Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry最新文献

This article describes how the Argentinian health-care system is organized and funded, and how it has developed. The provision of laboratory services in Argentina is the result of a unique approach involving negotiations between health-care organizations and professional associations. As a result, the professional associations, such as the Buenos Aires Province biochemists' federation, wield considerable economic power. This paper describes the roles played by biochemists and physicians, and how these and other professionals are remunerated. The attempts of the government to legislate the health-care system are discussed.

Blood transfusion is associated with a number of potential risks, including the transmission of infectious diseases. Although a zero-risk blood supply may never be attainable, much effort is directed toward the identification of blood donors with evidence of transmissible infectious agents. This article summarizes the current knowledge of transfusion-transmitted diseases. In addition, possible future directions in decreasing the incidence of such diseases are discussed.

Laboratory thyroid testing involves in vitro tests for autoimmune thyroid disease, thyroid dysfunction and neoplasia, in vivo investigations of thyroid function, and investigations of thyroid morphology. The authors describe, in tabular form, the diagnostic information carried by the tests and their clinical utility as well as clinically relevant interferences.

Pre-analytical variables, e.g., specimen collection, transport, and storage, can contribute significantly to inaccurate pH, blood gas, and electrolyte values. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC), through its Committee on pH, Blood Gases and Electrolytes, has developed specific recommendations to minimize the undesirable effects of pre-analytical variables. The Committee has drawn upon the experiences of its own members as well as published data by others. Specifically, the Committee has included pertinent guidelines and suggestions by the IFCC Working Group on Selective Electrodes (WGSE), the National Committee on Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), and the Electrolyte/Blood Gas Division of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). This paper will familiarize the reader with the effect of different types of specimen containers and anticoagulants. It discusses important aspects of specimen collection procedures including patient status and special precautions during specimen collection from indwelling catheters or cannulae. The paper also identifies different requirements in storage and transport of specimens for blood gas and electrolyte analysis.

The most commonly used laboratory tests in the diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatic diseases are reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on antinuclear antibodies as markers of specific rheumatic disorders and disease subsets. The use of synovial fluid tests to differentiate between inflammatory and noninflammatory rheumatic disorders is described as well as the use of common hematological tests.

This document deals with the nature of WHO biological reference materials, their development for the control of the therapeutic substances, and recommendations to improve their application in diagnosis. The nature of international units specified by WHO biological reference materials is contrasted with that of SI units, and the method for assigning values in international units to such reference materials is described. The document recommends the use of SI units (mole) with existing and proposed WHO biological reference materials whenever the elementary entity of the stated component can be recognized. It also recommends that the description of quantities having no recognized kind-of-quantity with a definable dimension should be clearly distinguished by the term "arbitrary" and include a reference to the procedure and calibrator used. The WHO is urged to involve appropriate nongovernmental organizations in advising on the need for, and the suitability of, international reference materials.

Chlamydia trachomatis detection has been substantially advanced by molecular amplification methods. As diagnostic or screening tests, the methods have shown performance characteristics equivalent to culture, but are more rapid and have no special requirements for specimen transport. The challenge for this generation of diagnostic tests is to prevent laboratory and specimen cross contamination.

Monogenic diseases are defined by their patterns of inheritance: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked. This article examines the molecular biology techniques available for their study and detection. These techniques comprise direct detection of mutations (including trinucleotide repeats) and linkage analysis. The usefulness of these techniques is compared to conventional biochemical tests for the diagnosis of various inherited diseases. The authors stress the need for caution in the interpretation of test results and the importance of genetic counseling.