Exploratory study on reference intervals of calprotectin and pentraxin 3.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to determine reference intervals for serum pentraxin 3 and calprotectin, as well as for urine calprotectin according to the CLSI EP28-A3C guidelines for defining, establishing, and verifying reference intervals in the clinical laboratory.

Materials And Methods: A total of 120 serum and urine samples from either healthy volunteers or outpatients were used for reference interval establishment. The participants had CRP levels, leucocyte counts, serum urea levels, creatinine levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rates (CKD-EPI eGFRs) within the reference range and no medical history of acute/chronic inflammatory diseases/conditions or cancer.

Short- and long-term stability of synovial fluid calprotectin.

Introduction: Information about analyte stability is of crucial importance. The aims of this study were to determine the short- and long-term stability of synovial fluid calprotectin at various temperature conditions (4-8 °C for 7 days, - 20 °C and - 80 °C for 6 weeks).

Materials And Methods: Eleven samples from patients were included in this study.

Effects of High-Intensity Training on Complete Blood Count, Iron Metabolism, Lipid Profile, Liver, and Kidney Function Tests of Professional Water Polo Players.

Aim: Our goal was to examine the effect of high-intensity physical activity on changes in the lipid profile, complete blood count (CBC), iron metabolism, and kidney and liver function tests of professional water polo players.

Methods: This study included twenty professional male water polo players. Blood sampling was carried out at the beginning of the season and during periods of high-intensity training.

Releasing Dynamic of Serum ST2 and Calprotectin in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

This study investigated the releasing dynamics of serum ST2 and calprotectin in patients with acute IS. The study included acute IS patients (N = 20) with an NIH Stroke Scale score ≥8. Sampling was performed at seven time points: after admission (T0) and at the following 24 h consecutive intervals (T1-T6).

The final part of the CRESS trilogy - how to evaluate the quality of stability studies.

High quality laboratory results are critical for patient management. However, poor sample quality can impact these results and patient safety. To ensure reliable and accurate results laboratories must be aware of each analyte's stability under various storage conditions and matrices to guarantee correct and dependable outcomes.

Verification of bile acid determination method and establishing reference intervals for biochemical and haematological parameters in third-trimester pregnant women.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to verify the bile acids (BA) method and to establish reference intervals (RIs) for bile acids (BA) and biochemical and haematological parameters in Croatian pregnant women.

Methods: BA spectrophotometric method verification was performed on Siemens Atellica Solution CH 930 automated analyser using Sentinel reagent. Stability, precision, trueness, linearity, and RIs, as well as lipemia interference were tested according to CLSI guidelines.

The Association of Serum Calprotectin with Fitness Indicators and Biochemical Markers in High-Level Athletes: A Continuous Dynamic Monitoring during One Competitive Season.

Unlabelled: The objective was to determine the associations between several biochemical indicators and the dynamics of concentration change across four physical fitness phases over the period of a competitive season. Furthermore, associations between serum calprotectin and biomarkers of inflammation or muscle injury and physical indicators were examined.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty professional male water polo players (median age: 28 (22-42)) were included in this study.

Analytical interference of intravascular contrast agents with clinical laboratory tests: a joint guideline by the ESUR Contrast Media Safety Committee and the Preanalytical Phase Working Group of the EFLM Science Committee.

The Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology has, together with the Preanalytical Phase Working Group of the EFLM Science Committee, reviewed the literature and updated its recommendations to increase awareness and provide insight into these interferences. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Contrast Media may interfere with clinical laboratory tests. Awareness of potential interference may prevent unwanted misdiagnosis.

Analytical interference of intravascular contrast agents with clinical laboratory tests: a joint guideline by the ESUR Contrast Media Safety Committee and the Preanalytical Phase Working Group of the EFLM Science Committee.

The Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology has, together with the Preanalytical Phase Working Group of the EFLM Science Committee, reviewed the literature and updated its recommendations to increase awareness and provide insight into these interferences.

Recommendation for the design of stability studies on clinical specimens.

Objectives: Knowledge of the stability of analytes in clinical specimens is a prerequisite for proper transport and preservation of samples to avoid laboratory errors. The new version of ISO 15189:2022 and the European directive 2017/746 increase the requirements on this topic for manufacturers and laboratories. Within the project to generate a stability database of European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE), the need to standardise and improve the quality of published stability studies has been detected, being a manifest deficit the absence of international guidelines for the performance of stability studies on clinical specimens.

The preanalytical phase - from an instrument-centred to a patient-centred laboratory medicine.

In order to guarantee patient safety, medical laboratories around the world strive to provide highest quality in the shortest amount of time. A major leap in quality improvement was achieved by aiming to avoid preanalytical errors within the total testing process. Although these errors were first described in the 1970s, it took additional years/decades for large-scale efforts, aiming to improve preanalytical quality by standardisation and/or harmonisation.

Verification of a 6-part differential haematology analyser Siemens Advia 2120i.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive verification of a 6-part differential haematology analyser Siemens Advia 2120i (Erlangen, Germany), prior to its routine implementation.

Materials And Methods: Our verification protocol included: precision (within- and between-run), estimated bias (%) as measure of trueness, which was calculated from observed and manufacturers' declared value, analytical measuring interval (AMI), carryover, confirmation of a limit of blank (LoB), determination of a limit of detection (LoD) and limit of quantitation (LoQ). The K ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) patients' leftover samples were used for verification of analyser Advia 2021i.

Serum and urine osmolality: 8 hours, 24 hours and 1-month sample stability.

Objectives: The body of literature varies significantly regarding serum and urine osmolality stability. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the stability of serum and urine osmolality at different temperatures (room temperature (RT) 4-8 °C, -20 °C) and time conditions (8 h, 24 h, 1 month).

Methods: The stability study was conducted following the CRESS guidelines, including 40 serum and urine samples.

Preanalytical quality improvement - an interdisciplinary journey, on behalf of the European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE).

Since the beginning of laboratory medicine, the main focus was to provide high quality analytics. Over time the importance of the extra-analytical phases and their contribution to the overall quality became evident. However, as the initial preanalytical processes take place outside of the laboratory and mostly without its supervision, all professions participating in these process steps, from test selection to sample collection and transport, need to engage accordingly.

Verification of automatic analysers Roller 20PN and iSED for measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Introduction: Automated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) analysers are based on different methodology than Westergren method. It is questionable whether ESR values obtained from those analysers are comparable with determined values with Westergren method. The aim was verification of the precision, method comparison and accuracy of automated ESR analysers: Roller 20PN (Alifax S.

Verification of Atellica 1500 and comparison with Iris urine analyser and urine culture.

Introduction: The aims of study were to assess: 1) performance specifications of Atellica 1500, 2) comparability of Atellica 1500 and Iris, 3) the accuracy of both analysers in their ability to detect bacteria.

Materials And Methods: Carryover, linearity, precision, reproducibility, and limit of blank (LoB) verification were evaluated for erythrocyte and leukocyte counts. ICSH 2014 protocol was used for estimation of carryover, CLSI EP15-A3 for precision, and CLSI EP17 for LoB verification.

Adherence to the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD): a survey of four journals in laboratory medicine.

Background: The Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) statement has been updated in 2015. Many diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies have been published in medical laboratory journals, but their adherence to the updated STARD statement remains unknown.

Methods: We searched the PubMed database to verify studies published in 4 laboratory journals, including , , , and , in 2019.

Survey on reporting of epithelial cells in urine sediment as part of external quality assessment programs in Brazilian laboratories.

Introduction: Epithelial cells (ECs) are structures regularly observed during urine microscopy analysis. The correct identification of EC subtypes can be useful since renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) are clinically relevant. We investigate the urinary ECs report and the judgement of its clinical importance by Brazilian laboratories.

Verification of technical characteristics and performance of VeinViewer Flex, ICEN IN-G090-2 and AccuVein AV400 transillumination devices.

Background And Aim: Transilluminator device allow healthcare professionals to visualize peripheral veins without using tourniquet. Aim of the study was to test the ability of three devices (Christie VeinViewer Flex (Christie, Lake Mary, Florida, USA), ICEN IN-G090-2 (ICEN Technology Company Limited, Guangdong, China) and AccuVein AV400 (AccuVein, New York, USA)) to present quality images thought defined criterion.

Materials And Methods: Study was designed as a comparison of technical characteristics, evaluation of image quality and assessment of applicability in different conditions (different viewing angels, conditions of lightning and image visibility under interference of humidity and body lotions) in reference person on two venipuncture sites.