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Biomedical subjects

Richard C W Wong

Publications and source records attributed to Richard C W Wong.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Development of consensus guidelines for anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant testing.

Interlaboratory and intermethod variation in commercial and in-house tests used for the measurement of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) limit the diagnostic value of the results from these tests. This short review summarizes published and unpublished guidelines (some developed using consensus procedures) on aCL and LA testing that are aimed at decreasing assay variation.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

A multilaboratory peer assessment quality assurance program-based evaluation of anticardiolipin antibody, and beta2-glycoprotein I antibody testing.

We evaluated the performance of anticardiolipin (aCL) and beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) antibody assays through a large external quality assurance program. Data from the 2002 cycle of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Program (RCPA QAP) were analyzed for variation in reported numerical values and semiquantitative results or interpretations according to method type or group and in conjunction with available clinical data. High interlaboratory variation in numerical results and notable method-based variation, combined with a general lack of consensus in semiquantitative reporting, continues to be observed. Numerical results from cross-laboratory testing of 12 serum samples (for immunoglobulin G [IgG]-aCL, IgM-aCL, and IgG-beta2-GPI) yielded interlaboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) that were higher than 50% in six of 12 (50%) specimens for IgG-aCL, and 12 of 12 (100%) specimens for IgM-aCL and IgG-beta2-GPI. Semiquantitative reporting also varied considerably, with total (100%) consensus occurring in only four of 36 (11%) occasions. General consensus (where > 90% of participating laboratories agreed that a given serum sample gave a result of either negative or positive) was only obtained on 13 of 36 (36%) occasions. Variation in results between different method types or groups were also present, resulting in potential biasing of the RCPA QAP-defined target results by the large number of laboratories using the dominant aCL assays. Finally, laboratory findings frequently did not agree with the available clinical information. In conclusion, in a large proportion of specimens from the 2002 RCPA QAP cycle, laboratories could not agree on whether a serum sample tested was aCL-positive or aCL-negative, or beta2-GPI-positive or beta2-GPI-negative. Despite prior attempts to improve the standardization of testing and reporting practices, laboratory testing for aCL and anti-beta2-GPI still demonstrates significant interlaboratory and intermethod variation, which needs to be taken into account for the clinical interpretation of test results, especially those from different laboratories.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

Consensus guidelines for anticardiolipin antibody testing.

Despite the use of standardized GPL and MPL units, significant inter-laboratory and inter-method variation in anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) testing still exists, limiting the clinical utility and inter-laboratory portability of test results. This article reviews published and unpublished guidelines (some developed using consensus procedures) that can be used to improve various aspects of: (1) specimen collection; (2) aCL assay manufacture and testing procedures; (3) quality control; and (4) interpretation (including reporting) of results; and in doing so, improve the consistency of aCL results between different laboratories, assays and runs. However, there is a still a need for consensus guidelines that combine and deal with all of the aforementioned aspects of aCL testing and reporting.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

Consensus guidelines on anti-cardiolipin antibody testing and reporting.

UNLABELLED: Consensus guidelines on anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) testing have been developed to help minimise laboratory variation in the performance and reporting of aCL assays. These guidelines include minimum, optimum and optional recommendations for the following aspects of aCL testing and reporting: (1) isotype of aCL tested; (2) specimen type; (3) controls and assay precision; (4) calibrators; (5) patient samples; (6) rheumatoid factors and IgM aCL testing; (7) reporting of results; (8) cut-off values; and (9) interpretative comments. ABBREVIATIONS: aCL, anti-cardiolipin antibodies; APS, anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome; ASCIA, Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy; ASTH, Australasian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis; beta2-GPI=beta2-glycoprotein I; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; NCCLS, National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards; HSANZ, Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand; QAP, Quality Assurance Program; RCPA, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia; %CV, inter-assay inter-run coefficient of variation.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

Antibody and genetic testing in coeliac disease.

The description of a range of antibodies associated with coeliac disease has been an important development in the ability to test for this common and treatable condition non-invasively. However, the detection of these antibodies remains unstandardised and the appreciation of the clinical utility of each is evolving. In view of the advances in the diagnosis and understanding of coeliac disease, we discuss: (1) the relative advantages, disadvantages and comparative diagnostic utility of the different antibody tests including the confounding effect of selective IgA deficiency; (2) various technical aspects of these tests; (3) HLA-DQ typing as a supplementary tool to antibody testing; (4) areas of controversy resulting from insufficient or conflicting published data; and (5) potential testing strategies.

Autoantibodies↗

Transient elevation of the tumor markers CA 15-3 and CASA as markers of interstitial lung disease rather than underlying malignancy in dermatomyositis sine myositis.

A 37-year-old woman with severe interstitial lung disease associated with dermatomyositis sine myositis is reported. A thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed organizing diffuse alveolar damage. Significantly elevated serum levels of the tumor markers CA 15-3 and CASA (cancer-associated serum antigen) were detected, but no evidence of an underlying malignancy (including breast and ovarian) was found on serial clinical and radiologic examinations. These levels gradually normalized as the interstitial lung disease responded to a combination of cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids. The use of the CA 15-3 and CASA assays to measure serum levels of the highly glycosylated, high-molecular-weight mucin MUC1 in interstitial lung disease has not been previously described. Clinicians should therefore be aware that elevation of these tumor markers may reflect the presence of interstitial lung disease rather than an underlying malignancy in patients with dermatomyositis, especially if the levels normalize after successful treatment of the lung disease.

Journal Article↗