The International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) was initiated as a standardization committee by the European Society of Haematology (ESH) in 1963 and officially constituted by the International Society of Hematology (ISH) and the ESH in Stockholm in 1964. The ICSH is recognised as a Non-Governmental Organisation with official relations to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The ICSH is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to achieve reliable and reproducible results in laboratory analysis in the field of diagnostic haematology. The ICSH coordinates Working Groups of experts to examine laboratory methods and instruments for haematological analyses, to deliberate on issues of standardization and to stimulate and coordinate scientific work as necessary towards the development of international standardization materials and guidelines.