Current use of equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate in Spanish laboratories.
BACKGROUND
In 2006 the Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology (SEQC) and the Spanish Society of Nephrology (S.E.N.) developed a consensus document in order to facilitate the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic kidney disease with the incorporation of equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) into laboratory reports. The current national prevalence of eGFR reporting and the degree of adherence to these recommendations among clinical laboratories is unknown.


METHODS
We administered a national survey in 2010-11 to Spanish clinical laboratories. The survey was through e-mail or telephone to laboratories that participated in the SEQC&rsquo;s Programme for External Quality Assurance, included in the National Hospitals Catalogue 2010, including both primary care and private laboratories.


RESULTS
A total of 281 laboratories answered to the survey. Of these, 88.2% reported on the eGFR, with 61.9% reporting on the MDRD equation and 31.6% using the MDRD-IDMS equation. A total of 42.5% of laboratories always reported serum creatinine values, and other variables only when specifically requested. Regarding the way results were presented, 46.2% of laboratories reported the exact numerical value only when the filtration rate was below 60mL/min/1.73m2, while 50.6% reported all values regardless. In 56.3% of the cases reporting eGFR, an interpretive commentary of it was enclosed.


CONCLUSIONS
Although a high percentage of Spanish laboratories have added eGFR in their reports, this metric is not universally used. Moreover, some aspects, such as the equation used and the correct expression of eGFR results, should be improved.
Servei de Laboratori, Fundació Puigvert, Cartagena, 340-50, Barcelona 08025, Spain. sgracia@fundacio-puigvert.es
Sílvia
S
Gràcia-Garcia
Rosario
R
Montañés-Bermúdez
Luis J
LJ
Morales-García
M José
MJ
Díez-de Los Ríos
Juan Á
JÁ
Jiménez-García
Carlos
C
Macías-Blanco
Rosalina
R
Martínez-López
Joaquín
J
Ruiz-Altarejos
Guadalupe
G
Ruiz-Martín
Sonia
S
Sanz-Hernández
Salvador
S
Ventura-Pedret
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000592:standards; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059021:Laboratory Proficiency Testing; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003404:Creatinine