title: Performance characteristics of laboratory testing and clinical outcomes.
abstract: In order to demonstrate the relationship between performance characteristics of laboratory tests and clinical outcomes, diabetes seems to represent a paradigmatic disease: diagnosis, monitoring of therapeutic efficacy and prognosis are adequately achieved by means of laboratory testing. Starting from a simple molecule, glucose, used for the diagnosis of diabetes, continuing with creatinine, used for monitoring renal function in diabetic patients and concluding with cardiac troponins, a recognised gold standard for the diagnosis and risk stratification of cardiovascular diseases, several criticisms may be stressed considering the current methodological state-of-the art. Finally, an often overlooked aspect of performance, the analytical interferences, being responsible of unexpected results, that in turn depend from unknown or undisclosed factors will be discussed, concerning in particular, in our paper, the macroprolactin and the heterophilic antibodies aspects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital, Padova, Italy. martina.zaninotto@sanita.padova.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaninotto
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mion
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altinier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varagnolo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose