High calcium results.Q One of the staff doctors thinks calciums from one of our hospital labs are too high. We have run comparison studies with the other hospital lab, and their calcium results seem to be slightly higher than ours. The only difference is they use plastic tubes, and we use glass. Could this cause the higher calcium results? A I would suggest you closely examine each system in order to determine if there are any variables which could be contributing to the difference in these calcium test results. Even if "satellite sites" of a particular hospital system use the same reagents and instruments, test results may differ from institution to institution. A dilemma arises when a decision must be made about the significance of this difference and whether or not this difference is determined to be clinically significant. Other sources of calcium could be contributing to these differences. These sources may include the instrument water supply, reagent reagent /re·a·gent/ (re-a´jent) a substance used to produce a chemical reaction so as to detect, measure, produce, etc., other substances. re·a·gent n. carry-over The designation of the process by which net operating loss for one year may be applied, as provided by federal tax law, to each of several taxable years following the taxable year of such loss. from previous assays, or microbial microbial pertaining to or emanating from a microbe. microbial digestion the breakdown of organic material, especially feedstuffs, by microbial organisms. contamination. Your instrument manufacturer should be notified to acquire more information and other possible sources of elevated calcium levels. Plastic and glass tubes are usually thoroughly tested by manufacturers and found to be clinically equivalent prior to the release of the product to the market. You may request documentation from the manufacturer. Plastic and glass tubes should never be mixed in a laboratory because of possible preanalytical variability. Laboratories should, therefore, use only one tube type. A total quality laboratory management system necessitates the evaluation of all components, including the laboratorians, collection and transport mechanisms, reagent sensitivity, instrument system, and evacuated e·vac·u·ate v. e·vac·u·at·ed, e·vac·u·at·ing, e·vac·u·ates v.tr. 1. a. To empty or remove the contents of. b. To create a vacuum in. 2. tubes used, all of which influence the determination of a site's reference intervals. Diane DIANE Diversified Information and Assistance Network (Tennessee Valley Authority) DIANE Direct Information Access Network for Europe DIANE Digital Integrated Attack and Navigation Equipment Szamosi, MT(ASCP ASCP American Society of Clinical Pathologists. ) Beacton Dickinson Dickinson, city (1990 pop. 16,097), seat of Stark co., SW N.Dak., on the Heart River; inc. 1919. It is a processing and shipping center for a livestock, dairy, and wheat region, as well as a service center for the Williston Basin oil industry. Dickinson State Univ. Vocutainer Systems Franklin Lakes, NJ |
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