title: Uptake of recommended common reference intervals for chemical pathology in Australia.
abstract: Background Reference intervals are a vital part of reporting numerical pathology results. It is known, however, that variation in reference intervals between laboratories is common, even when analytical methods support common reference intervals. In response to this, in Australia, the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists together with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia published in 2014 a set of recommended common reference intervals for 11 common serum analytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, creatinine male, creatinine female, calcium, calcium adjusted for albumin, phosphate, magnesium, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and total protein). Methods Uptake of recommended common reference intervals in Australian laboratories was assessed using data from four annual cycles of the RCPAQAP reference intervals external quality assurance programme. Results Over three years, from 2013 to 2016, the use of the recommended upper and lower reference limits has increased from 40% to 83%. Nearly half of the intervals in use by enrolled laboratories in 2016 have been changed in this time period, indicating an active response to the guidelines. Conclusions These data support the activities of the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists and Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in demonstrating a change in laboratory behaviour to reduce unnecessary variation in reference intervals and thus provide a consistent message to doctor and patients irrespective of the laboratory used.
authors: 1 Department of Chemical Pathology, SydPath, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.|2 Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW, Kensington, Australia.
authors: Graham Rd
authors: GR
authors: Jones
authors: 3 RCPAQAP Chemical Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Koetsier
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001671:Biochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical; D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Laboratory management; laboratory methods