Performance of commercially-available cholesterol self-tests.

Background: Hypercholesterolemia (plasma cholesterol concentration ≥5.2 mmol/L) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Many different cholesterol self-tests are readily available at general stores, pharmacies and web shops.

Rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients at the emergency department using routine testing.

Objectives: The novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, spreads rapidly across the world. The exponential increase in the number of cases has resulted in overcrowding of emergency departments (ED). Detection of SARS-CoV-2 is based on an RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swab material.

Longer time interval between semen processing and intrauterine insemination does not affect pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To study whether the pregnancy outcome of intrauterine insemination (IUI) is affected by a longer time interval between semen processing and insemination.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Teaching hospital.

Evaluation of 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 cross-reactivity in the Roche Elecsys Vitamin D Total protein binding assay.

Background: Presence of the 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [3-epi-25(OH)D3] metabolite affects accurate determination of 25(OH)D3 by most routine liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods and to an unknown extent in present immuno- and protein binding assays. We studied 3-epi-25(OH)D3 cross-reactivity in a competitive protein binding (CPB) assay (Roche Elecsys).

Methods: Neonatal samples, containing up to 58% of 3-epi-25(OH)D3 were used for measurement by the CPB assay and by an LC-MS/MS method separating 25(OH)D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3.

Comparative study of blood collection tubes and thromboplastin reagents for correction of INR discrepancies: a proposal for maximum allowable magnesium contamination in sodium citrate anticoagulant solutions.

International normalized ratio (INR) discrepancies were noted between clinical laboratories using various prothrombin time (PT) systems. We studied the influence of different commercial blood collection tubes and different PT systems on INR measurements. INRs of fresh patient samples were determined by 3 laboratories, each using different PT systems.