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Updated 7/31/2012

Q. What are the actual hours for the Clinical Virology Symposium?
Q. When is the Molecular Virology Workshop, and why do I have to register separately to attend the Workshop?
Q. Why are the CVS and MVW always held at the same hotel?
Q. What are the objectives of the Symposium?
Q. Who is the "target audience" for the Symposium?
Q. When do exhibitors set up and break down the Exhibits?
Q. I want to exhibit at the Symposium, but I missed the November 1 deadline. Can I still get in?
Q. Why don't we go back to Clearwater Beach?
Q. Why is the OceanCenter ballroom so cold and why can't they just warm it up?

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Q. What are the actual hours for the Clinical Virology Symposium?

A. Here's a quick picture of the hours.

Sunday

Registration 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
10:00 am - 11:30 am - Panel Discussion
11:30 - 12:00 pm - Break
12:00 - 1:00 - Virology Jeopardy
1:00 - 1:45 - Presentation
1:45 - 2:30 - Presentation
2:30 - 4:00 - OPTIONAL Exhibitor Presentations
4:30 - 7:00 pm Scientific Poster Session I* in the Exhibit Hall - Exhibits Open
*Posters must be removed by 8:30 am MONDAY.

Monday

Registration 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
7:30 - 8:30 am - Continental Breakfast/Exhibits open in the Exhibit Hall
8:30 am - 12:55 pm - Session I - Clinical Aspects of Viral Diseases
1:00 - 5:00 pm - OPTIONAL Exhibitor Demonstrations and OPTIONAL Exhibit Hours in the Exhibit Hall
4:30 - 7:00 pm - Scientific Poster Session II* in the Exhibit Hall - Exhibits officially open at 5:00pm
7:00 pm - Banquet
**Posters must be removed by 8:30 am TUESDAY

Tuesday

Registration 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
7:30 - 8:30 am - Continental Breakfast/Exhibits open in the Exhibit Hall
          (Scientific Poster Session III posters may be put up anytime after 8:30 am, and available during the 10:20 - 11:05 am during break)
8:30 am - 12:55 pm - Session II - Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infections
2:30 - 4:30 pm - Philip Hanff Memorial Clinical Case Presentations and Discussionl
4:30 - 7:00 pm - Scientific Poster Session Iii in the Exhibit Hall - Exhibits Open

Wednesday

Registration 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
7:30 - 8:30 am - Continental Breakfast
8:30 am - 12:55 pm - Session III - Prevention of and Therapy for Viral Diseases
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Pick up CEU Certificates at Registration

Q. When is the Molecular Virology Workshop, and why do I have to register separately to attend the Workshop?

A. The Molecular Virology Workshop (MVW) is presented annually by the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology the Friday and Saturday preceeding the Clinical Virology Symposium (CVS). Although many of the organizers are involved in both the CVS and the MVW, they are two separate and distinct programs. While many people attend both, many others attend either one program or the other. Proceeds from the MVW help to support the activities of the PASCV throughout the year, including the Travel Awards to the CVS, and the PASCV Clinical and Diagnostic Awards presented at the CVS Banquet.

Q. Why are the CVS and MVW always held at the same hotel?

A. Effective in 2008, and after 23 years in Clearwater Beach (22 of those at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort), the CVS and MVW are moving to Daytona Beach, Florida. This was a difficult decision, necessitated by the growth in attendance, and the need for more and better exhibit space. By moving to the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort we will have a room block of more than 600 rooms at the headquarters hotel, an increase of 250 rooms. Two other major properties are within 5-10 minutes walking distance. Exhibits, and the CVS sessions will be located at the "Ocean Center" directly across the street from the Hilton. This move will more than double the exhibit/poster session space.

Q. What are the objectives of the Symposium?

A. The Symposium will provide a forum for the meaningful exchange of ideas dealing with viral infections, led by biomedical scientists engaged in research and primary care physicians involved with patient care. [The Symposium provides several presentations specifically designed for open discussion, including the Sunday program offerings, and the Tuesday Case Studies.] The relationship between rapid viral diagnosis, clinical course of viral infections, and preventative and therapeutic modalities for virus infections is the theme of this . . . meeting. Discussion of timely topics by renowned scientists assures that this symposium will be informative an interesting. Furthermore, newly acquired information about clinically-relevant viral infections will be useful to practicing physicians who can apply this knowledge in a clinical setting.

Q. Who is the "target audience" for the Symposium?

A.The Symposium is intended for physicians, virology technicians, technologists, laboratory supervisors, laboratory directors and other health care professionals with an interest in the latest developments in clinical and diagnostic virology.

Q. When do exhibitors set up and break down the Exhibits?

A. Set up is Sunday, but the hours are not yet set since the exhibits will open 3 hours earlier than in past years. Stay tuned . . . ALL exhibits must be set by 2:00 pm. Break down begins Tuesday evening at the close of exhibit hall (7:00 pm), continues until midnight, or later if possible. Our 2012 contract runs through Wednesday, so breakdown hours will be extended, probably including Wednesday morning from 7:30 am until noon.

Q. I want to exhibit at the Symposium, but I missed the November 1 deadline. Can I still get in?

A. The November 1 deadline is to be listed as an Exhibitor or supporter in the brochure which is mailed to nearly 10,000 people worldwide at the end of December. That is NOT the deadline to register as an Exhibitor, and there is in fact no "deadline." If we have space available, and you wish to reach the audience that attends the Symposium, we will try to accomodate you. Please note that if you are accepted as an Exhibitor after the manuals have been sent to press, your company will not be listed in any of the conference materials.

Q. Why don't we go back to Clearwater Beach?
A. We all loved Clearwater Beach, and the decision to move wasn't an easy one. In 2007, as we were preparing for the 24th Clinical Virology Symposium, the hotels in Clearwater Beach, and the host hotel in particular, requested that we agree to revise the 2008 contract. That would have raised hotel rates to $189 per night in 2008, $199 in 2009, and at least $209 in 2010. Additionally, we were spread over a number of hotels both on the beach and on the mainland, and the city had made the decision to demolish a number of beach hotels and replace them with condos. Finally, we had outgrown the available exhibit space, and there are still no plans for any convention facility in the Clearwater Beach area. Many have suggested we simply cut back on the tradeshow side of the Symposium, but that still wouldn't address the number of rooms for attendees within walking distance, or the prices for attendees OR the Symposium. We are constantly monitoring the situation, and if it ever becomes possible to consider moving back, we will certainly consider it.

Q. Why is the OceanCenter ballroom so cold, and why can't they just warm it up?
A. The section of the OceanCenter we use as classroom space was built 26 years ago. The HVAC system is very simple - it's either on or off. When it's on, we freeze, when it's off, after we thaw out, we roast. By the time we left Daytona this year (2011) we had settled on a pattern of 10 minutes on and 30 minutes off, and that seemed to be reasonably comfortable. The good news is that a plan has been approved to upgrade the HVAC - but it won't happen quickly. We hope the new system will be in and operating by 2013.

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