Multicenter harmonization of common enzyme results by fresh patient-pool sera.

A region consisting of 19 clinical laboratories harmonized their calibration of seven common enzymes by using fresh patient-pool sera. One of the laboratories was chosen to act as Regional Reference Laboratory (RRL). This laboratory used internationally accepted (mostly IFCC) methods at 37 degrees C, with an intralaboratory CV < or = 2.

Complexes of creatine kinase and immunoglobulins in serum identified by a nonimmune binding method.

We have developed a method for identifying IgG-complexed creatine kinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.

Evaluation of microcytosis using serum ferritin and red blood cell distribution width.

Out of 104 patients with microcytosis (MCV less than 80 fl), 69% had an iron deficiency, 21% a chronic disease and 10% hemoglobinopathy or thalassemia trait. The absence of bone marrow iron stores or the response to iron supplementation were used to establish the diagnosis iron deficiency. On the basis of sensitivity (90%) and specificity (100%), the serum ferritin concentration is more suitable for assessment of iron deficiency than the serum iron concentration, the total iron-binding capacity or the percentual saturation of transferrin.