Superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), a high molecular weight component of the antioxidant defense system, provided promising results in the treatment of oxidative damage. Thermothrix sp., isolated from thermal spa water in Serbia, showed high superoxide dismutase activity. The SOD, from cell free extract, was purified to homogenity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G 75 gel filtration chromatography and QAE Sephadex ion exchange chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 9191 U/mg. The purified enzyme was analyzed and partially characterized. SOD was localized in polyacrylamide gel by activity staining, based on the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) by superoxide. The enzyme molecular weight determined by gel chromatography is 37 kD. According to SDS PAGE it is composed of two subunits of equal size, joined by noncovalent interactions. The isoelectric point, assessed by isoelectric focusing is 5.3. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was in the range of 8 to 10. The optimum temperature for SOD activity was 60 ?C. After one hour of incubation at 40, 50 and 60 ?C the SOD activity increases, but at 80 ?C, the SOD is denaturated. After 24 hours of incubation at 25 ?C SO Dactivity only slightly decreases.

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Status of Development and Implementation of Medical Laboratories Accreditation in SerbiaThrough the release of the SRPS ISO 15189:2008 standard entitled >>Medicinske laboratorije: posebni zahtevi za kvalitet i kompetentnost<< conditions have been created for medical laboratory accreditation in Serbia. The application of the ISO 15189:2007 standard is an accepted mechanism for improvement of the quality of medical laboratory services throughout EU today. In that way, different approaches to the quality improvement of medical laboratories have been harmonized. Functional organisation of the accreditation process of medical laboratories in most European countries is mainly carried out in cooperation with national accreditation bodies, medical experts appointed by scientist associations and health departments. This type of collaboration has proven successful in the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, France, Finland, Croatia, etc. The experiences of the Accreditation Board of Serbia (ABS) in medical laboratory accreditation according to the SRPS ISO/IEC 17025:2006 standard (5 laboratories have been accredited) and the positive experiences of European countries in accreditation process constitute the basis for the development of the program for medical laboratory accreditation in Serbia. The first step in this direction is the set-up of the Committee consisting of experts from different medical fields, ABS experts and representatives of the competent Ministry, as well as the definition of their tasks, such as: preparation of the necessary documentation, set-up and preparation of qualification criteria and training programs for assessors, participation in the development of the external quality assessment scheme through interlaboratory testing, liaison with the European organisations for accreditation, organisation of mutual assessments with national and international assessors, participation in decision making on accreditation and accreditation maintenance.