The Commercial Section of the American Embassy in Kenya is pleased to announce to you that it is recruiting 20 delegates for an accredited Department of Commerce one-stop medical diagnostics show - The American Association Clinical Chemistry Clinical Lab Expo - http://www.aacc.org/AACC/events/ann_meet/expo/

The Annual Meeting of the AACC is the world's largest meeting devoted to clinical chemistry and clinical laboratory science in general.  Clinical laboratory science is the analysis of fluids and tissues for the diagnosis, management and treatment of illness and injury.  As new technologies are developed more laboratory testing such as hematology, infectious disease, serology and others is moving into clinical chemistry. The worldwide IVD (in vitro Diagnostic) market, which is currently 50% U.S. and 50% international, is dominated by U.S. based and/or owned companies.  The AACC Exposition includes every significant manufacturer from anywhere in the world along with most of the start-up companies bringing new technologies to the market. 

Clinical Lab Expo is scheduled to take place at the Washington DC Convention Center in Washington, D.C. between July 27-31, 2008.  With close to 700 exhibiting companies and more than 1800 booths at Clinical Lab Expo 2008, you will have the opportunity of seeing the latest trends in clinical diagnostics, automation, information systems, point-of-care, OEM and biotech. To see who is exhibiting at the 2008 AACC Annual Meeting please click the following link:  http://www.aacc.org/AACC/events/ann_meet/exhibitors/exhibitors/default.htm

The Commercial Section of the American Embassy will appreciate your participation at this event.  Participation costs per delegate that will cover the cost of return airfare (Nairobi-Washington, D.C.-Nairobi), 6 nights hotel on bed & breakfast stay at the 4-star Melrose Hotel (http://www.melrosehoteldc.com) in Washington, D.C.,  airport transfer and internal administrative costs will be approximately $3700 (subject to how fast airline and hotel reservations for the delegation are confirmed).

This official Embassy-led delegation will depart Nairobi for Washington, D.C. on Saturday, July 26, 2008.  Consequently, if you are interested in participating on this delegation, please perform IMMEDIATELY the next three simple steps:

(1)  Pre-register as a participant using our on-line registration form below.  Please note that registration will officially close on June 5, 2008 to enable us finalize travel and hotel logistics for the delegation in order to keep within the projected participation costs. 

(2)  BOOK a visa interview (if you require a visa) for a date not beyond June 5, 2008 using our on-line system available at: http://216.147.140.2/GeneralNIV/default.asp (Once you have made a visa interview appointment, IMMEDIATELY inform Delegation Leader Humphrey Lilech at Humphrey.Lilech@mail.doc.gov your interview date to enable us advise the Visa/Consular section that we have registered you as a delegate for this event)

(3) Upon satisfying both requirements above, forward a deposit of $800 within ONE WEEK of your pre-registration (Please note that we will NOT ADVISE the Visa/Consular section as indicated in No. (2) above if you have not paid the deposit). 

Participation fee balances MUST be paid by no later than June 15, 2008.  Please note that the Commercial Section CANNOT guarantee visa issuance.