News
08-Dec-2006 - LGC set to help laboratories achieve enhanced
accuracy in monitoring kidney function for the over 55s
Novel CRMs -- frozen human serum certified for creatinine and
electrolytes
International science service company LGC has produced four new
certified reference materials (CRMs) containing creatinine and
electrolytes in frozen human serum in its capacity as the
designated National Measurement Institute for chemical and
biochemical analysis in the UK. Available for sale as ERMs
(European Reference Materials) from LGC Promochem, they are novel
in that they are whole frozen serum materials. Previously only
freeze dried serum materials have been available containing these
analytes.
LGC developed the CRMs in response to the demand from clinical
laboratories that carry out the determination of creatinine in
serum as an indicator of renal function. The number of these
determinations has increased markedly in the last few years.
Additionally, in April 2006, new legislation was introduced in the
UK under which doctors are paid for all patients over the age of 55
to have their creatinine levels annually tested and monitored.
Measurements of electrolytes in human serum are usually carried
out at the same time, as analysis of renal function significantly
aids the interpretation of electrolyte measurements.
To be confident in the quality of the results of analysis of
such samples, it is important to validate and monitor procedures
using a CRM close in matrix composition to the test samples. Two of
LGC’s new CRMs have been certified for creatinine and the
electrolytes calcium, lithium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, and
the remaining two have been certified for creatinine only, but
indicative values for the electrolytes are also provided. These
materials are intended for use in validating methods, and for
monitoring the performance of methods commonly used in clinical
laboratories.
Dr John Marriott, LGC’s Director of Analytical Technology, said:
“Our new CRMs will help laboratories overcome the challenges of
modern clinical analysis, by helping them achieve accurate and
traceable measurements. This is a confirmation of LGC’s commitment
to setting the standards in analytical science through innovation
and provision of the highest quality products.”
These CRMs have been produced in collaboration with the
University Hospital of Wales (UHW) and were prepared from two
native human serum pools. The pools were thoroughly mixed in
different proportions to give four materials covering a range of
clinically relevant creatinine and electrolyte levels, sterile
filtered and 1 mL aliquots sub-sampled into plastic screw-cap 3 mL
vials.
The materials were certified by LGC using isotope dilution mass
spectrometry (IDMS) for creatinine, and a mixture of IDMS, ICP-MS
and ICP-OES for the electrolytes. The data were corroborated by
measurements carried out by UHW and by data from the Wales External
Quality Assessment Scheme (WEQAS), and were accepted as complying
with the principles laid down in the Technical Guidelines of the
European Reference MaterialsÒ (ERM) co-operation agreement between
BAM-LGC-IRMM. Information on these guidelines is available at
www.erm-crm.org. The
materials were produced by LGC under the DTI’s Valid Analytical
Measurement (VAM) programme. LGC is accredited by UKAS to ISO Guide
34:2000 for the production of reference materials.
The materials are numbered ERM-DA250a and ERM-DA251a (creatinine
and electrolytes in serum), and ERM-DA252a and ERM-DA253a
(creatinine in serum). LGC Promochem can be contacted by email at
askus@lgcpromochem.com
or by calling +44 (0)20 8943 8480.
Notes to Editors