Standardization in laboratory medicine: Two years’ experience from category 1 EQA programs in Spain

Introduction: Standardization is the ability to obtain interchangeable results leading to same medical interpretation. External quality assessment (EQA) is the main support of the on-going harmonization initiatives. Aim of study was to evaluate results obtained from two years category 1 EQA program experience in Spain and determine the impact of applying this type of EQA program on the analytical standardization. Materials and methods: According to the analytical method, traceability and instrument different groups were established which results were evaluated by calculating mean, coefficient of variation and percent of deviation to the reference value. Analytical performance specifications used to the results\u27 evaluation were derived from biological variation for bias and from the inter-laboratory coefficients of variation found in a previous pilot study. Results: Only creatinine measured by enzymatic methods gave excellent results, although few laboratories used this method. Creatine kinase and GGT gave good precision and bias in all, but one instrument studied. For the remaining analytes (ALT, ALP, AST, bilirubin, calcium, chloride, glucose, magnesium, potassium, sodium, total protein and urate) some improvement is still necessary to achieve satisfactory standardization in our setting. Conclusions: The two years of category 1 EQA program experience in Spain have manifested a lack of standardization of 17 most frequent biochemistry tests used in our laboratories. The impact of the information obtained on the lack of standardization is to recommend abandoning methods such as ALT, AST without exogenous pyridoxal phosphate, Jaffe method for creatinine, and do not use non-commutable calibrators, such as aqueous solutions for calcium and sodium

Publicar en accés obert i finançament a la UAB

Presentació preparada en el marc del Programa de Formació de Doctors on es dóna una visió de tots els aspectes que cal tenir en compte per a publicar en accés obert. S'expliquen els següents continguts: 1. L'accés obert: el context. 2. Publicar en obert: abans de publicar, on publicar, vies de publicació. 3. Finançament per publicar en accés obert. 4. Tesis doctorals (Les tesis al TDX i al DDD; Tesis per compendi) 5. Bones pràctiques i recomanacion

Embracing Open Science : ​ good practices & challenges

Presentació que es porta a terme el 17 d'octubre de 2023 durant l'International Erasmus Staff Week 202

Puesta a punto de un servicio para la determinación y evaluación de parámetros electrostáticos en productos

The consequences of the accumulation of electrostatic charges and the posterior discharge suppose an important risk for health and a reduction of comfort. The Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV) increases the test offer adding the electrostatic properties determination test for furniture and coverings. This new test allows to the determination of the electrical resistance in the range of electrostatics fields particularly for products susceptible to be in contact with people. The aim of the service is to provide a conformity test as market guaranty but also to advice manufacturers and contract purchasers in order to improve product properties.Las consecuencias de la acumulación de cargas electrostáticas y la descarga posterior suponen riesgos para la salud. El Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV) incorpora en su oferta de servicios la realización de ensayos para la determinación de parámetros electrostáticos en diferentes productos, tales como mobiliario y pavimentos. Este nuevo servicio permite la determinación de la resistencia eléctrica en productos susceptibles de estar en contacto con las personas. El objetivo del servicio es tanto la evaluación de la conformidad de los productos frente a la normativa de aplicación como el asesoramiento para la mejora del producto

Violence against Women and Gastroschisis: A Case-Control Study

Background: Gastroschisis, a birth defect characterized by herniated fetal abdominal wall, occurs more commonly in infants born to teenage and young mothers. Ischemia of the vascular vitelline vessels is the likely mechanism of pathogenesis. Given that chronic stress and violence against women are risk factors for cardiovascular disease we explored whether these may represent risk factors for gastroschisis, when they occur during pregnancy. A case-control study was conducted, with 15 incident cases of children born with gastroschisis in the Region of Murcia, Spain, from December 2007 to June 2013. Forty concurrent controls were recruited at gestation weeks 20–24 or post-partum. All mothers of cases and controls completed a comprehensive, in-person, ‘green sheet’ questionnaire on environmental exposures. Results: Mothers of children with gastroschisis were younger, smoked more cigarettes per week relative to controls, were exposed to higher amounts of illegal drugs, and suffered from domestic violence more frequently than the controls. Multivariable logistic regression analysis highlights periconceptional ‘gender-related violence’ (OR: 16.6, 95% CI 2.7 to 101.7) and younger maternal age (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.3). Conclusions: Violence against pregnant women is associated with birth defects, and should be studied in more depth as a cause-effect teratogenic. Psychosocial risk factors, including gender-based violence, are important for insuring the health and safety of the pregnant mother and the fetus

Critical appraisal and meta-analysis of biological variation estimates for kidney related analytes

Postponed access: the file will be available after 2021-10-03Objective: Kidney markers are some of the most frequently used laboratory tests in patient care, and correct clinical decision making depends upon knowledge and correct application of biological variation (BV) data. The aim of this study was to review available BV data and to provide updated BV estimates for the following kidney markers in serum and plasma; albumin, creatinine, cystatin C, chloride, potassium, sodium and urea. Content: Relevant studies were identified from a historical BV database as well as by systematic literature searches. Retrieved publications were appraised by the Biological Variation Data Critical Appraisal Checklist (BIVAC). Meta-analyses of BIVAC compliant studies with similar design were performed to deliver global estimates of within-subject (CVI) and between-subject (CVG) BV estimates. Out of the 61 identified papers, three received a BIVAC grade A, four grade B, 48 grade C, five grade D grade and one was not appraised as it did not report numerical BV estimates. Most studies were identified for creatinine (n=48). BV estimates derived from the meta-analysis were in general lower than previously reported estimates for all analytes except urea. For some measurands, BV estimates may be influenced by age or states of health, but further data are required. Summary: This review provides updated global BV estimates for kidney related measurands. For all measurands except for urea, these estimates were lower than previously reported. Outlook: For the measurands analyzed in this review, there are sufficient well-designed studies available to publish a trustworthy estimate of BV. However, for a number of newly appearing kidney markers no suitable data is available and additional studies are required.publishedVersio