title: [Analysis of results taken with "tweezers": some pitfalls in clinical biological interpretation].
abstract: Like other medical investigations, laboratory tests are not free from uncertainties or errors which limit their clinical value. Usually two levels of variations are identified: the analytical and biological levels. This paper presents some sources of variations and provides different examples. The concept of reference value is also discussed, as well as the clinician's viewpoint regarding the interpretation of laboratory results.
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Clinique, Service de Chimie Médicale, CHU Liège.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cielniaszek
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chapelle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collette
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demarteau
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferir
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luyckx
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gielen
mesh_terms: D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011786:Quality Control; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results