Aasne K Aarsand, Thomas Røraas, Pilar Fernandez-Calle, Carmen Ricos, Jorge Díaz-Garzón, Niels Jonker, Carmen Perich, Elisabet González-Lao, Anna Carobene, Joana Minchinela, Abdurrahman Coşkun, Margarita Simón, Virtudes Álvarez, William A Bartlett, Pilar Fernández-Fernández, Beatriz Boned, Federica Braga, Zoraida Corte, Berna Aslan, Sverre Sandberg
BACKGROUND: Concern has been raised about the quality of available biological variation (BV) estimates and the effect of their application in clinical practice. A European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Task and Finish Group has addressed this issue. The aim of this report is to ( a ) describe the Biological Variation Data Critical Appraisal Checklist (BIVAC), which verifies whether publications have included all essential elements that may impact the veracity of associated BV estimates, ( b ) use the BIVAC to critically appraise existing BV publications on enzymes, lipids, kidney, and diabetes-related measurands, and ( c ) apply metaanalysis to deliver a global within-subject BV (CVI ) estimate for alanine aminotransferase (ALT)...
March 2018: Clinical Chemistry