title: Validation of an enzyme calibrator--an IFCC guideline. International Federation of Clinical Chemistry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this guideline is to improve standardization in clinical enzymology in order to improve intermethod comparability of patients' results.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reference system, combination of the reference method and the reference material, is used to produce a reference value for a given catalytic activity. Sets of methods are formed of methods exhibiting the same analytical specificity. Materials intended to be used as enzyme calibrators are experimentally checked for their commutability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transfer of accuracy from the reference value to patients' results is dependent on methods (analytical specificity) and on materials (experimentally assessed commutability). The feasibility of this approach was demonstrated with materials of high level for several enzymes and for each of them for several routine methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expected advantages of this approach in clinical enzymology are presented.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie Appliquée, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Louis Pasteur, Illkirch, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Férard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lessinger
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schiele
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Tietz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vassault
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes