RELEVANCE OF THE CONFERENCE
The invaluable role of quality laboratories in public health lies in emergency preparedness, detection of emerging threats, and rapid response, as well as in ensuring the stable functionality of the national laboratory system in compliance with international standards. This is one of the key factors in addressing public health challenges, as risk management becomes especially critical when working with biological agents, with the aim of preventing both accidental and intentional release.
There are numerous hazards and risks in laboratory practice, related not only to biological factors but also to chemical and radiological agents. Insufficient knowledge, skills, and motivation regarding containment mechanisms represent one of the greatest challenges in this field.
The conference is aligned with the “One Health” concept and will bring together laboratory professionals and other stakeholders from various sectors to discuss and analyze existing requirements and current international approaches to laboratory safety, as well as the need for their harmonization and standardization, along with associated barriers and challenges.
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SPEAKERS
  • HAMBARDZUM MERGERYAN
    Medical consultant/expert in epidemiology and occupational hygiene at Göttingen University Hospital and dozens of other specialized clinics and healthcare institutions, Germany
  • KARINE TEYMURAZYAN
    President of the QLOH Association
  • SHUSHAN SARGSYAN
    Head of Virology Laboratory, Reference Laboratory Center, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, SNCO, Ministry of Health, RA
  • DIANA SOGHOMONYAN
    Member of the QLOH Association Council; Microbiologist and Quality Officer at Yerevan Hematology and Oncology Center, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, RA
  • LILITH KHACHATRYAN
    Member of the QLOH Association Council; Certified Biosafety Risk Management Specialist of the International Federation of Biosafety Associations; Quality Officer at “Vita Longa” Medical Center, RA
  • RUZANNA HARUTYUNYAN
    Head of Quality Assurance and Management Department, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, SNCO, Ministry of Health, RA
  • VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN
    Head of Management System, Republican Center for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Laboratory Services, SNCO, RA
  • ARMENUHI AVAGYAN
    Deputy Director, Republican Center for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Laboratory Services, SNCO, RA
  • NUNE KRISHCHYAN
    Hospital Epidemiology Consultant, “Slavmed” MC, RA
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
May 8, 2026
09:00 – 09:30
09:00 – 09:30
Participant Registration and Coffee Invitation
09:30 – 10:00
09:30 – 10:00
Conference Opening and Welcome Address
SESSION 1: INTERNATIONAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE
Speakers: V. Gevorgyan, G. Melik-Andreasian, S. Gabrielyan, P. Tumanyan
10:00 – 10:30
10:00 – 10:30
ISO 15190:2020 – Safety Requirements in Medical Laboratories
Speaker: K. Teymurazyan / Quality Expert, President of the QLOH Association, RA
10:30 – 11:30
10:30 – 11:30
Infection Control and Prevention in Hospitals and Other Healthcare Organizations
Speaker: H. Mergerian / Consultant Physician in Epidemiology and Occupational Hygiene, University Hospital Göttingen and Several Specialized Healthcare Institutions, Germany
11:30 – 12:00
11:30 – 12:00
Laboratory Safety: Modern Approaches
Speaker: L. Khachatryan / Board Member of the QLOH Association, Certified Biological Risk Management Specialist, International Federation of Biosafety Associations, RA
12:00 – 12:30
12:00 – 12:30
Laboratory Safety in the Quality Management System
Speaker: R. Harutyunyan / Head of Quality Assurance and Management Department, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, SNCO, Ministry of Health, RA
12:30 – 13:00
12:30 – 13:00
Biological Risk Management for Laboratories and Related Organizations: Implementation Features of ISO 35001:2019 in Veterinary Laboratories
Speaker: V. Hovhannisyan / Head of Management System, Republican Center for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Laboratory Services, SNCO, RA
13:30 – 10:00
13:30 – 10:00
Lunch
SESSION 2: NATIONAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE
Speakers: G. Melik-Andreasian, S. Gabrielyan, Sh. Sargsyan, A. Avagyan
14:00 – 14:30
14:00 – 14:30
Practical Aspects of Infection Control
Speaker: N. Krishchyan / Hospital Epidemiology Consultant, “Slavmed” MC, RA
14:30 – 15:00
14:30 – 15:00
Current Issues in Biosafety in Public Health Laboratories
Speaker: Sh. Sargsyan / Head of Virology Laboratory, Reference Laboratory Center, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, SNCO, Ministry of Health, RA
15:00 – 15:30
15:00 – 15:30
Classical Requirements and Modern Technological Challenges in Chemical Laboratory Safety
Speaker: N. Hakverdyan / Head of Chemical Laboratory, Reference Laboratory Center, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, SNCO, Ministry of Health, RA
15:30 – 16:00
15:30 – 16:00
Biological Risk Management in the Food Safety Laboratory of the State Food Safety Inspectorate of RA
Speaker: A. Avagyan / Deputy Director, Republican Center for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Laboratory Services, SNCO, RA
16:00 – 16:30
16:00 – 16:30
Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:00
16:30 – 17:00
Biosafety in Laboratory Practice: Is the Role of Personnel More Important or the Systemic Approach?
Speaker: Diana Soghomonyan / Microbiologist, Quality Officer, Yerevan Hematology and Oncology Center, Ministry of Health, RA
17:00 – 17:30
17:00 – 17:30
Safety in PCR Laboratories
Speaker: G. Martirosyan / Laboratory Geneticist, Researcher, Institute of Molecular Biology, NAS RA
17:30 – 18:00
17:30 – 18:00
From Compliance to Risk-Based Management System
Speaker: R. Harutyunyan / Quality and Biosafety Manager, Institute of Molecular Biology, NAS RA
18:00 – 18:30
18:00 – 18:30
Evaluation and Closing Remarks
LOCATION OF THE CONFERENCE

Address: 76 Fanarjyan St., Yerevan, Armenia

OFFICIAL PARTNERS OF THE CONFERENCE
*** If you are interested in collaboration, please contact us
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