Error simulation modeling to assess the effects of bias and precision on bilirubin measurements used to screen for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Objectives: Error simulation models have been used to understand the relationship between analytical performance and clinical outcomes. We developed an error simulation model to understand the effects of method bias and precision on misclassification rate for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia using an age-adjusted risk assessment tool.

Methods: For each of 176 measured total bilirubin (TSB) values, 10,000 simulated total bilirubin (TB) values were generated at each combination of bias and precision conditions for coefficient of variation (CV) between 1 and 15%, and for biases between -51.

Human chorionic gonadotropin suspected heterophile interference investigations in immunoassays: a recommended approach.

Background Heterophile antibody (HAb) interferences in immunoassays can cause falsely elevated hCG concentrations leading to incorrect diagnosis and treatments options. When results are not consistent with the clinical findings, hCG HAb interference investigation may be requested by the physician. A retrospective evaluation of the frequency of HAb interference was performed among cases of physician-requested investigations and the effectiveness of commercially available blocking reagents to detect HAb interference in two immunoassay systems was evaluated.

Implementation of a reformulated Roche® bilirubin Gen.3 reagent did not affect the relationship between BiliChek transcutaneous and Roche total serum bilirubin.

Objective: Determine whether introduction of a reformulated bilirubin reagent, the Roche bilirubin Gen.3 assay, changed the relationship between BiliChek transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) and total serum bilirubin (TSB).

Design And Methods: TcB results from term infants in the level 1 nursery obtained within one hour of a TSB were reviewed over two periods, six months before and after the conversion from the previous generation Roche bilirubin reagent to the new Roche Gen.

Blood gas sample spiking with total parenteral nutrition, lipid emulsion, and concentrated dextrose solutions as a model for predicting sample contamination based on glucose result.

Objective: Evaluate the effects of blood gas sample contamination with total parenteral nutrition (TPN)/lipid emulsion and dextrose 50% (D50) solutions on blood gas and electrolyte measurement; and determine whether glucose concentration can predict blood gas sample contamination with TPN/lipid emulsion or D50.

Design And Methods: Residual lithium heparin arterial blood gas samples were spiked with TPN/lipid emulsion (0 to 15%) and D50 solutions (0 to 2.5%).