Standardization of steroid immunoassays--in theory an easy task.
I deal with the process of standardization of steroid immunoassays on the basis of metrological traceability (SI units). First, I discuss the role theoretically attributed to the calibration of the measurement procedure. Since immunoassays show matrix sensitivity, I associate traceability of calibration with traceability of results pertaining to individual patient samples. From this, I stress that optimization of the immunoassays in terms of specificity and insensitivity to different kinds of interference is necessary before standardization, and that split-sample measurements should be included in the standardization process. Last but not least, I give an overview of the current status of standardization of steroid immunoassays.
Laboratorium voor Analytische Chemie, Faculteit Farmaceutische Wetenschappen, Universiteit Gent, Belgium. Linda.Thienpont@rug.ac.be
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D007118:Immunoassay / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis*
D013256:Steroids