title: A comparison of analytical goals for haemoglobin A1c assays derived using different strategies.
abstract: Analytical goals for the performance characteristics of assays of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) have been investigated using different assumptions for generation of estimates, these being based on strategies using data on biological variation and on the clinical use of results. The derived goals are highly dependent on the assumptions made. In general, in monitoring of patients (using results from the same laboratory), the analytical imprecision is the most demanding, whereas bias (inaccuracy) is the most important characteristic when strategies for several centres (laboratories) to achieve similar results are invoked. Goals for analytical quality should be given in a form in which both analytical imprecision and bias (or systematic error) are specified. When several goals are to be considered (for different relevant assumptions), the most demanding should be used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008433:Mathematics; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin