The IFCC recommendation on estimation of reference intervals. The RefVal program.
The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) published between 1987--91 a series of six recommendations on reference values in laboratory medicine. This paper reviews the history and scope of the fifth part of these recommendations. This fifth recommendation deals with statistical methods used for analysis of reference values and estimation of reference intervals. The RefVal program, which implements the recommended method, is also described.
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. helge.erik.solberg@rikshospitalet.no
Helge Erik
HE
Solberg
D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests / Q000592:standards; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012016:Reference Values