist) and lecturer at the Institute for Sanitary Engineering, WaterQuality and Solid Waste Management of the Universität Stuttgart, Germany. He is thescientific director of AQS Baden-Wuerttemberg, a proficiency testing scheme for wateranalysis in Germany. He is a member of the Eurachem Proficiency Testing WorkingGroup, the board of EUROLAB-D and some working groups for standardization. He isinvolved in training and consultancy for quality assurance in analytical chemistry indeveloping countries and he is one of the editors of "Quality Assurance in AnalyticalChemistry - Training and Teaching".

ILYA KUSELMANIlya is Scientific Director of the National Physical Laboratory of Israel. He is a specialist inmetrology, quality and standardization in chemistry and published about 170 papers and9 patents in these fields. He is Chairman of the “Cooperation on International Traceabilityin Analytical Chemistry” (CITAC), Regional Coordinator of the National Conference ofStandard Laboratories (NCSL International), Member of the Interdivisional Working Partyfor Harmonization of Quality Assurance of the International Union of Pure and AppliedChemistry (IUPAC) and the Israeli representative at ISO/REMCO.

IAN MANNIan is a lead assessor at the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS). He is active mainly in themedical, environmental and food analysis fields and also responsible within the SAS forthe accreditation of PT providers. He is a member of a few international working groupsincluding, EA-Eurolab-Eurachem (EEE) Working Group on Proficiency Testing inAccreditation, EA Interlaboratory Comparisons Working Group on testing and ISO CASCOWorking Group 28 on the revision of ISO/IEC Guide 43-1 and 43-2 i.e. the developmentof ISO/IEC 17043. Ian is also leading a working group on the revision of the Eurachemguide "Selection, use and interpretation of proficiency testing (PT) schemes".

TRAINERS AND INVITED SPEAKERS

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ANTONIO MENDITTOAntonio is a senior scientist at the Department of Public Veterinary Health and Food Safetyof Istituto Superiore di Sanità (the Italian National Institute of Health). He is active mainlyin the food and medical analysis fields. He is also lead assessor for ISS ORL, the bodyinvolved in the accreditation of Italian laboratories in charge of official control of foodproducts. He is Italian Ambassador of the TrainMiC (Training in metrology in chemistry)Program, (IRMM, EC). He has been involved in the organization and development ofExternal Quality Assesment Schemes in clinical, environmental and occupationallaboratory medicine and is a member of the Eurachem Proficiency Testing Working Group.

LUDWIG NIEWÖHNERLudwig is the Head of the Gunshot Traces Unit at the Forensic Science Institute of theBundeskriminalamt in Germany. He is a qualified examiner/expert for gunshot tracesincluding shooting distance determination and gunshot residue analysis by SEM/EDX.Ludwig is a member of the Steering Committee of the ENFSI (European Network ofForensic Science Institutes) Expert Working Group “Firearms”. He is also a technicaladvisor for gunshot residue analysis for the Association of Firearms and Tool MarkExaminers (AFTE). Ludwig is responsible for the performance of the ENFSI proficiency teston the identification of gunshot residue by SEM/EDX.

PIOTR ROBOUCHPiotr is a senior scientist at the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. Presently he works atthe Community Reference Laboratory for the authorisation of Feed Additives. Formerconsultant of the IMEP® program, he is member of the Eurachem Proficency TestingWorking Group and the EA-Eurolab-Eurachem (EEE) Proficiency testing in AccreditationWorking Group. Experienced trainer, he was involved in the TrainMiC® program, related tothe Training of Metrology in Chemistry throughout Europe.

ABDULGHANI SHAKHASHIROAbdulghani is the leader of the Reference Materials Group at the International AtomicEnergy Agency's Laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria. He is also responsible forconducting proficiency tests, such as ALMERA. As a quality manager of the Syrian AtomicEnergy Commission, he founded the national proficiency test scheme in Syria andmanaged the production of reference materials to fit the national needs. He hascontributed to international workshops and training courses and published articles andreports related to PTs and RMs. He is actively involved in the implementation of IAEAtechnical cooperation projects in developing countries.

TRAINERS AND INVITED SPEAKERS

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TOMMY SLAPOKAS Tommy is a microbiologist at the National Food Administration in Sweden. He isresponsible for microbiological method issues (ISO/CEN standardisation) and for theaccredited proficiency test for drinking water (also partly food) at the governmentaladministration. Tommy is Chair of the microbiological water committee at the SwedishStandards Institute.

PHILIP TAYLORPhilip is responsible for activities in the area of metrology in chemistry, nuclear safeguardsand radionuclide metrology at the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements(IRMM) of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. He is also the OperatingManager of the Community Reference Laboratory for Heavy Metals in Food and Feed.Philip has fostered the development of a Life Long Learning programme for metrology inchemistry (TrainMiC) which was developed in the framework of EU enlargement. This iscombined with the provision of pan-EU interlaboratory comparisons for nuclear,environmental and food matrices.

DANIEL THOLENDaniel is owner of Dan Tholen Statistical Consulting in the USA. He is representing the AsiaPacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), Proficiency Testing Committee. He isresponsible for the provision of consultation and training for a variety of professionalorganisations and accreditation bodies. He is an assessor for the A2LA PT accreditationand reference materials program and is the Convener of the ISO CASCO Working Group 28on the revision of ISO/IEC Guide 43-1 and 43-2 i.e. the development of ISO/IEC 17043.

ANNETTE THOMASAnnette is the Consultant Clinical Biochemist and Director of the Quality Laboratory at theCardiff and Vale NHS Trust in the UK. She is also the Director of the Wales External QualityAssessment Scheme (WEQAS). She is responsible for the provision of support for Point ofCare testing at one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK and advises the WelshAssembly Government on Point of Care issues. Annette is responsible for the ReferenceLaboratory which develops primary and/or secondary reference methods, and provides aEuropean wide service to both manufacturers and EQA organisers in order to give stated,traceable, analyte values in calibrator, internal quality control and EQA materials.

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CONTRIBUTIONS

Poster contributions (sized 70x100 cm.) on the above mentioned topics arewelcome. Abstracts, in electronic format as a Microsoft Word document, should besent to the Workshop secretariat (e-mail: eurachem.pt2008@iss.it) before20th July 2008. Each abstracts should include a descriptive but concisetitle, full names of the Authors and their affiliations. The text, not includingtitle, authors names and affiliations, should be no longer than 400 words. Figures, tables or references should not be included in the text. All symbols should be spelled out in full (e.g.c2: chi-square).

All abstracts are subject to review by the Scientific Committee.

A prize - kindly sponsored by LGC standards - will be awared for the best poster.

PROCEEDINGS

Invited lectures and accepted contributions will be considered for publicationin a special issue of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (Springer Verlag)subject to peer reviewing. Instructions for Authors and further information isavailable on the Workshop Website. Manuscripts should be uploaded at theEditorial Manager system at http://acqual.edmgr.com, entering “EurachemPT Workshop 2008” in the “comment” field. Manuscripts submitted laterthan 20th November 2008 will be considered for publication, howevermight appear in a later issue.

CONTINUOUS EDUCATION IN MEDICINE (ECM)

The training courses will be submitted for approval under the Italian Ministryof Health Programme for Continuous Education in Medicine (ECM)

ECM Secretariat: Emiliana Falcone, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, emi@iss.it

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WORKSHOP OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official language of the events is English. Translation will not be available.

WORKSHOP VENUE

Centro Congressi FrentaniVia dei Frentani 4 - IT - 00185 Rome - Italyinfo@congressifrentani.it; www.congressifrentani.itPhone: +39 06 448791

WORKSHOP SECRETARIAT

presso Istituto Superiore di SanitàPhone: +39 06 49902562 - Fax: +39 06 49387077E-mail: eurachem.pt2008@iss.it

WORKSHOP WEBSITE

www.iss.it/eurachemWeb editor: Ferdinando Chiodo, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, f.chiodo@iss.it

ORGANISING SECRETARIAT

Good Morning Linea ServiceContacts:E-Mail: lineaservice@tin.it; info@evacommunication.itClara Foggetti: mobile phone +39 335 8010885Evacommunication: phone/fax +39 06 6861549

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SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS

EPTIS European Proficiency Testing Information System IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency ILAC International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation IRMM Institute for Reference Materials and MeasurementsLGC STANDARDS

REGISTRATION

The registration fee is € 420 + VAT 20%.It includes a book of abstracts, lunches, coffee/tea breaks, the get togetherparty on Sunday evening and the workshop dinner on Monday. You are advised to register early, as places are limited. The training courses are open to workshop participants only. Registration fee is € 80+VAT 20% for each course. To register, please fill in the registration form and send it to the secretariat. The fee will be invoiced together with a letter of confirmation.Please note that VAT exempt organisations should provide the appropriatedocumentation.

EXHIBITION

Products and services related to PT/EQA and laboratory activities can bepresented in the exhibition area. Requests should be sent to the workshop secretariat by 1st September 2008. A fee of € 800+VAT 20% will apply.

HOTEL RESERVATION

The reservation form is included and available from the website.Location of hotels close to the venue is shown on the map (page 18).For additional information please contact the Organising Secretariat.

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ROME - ITALY

One of the most ancient cities in Europe, founded over 2700 years ago,Rome has become the biggest open-air museum in Europe. This heritage,complemented by pleasant weather, Italian cuisine and a lively atmosphere,continues attracting visitors over the centuries. Completely opposite styles ofart and life manage to live side by side here making Rome a unique city.Rome is located in the middle of the Italian peninsula, at the centre of theMediterranean Basin. Connections with the rest of Italy and the world are assured by means of twoairports and excellent highway and train systems. Detailed information onhow to reach the Workshop venue are given below. More information aboutRome can be found at http://www.romaturismo.it/v2/en/main.asp

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HOW TO REACH FRENTANI CONFERENCE CENTRE

Via dei Frentani 4 - IT - 00185 Rome - Italyinfo@congressifrentani.it - www.congressifrentani.it

BY AIR- most scheduled flights arrive at Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport - most low fare airlines arrive at “G. Pastine” (Ciampino) Airport

From Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport www.adr.it (select FIUMICINO) to Rome:A) Take the direct train to Termini Station; tickets are sold at the station and cost

11 Euro. The journey lasts about 30 min and there is no intermediate stop.B) Metropolitan train (FM1) to Fara Sabina or Orte; tickets are sold at the station and

cost € 5,50. Get off at “Stazione Tiburtina” (about 45 min., intermediate stops).C) Buses (check online details, night buses available)D) Taxi, drivers from Rome, € 40,00 (check with the driver!)

From G. Pastine (Ciampino) Airport - www.adr.it (select CIAMPINO) to Rome:A) Get to Termini Station either by:

- Terravision Shuttle (Tickets: € 8,00 one way; € 14,00 round trip, timetable available online)

- Sitbus shuttle (Ticket € 6,00 timetable available online, some of these busses also stop at Tiburtina Station, see online timetable)

- local bus to Anagnina, then Metro A to Termini StationB) taxi, 30 Euro

BY TRAINInternational and national trains stop at Termini Railway Station (www.trenitalia.it)

BY CARFrom the North: Ring-road Exit Tiburtina in the direction of City Centre. Drivealong this road up to “La Sapienza” university, piazzale Aldo Moro, theConference Centre Frentani is at about 200 mt.

From the South: Ring-road Exit Prenestina in the direction of City Centre. Drivealong this road in the direction of Rome up to Porta Maggiore, then go in thedirection of Termini Station. The Conference Centre is at about 5 minutes.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTBUS N.: 492, 71, 310 UNDERGROUND A LINE: Termini stopUNDERGROUND B LINE: Castro Pretorio stop

NOTEAll prices are approximate and subject to change. Check on relative websites for updated informations

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

www.iss.it/eurachem/

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