Unreliability of triglyceride measurement to predict turbidity induced interference.
Lipaemic specimens are a common problem in clinical chemistry. Most laboratories will measure the concentration of triglycerides and then decide whether the analytical result is valid or not. There is a poor association between the concentration of triglycerides and an objective assessment of turbidity for visually turbid specimens. Extrapolation of triglyceride concentrations derived from the use of intravenous emulsions to visually turbid specimens found in clinical practice will overestimate the turbidity induced interference in assays (non-turbid interferences are probably the same). The evaluation of turbidity induced interference needs to be standardised using objective assessments of turbidity.
Clinical Biochemistry, St John's Hospital, Livingston EH54 6PP, UK. taptwomey@aol.com
P J
PJ
Twomey
A C
AC
Don-Wauchope
D
D
McCullough
D016477:Artifacts; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D014280:Triglycerides