Standardisation of autoimmune testing - is it feasible?

Correct measurement of autoantibodies is essential for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. However, due to the variability of autoantibody results and the heterogeneity of testing, wrong diagnosis is a reality. For this and more reasons, harmonisation of testing is of the outmost importance. In this review we have summarised the factors contributing to this variability. The ways with which the working group on Harmonisation of Autoantibody testing of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) has been trying to tackle the issue with the production and correct use of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), is being discussed. Finally the advantages and the limitations of the use of CRMs are presented.

MONOGIOUDI Evanthia;  MARTOS SEVILLA Gustavo;  PETRONELA HUTU Dana;  SCHIMMEL Heinz;  MERONI Pierluigi;  SHELDON Joanna;  ZEGERS Ingrid; 

2019-06-20

WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH

JRC110987

1434-6621 (online),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC110987,   

10.1515/cclm-2017-1077 (online),