分析前变异资料11850.pdfVIP

Clinical Chemistry 45:10 General Clinical 1850–1855 (1999) Chemistry Within-Person Variation of Plasma Homocysteine and Effects of Posture and Tourniquet Application * Karsten Rasmussen, Jan Møller, and Marianne Lyngbak Background: Frequently, the result of only a single tance of a slightly increased concentration of total homo- determination of total homocysteine in plasma (P-Hcy) cysteine in plasma (P-Hcy) as a risk factor for occlusive is used to distinguish between the probability of the vascular disease, including atherosclerosis and thrombo- presence or absence of risk for vascular disease. A sis (1). In consequence, clinical demand for the routine prerequisite for the interpretation of a single P-Hcy test determination of P-Hcy has increased dramatically since is knowledge of the magnitude of within-person varia- the mid-1990s. Laboratory data routinely are expressed tion and the possible effects of preanalytical variables. numerically without comments on their uncertainty. Fre- However, data on within-person variation are still quently, the result of only a single P-Hcy test is used to sparse and inconsistent, and data for the effect on P-Hcy distinguish between the probability of the presence or of posture and tourniquet application during venipunc- absence of risk for vascular disease. ture are not available. In addition to knowledge of analytical and between- Methods: The wit