Ontario's Medical Laboratories and the Fight Against Cancer

In Celebration of National Medical Laboratory Week April 20-26^th

TORONTO, April 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Every three minutes another Canadian is faced with fighting cancer ^{Canadian Cancer Society}.

During National Medical Laboratory Week, the Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories (OAML) is proud to highlight how community laboratories help to reduce the burden and mortality of the second deadliest cancer in Ontario.

In April of 2008, the Ontario government launched Canada's first province-wide population based colorectal cancer screening program ColonCancerCheck to provide early detection of colorectal cancer and help save the lives of Ontarians. Ontario's community laboratories worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Cancer Care Ontario to develop the laboratory testing component of the program.

"We are proud of the work we have done to support the development and implementation of this important screening program," said Paul Gould, Chief Executive Officer of the OAML. "Community laboratories play a critical role in the detection and prevention of disease in Ontario and this program is a prime example of this."

Since April of 2008, Ontario Community Labs have supported Ontario's ColonCancerCheck Program by screening over 3 million Ontarians for colon cancer; helping to provide early detection of colorectal cancer that saves the lives of Ontarians.

The OAML was established in 1978 as the voice of Ontario's community medical laboratory sector. OAML member laboratories provide 95% of all diagnostic testing for patients outside of hospitals. The Association is composed of 6 members that operate 24 accredited testing facilities and 329 licensed specimen collection centres across Ontario.

SOURCE: Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories

Chief Executive Officer: Paul J. Gould, M.A., CMC, 416-250-8555, [email protected]