Standardizing Plasma Protein Measurements Worldwide: A Challenging Enterprise

The need for harmonizing laboratory results is particularly intense in the field of quantitative protein assays in consideration of the clinical impact of specific protein measurements and their relevance in monitoring disease. We report the efforts made by the Committee on Plasma Proteins of the IFCC Scientific Division to achieve worldwide comparability in plasma protein results. We focus on the production of reference materials and the methods applied throughout their production process. Particularly, the recent characterization of ERM-DA470k/IFCC and ERM-DA472/IFCC has demonstrated that it is possible to reproduce the earlier established procedures and thereby maintain standardization. Plasma protein reference materials have had a substantial impact in improving the harmonization of patient protein results that should translate into better patient care. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1567-75.