Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundInorganic phosphate (Pi) is a crucial electrolyte for maintaining homeostasis. Most methods measure Pi using ammonium phosphomolybdate under highly acidic conditions. Phospholipid-rich substances, such as liposomal amphotericin B, have been ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundA critical pre-analytical phase of newborn screening (NBS) testing involves the drying of blood applied to the blood collection devices to form the dried blood spots (DBS). Guidance states that blood applied should be air-dried for a minimum of ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundIt is well established that high bilirubin concentrations can lead to erroneous creatinine results when measured by a Jaffe-based method. However, the effects of bilirubin on enzymatic methods appear less well-defined. The Roche Cobas 8000 ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundMeasurement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) kappa free light chains (KFLCs) for the detection of intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis has generated interest as an alternative to CSF oligoclonal bands due to its rapid turnaround time and ability to ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundMaternal thyroid function significantly affects fetal development. However, thyroid hormone concentrations change dynamically throughout pregnancy rendering non-pregnancy reference ranges inaccurate. We aimed to establish the trimester-, ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundAnalytical performance of VACUETTE® CAT Serum Fast Separator Tube (SFT; Greiner Bio-One, Austria), recently developed quick-clotting serum separator, was evaluated for correlation and stability, comparing with VACUETTE® CAT Serum Sep Clot ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
ObjectivesUrinary organic acid analysis is crucial for diagnosing inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs). This study assesses the impact of an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme on standardizing urinary organic acid detection in China from 2019 to ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundThere is an increasing global concern about the use of synthetic cathinones (SCs). Detecting these drugs in human urine samples can be difficult, particularly in emergency settings. Cross-reactivity has been described for several immunoassays. ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
Background:Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are crucial for diagnosing, monitoring, and prognosing neurological disorders.Purpose:This study evaluates the impact of preanalytical variables, particularly container choice, on CSF protein ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
IntroductionAnalytical quality is a crucial prerequisite for best practice in medical laboratory. Six-Sigma Methodology (SM) is a quality measurement tool used to evaluate laboratory performance. This study aims to assess the analytical phase baseline ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundIron is ubiquitously distributed in biology, only a miniscule amount exists as free is capable of catalysing production of highly toxic reactive hydroxyl radicle. This free iron also called; labile iron, non-transferrin bound iron or catalytic ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundTiredness/fatigue is a common presenting complaint in primary care. Advice is available from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Clinical Knowledge Summary (CKS) on its investigation. The application of this guidance has ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
ObjectivesWe evaluated the intermediate reproducibility imprecision of cystatin C results based on internal quality control (IQC) data.MethodsIQC data for cystatin C analyte were collected each year from 2014 to 2023. We used the coefficient of variation (...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundAlthough preβ1-high-density lipoprotein (preβ1-HDL) promotes cholesterol efflux, high fasting preβ1-high-density lipoprotein levels after breakfast are reduced in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.ObjectiveThis study investigated ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
ObjectivesNumerous studies on the genetic pathogenesis of familial Parkinson’s Disease (PD) have explained the etiology of only a limited percentage of cases. In this study, we aimed to identify copy number variations (CNVs) in patients with familial PD ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundMetamizole (MMZ), commonly used as an analgesic/antipyretic in countries like Spain, faces restrictions elsewhere due to side effects. Despite this, its frequent use underscores the critical importance of studying its impact on the accuracy of ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundThere have been no reports on blood glucose metres for measurements in a wide variety of infant patients, from very preterm infants to mature infants and from the early neonatal period onwards. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of the ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
Background:Patients with features of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) frequently present to the emergency department (ED) and often meet recognized criteria for CT head imaging. Observational studies suggest that use of a tandem ubiquitin C-terminal ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundUnderstanding lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] measurement variability is essential in establishing its coronary heart disease (CHD) association, and optimizing assessment and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. We established the components of biological variation (BV) and reference change value (RCV) of Lp(a) in a UK cohort.Method22 healthy individuals were recruited to the study. Blood samples were collected for six consecutive weeks and analysed in duplicate using the Lp(a) assay by Sentinel Diagnostics on the Beckman Coulter AU5800. Outlier, heterogeneity, normality, and trend analysis were performed, followed by CV-ANOVA to determine estimates of BV, adhering to the 14 BIVAC quality items. RCV was calculated based on estimated CVA and CVI.ResultsFour participants were excluded from the analysis as their mean Lp(a) levels fell below the functional sensitivity of the assay. Mean Lp(a) concentration ranged from 14 to 241 nmol/L. The overall estimate of CVI for all participants was 10.9% (95% CI of 9.1 – 13.0%). The RCV for Lp(a) was +31.6%/-24.0%.ConclusionOur study obtained a CVI estimate for Lp(a) that aligned consistently with recent studies adhering to the quality specifications outlined in the BIVAC checklist. The CVI estimate was significantly lower than Lp(a) estimates reported in studies up to 2003. The CVI estimate highlights the limitations of relying solely on a single Lp(a) measurement for prognosticating ASCVD risk and identifying candidates for novel Lp(a) therapies, particularly when the measured value is near clinical decision thresholds.