title: Developing a reference system for the IFCC standardization of HbA2.
abstract: The importance of hemoglobin A2(HbA2) as an indicator of the presence of β-thalassemia was established many years ago. However, clinical application of recommended HbA2cut off values is often hampered due to poor equivalence of HbA2results among methods and laboratories. Thus, the IFCC standardization program for HbA2was initiated in 2004 with the goal of achieving a complete reference system for this measurand. HbA2standardization efforts are still in progress, including the development of a higher-order HbA2reference measurement procedure and the preparation of a certified reference material in collaboration with the IRMM. Here, we review the past, present and future of HbA2standardization and describe the current status of HbA2testing.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Medico-Chirurgica e dei Trapianti, Centro per la Riferibilità Metrologica in Medicina di Laboratorio (CIRME), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paleari
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Instand e.V., Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Cristian Gabriel
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Arsene
authors.affiliation: BioOrganic Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (LSMBO), IPHC, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; IPHC, CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schaeffer-Reiss
authors.affiliation: BioOrganic Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (LSMBO), IPHC, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; IPHC, CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Dorsselaer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bissé
authors.affiliation: Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ospina
authors.affiliation: Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Víctor R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: De Jesús
authors.affiliation: UKNEQAS(H), Watford, UK.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Medico-Chirurgica e dei Trapianti, Centro per la Riferibilità Metrologica in Medicina di Laboratorio (CIRME), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.mosca@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards*; D006443:Hemoglobin A2 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D012015:Reference Standards; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D006443:Hemoglobin A2
keywords: Analytical goals; Beta-thalassemia; Quality control; Reference materials; Reference measurement procedure; Standardization