The morphology review board (MRB) was established on November 2009 with a purpose to increase the accuracy and concordance of the morphological diagnoses made by laboratory physicians in the field of laboratory hematology.
The MRB receives consults from research groups, clinicians, and also laboratory physicians for various purposes including research. Consulting procedure requires submission of the referral form with the glass slide of interest to be delivered to the MRB administrator by the department of laboratory medicine of the submitting hospital. The referred case will primarily be examined by two morphology review board members according to the protocols and its result and feedback will be delivered to the requesting researcher and laboratory physician. If there is a difference in opinion between two reviewing MRB members or the case requires review by the committee, a morphology workshop is scheduled, to reach a consensus. Announcement of the morphology workshop and its results are made in public at the annual symposium. The MRB consists of eight members including one chairman and one assistant administrator. Their qualifications include being a certified member of the Korean Society for Laboratory Hematology, whose branch of specialty is diagnostic hematology, and having 15 or more years of experience in the clinical field. Management of MRB follows its internal protocols and more specific guidelines are currently being set up. Any inquiries or requests can be made by contacting the MRB administrator Woo In Lee (wileemd@khu.ac.kr, 02-440-7190) or to the Korean Society for Laboratory Hematology.