In:
cclm, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Vol. 38, No. 10 ( 2000-10-16), p. 1013-1019
Abstract:
Ideally, every laboratory should derive their own reference
intervals for all analytes, but this is difficult in practice. A survey, by questionnaire, of UK laboratories
using the Chiron Diagnostics ACS:180 (Chiron Diagnostics Limited, Halstead, Essex, UK), for thyroid
function tests, showed that 10% of laboratories derived their own reference intervals, 60% quoted values
“adapted” from intervals for previous methods, whilst the remaining 40% quoted (often incorrectly) reference
intervals supplied by the manufacturer. In addition only 13% of respondent laboratories derived their
own reference intervals for testosterone. As a r esult of
this survey, a study was devised to enable the users of the Chiron Diagnostics ACS:180 immunoassay system
to develop and use within-method, between-laboratory reference intervals for thyroid hormones and
testosterone. Laboratory collaboration provided the recommended minimum number of data points by establishing
a reference sample group. This sample group was used for the calculation of appropriate reference
intervals for each hormone according to the guidelines published by the IFCC. We propose this approach
as a model for laboratories using identical instrumentation to produce, through collaboration,
within-method, between laboratory reference intervals.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1434-6621
DOI:
10.1515/CCLM.2000.150
Language:
English
Publisher:
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Publication Date:
2000
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1492732-9
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