About

Clinical or medical biochemistry, as a specialized field and scientific discipline, focuses on monitoring metabolic processes in relation to physiological and pathological changes in the human body. By analyzing biological material using various techniques, it provides a range of information aimed at predicting disease development, diagnosing, monitoring the course, and forecasting the outcome of illnesses. It is the most prevalent branch of laboratory medicine, and the majority of Montenegrin specialists in this field are members of the former EC4 European Register of Specialists in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, which has evolved into the EFLM Register of Specialists in Laboratory Medicine (EuSpLM).

The earliest records of some form of medical laboratory diagnostics in Montenegro date back to the early 19th century, when the “Sundečić” pharmacy included a “laboratory” serving the needs of Podgorica and Cetinje. In Danilovgrad, there was also a private practice run by Dr. Kujacić, described as an “internal medicine doctor with a cabinet for microscopic-chemical analysis.”The first bacteriological-chemical laboratory, which later developed into the Institute of Hygiene, was established in Cetinje in 1922.A student of Prof. Fischer, a polyglot and pioneer in this field, Rada Zupanec, introduced methods in the 1930s for performing a full range of analyses in blood, urine, gastric juice, cerebrospinal fluid, sputum, and more.The laboratory functioned as a polyvalent unit, uniquely covering all areas of laboratory medical diagnostics. In other cities, the development of this diagnostic branch began after World War II.

In 1956, the married couple Teodorović began working at the then People’s Hospital in Podgorica. They passed their specialist exams in 1962, and their professional careers were marked by an uncompromising commitment to promoting the profession and introducing a wide range of diagnostic procedures.In 1961, Prof. Dr. Jovan Kavarić also began his career at the Health Center in Podgorica. He not only introduced new procedures and automation in laboratory diagnostics but also actively promoted the education and training of personnel at all levels.During his tenure, 20 professionals completed their specialization in the field of medical biochemistry, and he was also one of the founders of the Secondary Medical School, specifically the Department for Laboratory Technicians, established in 1964.

 In Nikšić, in 1952, Primarius Bosa Vujošević, the first Montenegrin specialist in medical biochemistry, initiated the development of the medical laboratory, establishing its infrastructure, staffing, and implementing a full range of diagnostic procedures.Her work was continued by Primarius Blažo Petrović, who went on to manage the laboratories at the General Hospital in Nikšić and the Special Hospital in Brezovik.

In other municipalities, laboratory services quickly developed with the arrival of young specialists in medical, and later, clinical biochemistry.

Today, 57 specialists in clinical/medical biochemistry work in laboratories across Montenegro, spanning the public sector (at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels) and the private sector. Among them are a significant number of master’s degree holders, five PhDs, and, since 2010, six subspecialists in areas such as laboratory endocrinology, clinical immunochemistry, clinical biochemical rheumatology, molecular-biological, and immunochemical diagnostics.Medical-biochemical laboratories in both the public and private sectors are almost exclusively equipped with instruments from leading global manufacturers in clinical chemistry, hematology, hemostasis, and immunochemistry—ensuring highly reliable diagnostic work.In terms of the volume of biochemical procedures, the leading institution is the Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Center at the Clinical Center of Montenegro, the country’s tertiary-level healthcare facility. Over the past decade, it has introduced a wide range of new analyses and techniques, including flow cytometry, electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques, and has significantly expanded its hemostasis capabilities.Larger private laboratories are distinguished by their integration of various fields of laboratory medicine (biochemistry with hematology, immunology, molecular diagnostics, microbiology with parasitology, and pathohistology), offering comprehensive diagnostics in a single location.

The Society of Medical Biochemists of Montenegro has existed since 1964, and since April 26, 2006, it has operated under its current name—the Montenegrin Society of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CGDKH)—in alignment with modern standards. The Society is a member of the Balkan, European, and International Federations of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.The goal of CGDKH is to bring together specialists in clinical/medical biochemistry and medical biochemists in order to promote the advancement and development of all branches of this field within healthcare.Its objectives include improving clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine by raising the professional and scientific level of personnel, initiating and addressing issues related to the field, organizing professional and scientific meetings, seminars, and congresses, and cooperating with government bodies, organizations, and representative institutions to address professional matters.The Society is also committed to upholding the principles and ethical codes of the profession, taking appropriate measures in the event of violations, and facilitating the exchange of professional and scientific knowledge with relevant associations and organizations both in Montenegro and abroad.

By 2025, CGDKH has organized three congresses of the Balkan Clinical Laboratory Federation, two professional conferences with international participation (with a third currently in preparation), and a series of one-day meetings as part of a monthly continuous postgraduate education program.The Society is also the author of two important guidelines: “Recommendations for Patient Preparation Prior to Blood Sample Collection” (2015). and “Recommendations for Sample Type and Stability in Medical Laboratories” (2015).

Presidents of the Society from its founding to the present day have been: Dušan Teodorović, Bosiljka Vujošević, Miloš Janković, Jovan Kavarić, Blažo Petrović, Nada Cvetković, Vesna Mijatović, Milica Vuksanović, Dejan Krivokapić, Danica Popović, Najdana Gligorović Barhanović, and the current president, Tanja Antunović.

Author: Najdana Gligorović Barhanović
Podgorica, March 15, 2025