Preanalysis in Serum Hepcidin Measurement.

Background: Hepcidin is a 25-amino peptide hormone that regulates iron homeostasis. Its serum quantification helps to provide the right therapeutic choice in iron-deficiency anemia and anemia in chronic diseases. Diurnal levels of serum iron might affect hepcidin secretion during the day.

Quantitative expediency assessment of the zeta sedimentation ratio and the plasma viscosity in arterial hypertension research.

Accepted methods of the ESR methodology (the Westergren mode and ZSR mode) and its alternative the plasma viscosity were tested for diagnostic utility in pregnancy induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis approved moderate diagnostic accuracy for the ESR methodology and supplied support for its preliminary estimated cutoff values but failed to indicate cogent discernment of pathology by values of plasma viscosity. Likely pathological whole blood alterations boost the erythrocyte aggregation while the concomitant depletion of macromolecules degrades plasma viscosity values.

Serum cystatin C in renal transplant patients.

Assessment of renal function in clinical medicine is of great importance especially in patients with renal transplants. Cystatin C has the characteristics of an ideal marker to assess renal glomerular filtration rate. Forty patients with renal transplants under steady-state post-transplant conditions were included in the study.

[Intralaboratory quality control over random and systematic errors using the combined Shewart-cusum check card].

The method of the within-the-laboratory quality assurance check of the casual and systematic mistakes in the analytical process is presented. The results of the control serums are evaluated by the combined Shewart-cusum check card which is suitable for both casual and systematic mistakes while the classical check card controls the casual mistakes only. The method was used for evaluation of the analytical quality of the results determined by the automatic analyzer "RA 1000 Technicon".

[A new approach to evaluating the results of interlaboratory quality control in Bulgaria].

The results of examinations carried out in 37 clinical laboratories in Bulgaria which participated in the interlaboratory quality assurance check are discussed. The check included 202 laboratories from 5 countries members of the Council of Mutual Economic Aid and covers the examinations of chlorine, sodium, potassium, calcium, urea, creatinine, total protein, cholesterol, glucose, inorganic phosphorus. The results are assessed by the "normative standard deviation" which differs from the "absolute quality index" used in the national external laboratory quality assurance check.