title: Comparative study of test kits for measurement of rheumatoid factors by the latex fixation test.
abstract: The performance of 14 test kits for the measurement of rheumatoid factors by the latex fixation test was investigated; all results were expressed in IU/ml. Reproducibility and properties of control sera were also studied. It was found that half of the kits did not satisfactorily detect rheumatoid factor levels lower than 25 IU/ml. Most kits performed reasonably well in practice. Positive control sera only rarely met strict requirements. The relative costs did not always have a clear correlation with the quality of the results. The variation caused by differences between kits became acceptable when the results were expressed in IU/ml.
authors.affiliation: TNO Rheumatic Diseases Research Committee, Division of Health Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: van Romunde
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Eilers
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor