Determination of albumin in serum and plasma. Harmonization of results and clinical recommendations in patients with renal diseases
Abstract
Our presentation deals namely with degree of harmonization of results in serum/plasma albumin measurement. We describe differences between BCG and BCP methods and between serum and plasma.
Data are concentrated mainly for using of albumin results in cases of chronic renal diseases including nutrition state these patients including haemodialysis, transplantation and end stage od renal disease. In this moment are present on the market usually two (BCG, BCP) or three (immunochemistry) routine method from majority of significant manufacturers.
Nevertheless many studies from last 6 years show three basic drawbacks. Firstly, differences between methods, based on BCG method are very large (up to 13 g/L).
Differences between methods based on BCP methods are significantly lower (cca 6 g/L). Secondly, results in serum are significantly higher, than in plasma and these results are higher in BCG method, than BCP method.
Thirdly, uncertainty of albumin measurement is higher, than requirements of guidelines and recommendations for published renal diseases and main resource of these differences are systematic errors-precision of albumin measurements is low, in many cases under CV = 1.0 %. Better harmonization level in albumin measurement should be achieved by better calibration (better traceability to ERM DA 470 k/IFCC) and by better selection of routine methods.
It seems to be hopeful to prefer BCP method. There is also necessary to know and to apply that serum values are significantly higher than plasma values and this difference also depend on the used method and diagnostic kit.