Description
Klinisk Biokemi i Norden is the membership journal of the Nordic Federation of Clinical Chemistry. It is distributed to all members of the national societies in the five Nordic countries. The journal was founded by Kristoffer Hellsing in 1989. In the editorial of the first issue, he pointed to the need to establish contact and ensure regular communication among members of the scientific societies in the Nordic countries. The vision for the journal’s content outlined a range of topics it could address: strategies for work within the specialty, organization of research and education, practical communications from “the laboratory floor,” ideas and discussion contributions from members, presentations of research groups in the Nordic region, and communications from the Nordic Federation of Clinical Chemistry (NFKK), Nordic working groups, and committees.
Four issues are published annually. Klinisk Biokemi i Norden includes articles on practical topics, the history of clinical biochemistry, short scientific reviews of subjects of common interest, instrument evaluations, discussion papers, meeting reports, and more, all of relevance to clinical biochemists in the Nordic countries. Articles are not peer reviewed, but each manuscript is, as far as possible, reviewed and commented on by at least two editors prior to publication.
Editorial board
The editorial board includes the chair of the Nordic Federation of Clinical Chemistry (NFKK) and one to two editors from each country. Proposals for new editors are discussed within the editorial board, which then recommends to the relevant national scientific society that the person be appointed as a member of the editorial board. Appointments are made for a three-year term, with the possibility of renewal for additional three-year periods. An editor must be employed at a department of clinical chemistry or a similar institution. Members of the editorial board do not receive remuneration.
Editor-in-Chief
One of the editors is appointed as Editor-in-Chief for a three-year term, with the possibility of extension. The Editor-in-Chief is nominated by the editorial board for approval by the NFKK Board. The Editor-in-Chief serves as the responsible editor of the journal.
The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for planning individual issues based on the submission of manuscripts from the national editors, and for overseeing the printing and distribution of each issue. The Editor-in-Chief also plans the two annual editorial meetings, circulates the agenda, and is responsible for the minutes of these meetings. In addition, the Editor-in-Chief participates in meetings of the NFKK Board.
Finance
The costs of publishing Klinisk Biokemi i Norden are financed exclusively through advertisements. NFKK is registered for VAT in Denmark, and VAT on payments for advertisements from Danish advertisers is paid to the Danish tax authorities. Advertisements paid for by advertisers from other EU countries are not subject to VAT; instead, the advertiser’s VAT number is stated on the invoice together with “reverse charge.”
The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the journal’s finances delegated by the Chair og the NFKK Executive Committee. The Editor-in-Chief presents the accounts to the NFKK Executive Committee for approval.
Editorial meetings
At least two editorial meetings are held each year. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for circulating the agenda and the minutes of these meetings. The national editors take turns organizing the practical arrangements.
The Kristoffer Hellsing Prize
Each year, the editorial board awards a prize for the best article published in the preceding year. The selection is made by voting, with each member of the editorial board assigning three, two, and one point to articles from the previous four issues. The prize consists of a work of art.
Website
Klinisk Biokemi i Norden has a website at www.nfkk.org, where all issues since 1989 are freely accessible
Distribution
The journal is distributed by post to members of the national societies.