External quality assessment of urinary steroid profile analysis.
BACKGROUND
Clinical samples were distributed on 10 occasions to six UK laboratories that perform urinary steroid profile analysis. Urine samples were from normal adult men and women, normal children and neonates. Samples from patients with Cushing's syndrome, virilization, adrenarche, obesity and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21 and 17-hydroxylase defects) were also used for evaluation.


METHODS
Samples were analysed by capillary column gas chromatography (all laboratories) after hydrolysis of conjugates and derivative formation (five laboratories) or by variation of 17-oxogenic steroid methodology (one laboratory).


RESULTS
For each distribution of samples, the performance of the participants was compared for quantitative analysis, and user comments were summarized. Quantitative results showed variation without necessarily biasing the result. Comments varied considerably in length. The interpretations did not always lead to a clear diagnosis or advise about appropriate further tests.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot urine steroid profiling scheme has clearly identified the requirement for external quality assessment. It is now hoped to offer this scheme worldwide in collaboration with the European Research Network for the Evaluation and Improvement of Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment of Inherited Disorders of Metabolism (ERNDIM).
Phillips
I J
IJ
Clinical Biochemistry, University College London Hospitals, 60 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 4EU, UK. ian.phillips@uclh.nhs.uk
Conway
E M
EM
Hodkinson
R A
RA
Honour
J W
JW
D000303:Adrenal Cortex Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D000312:Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013256:Steroids / Q000652:urine*; D014770:Virilism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine
D013256:Steroids