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Abstract |
The Importance of Establishing Reference Intervals - is it still a Current Problem for Laboratory and Doctors? |
Background: Diagnostics utility of the obtained laboratory test results strictly depends on their possible interpretation in the context of distinguishing of both the health and disease state as well as the desired effects of therapeutic interventions. For this purpose, it is necessary to compare the obtained results to the reference intervals. Current recommendations obligate each laboratory to determine its own reference intervals for each of examined parameters. Many laboratories are unable to define and implement their own reference intervals because it is an expensive and time-consuming procedure when using a best known - direct method. This problem is particularly evident in hard-to-access populations, such as pediatric and geriatric. An alternative solution designed to determine reference intervals is using indirect methods, which are based on the results of studies performed for diagnostic purposes in outpatients and inpatients and archived in digital medical databases, which may be subjected to statistical analysis.
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