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Clinical Biochemistry An Introduction. Dr Steve Smith Consultant Clinical Biochemist UHCW. Clinical Biochemistry. Meaurement of substances. Measured In:. Blood, Mainly serum but also cells Urine Cerebrospinal Fluid Faeces Kidney stones Saliva etc. Enzymes Metabolites Metal ions
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Clinical BiochemistryAn Introduction Dr Steve Smith Consultant Clinical Biochemist UHCW
Clinical Biochemistry Meaurement of substances Measured In: Blood, Mainly serum but also cells Urine Cerebrospinal Fluid Faeces Kidney stones Saliva etc • Enzymes • Metabolites • Metal ions • Drugs and metabolites • Proteins • Hormones • Vitamins • Mutations in DNA & RNA • etc
How do we do it? • 96% work is fully automated
Reasons for requesting a Biochemistry test • Diagnosis (confirmation or rejection of clinical diagnosis) • Glucose, TSH • Monitoring (Progression or response to treatment) • TSH, HbA1C, Lithium, Tacrolimus, PSA • Prognosis (Information about the likely outcome) • Cholesterol, Lactate Dehydrogenase (teratoma) • Screening (detection of subclinical disease) • Phenylketonuria, FOBT, Cholesterol
Specimen Collection • Obtaining the correct specimen is crucial • Blood Samples: • Venous or arterial • Specimen bottle • Transport • Time of day • Avoid damage to sample
Questions which may be asked on receipt of Laboratory Results • ‘If the result is not what I expected can I explain the discrepancy?’ • ‘Does it differ significantly from previous results and will change my diagnosis or the way I treat the patient?’ • ‘Is it consistent with clinical findings?’ • ‘what do I do next?’
How do we identify abnormal biochemistry? • 'The Normal Range’ • Defines the values of a biochemical test found in healthy subjects against which patient values can be compared. • Artificial concept - no clear boundaries exist. • Preferred term is 'Reference Interval'
Defining the Reference Interval ‘Normal’ Subjects TestValue -2.5% +2.5%
Some factors which affect reference ranges • Age • Gender • Diet • Pregnancy • Time of month • Time of day • Time of year • Weight • Stimulus • Method These need to be borne in mindwhen interpreting results
Some factors which affect reference ranges • Age • Gender • Diet • Pregnancy • Time of month • Time of day • Time of year • Weight • Stimulus • Method These need to be borne in mindwhen interpreting results
Some factors which affect reference ranges • Age • Gender • Diet • Pregnancy • Time of month • Time of day • Time of year • Weight • Stimulus • Method These need to be borne in mindwhen interpreting results
Monthly variation in 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels in UK men and women
Some factors which affect reference ranges • Age • Gender • Diet • Pregnancy • Time of month • Time of day • Time of year • Weight • Stimulus • Method These need to be borne in mindwhen interpreting results
Alkaline Phosphatase Reference Intervals • 30 – 120 IU/L • 80 – 280 IU/L
Ideal Diagnostic Test ‘Normal’ Diseased Frequency Concn. No false positives or negatives
Comparisons with Disease Groups ‘Normal’ Diseased TestValue +2.5% FalseNegatives FalsePositives
Comparisons with Disease Groups ‘Normal’ Diseased TestValue FalseNegatives FalsePositives
Different Ranges • Reference Interval (Range) • Urea • Therapeutic Range • Phenytoin • Clinical Cut Off • Cholesterol, B-Type natriuretic peptide
Comparisons with Disease Groups ‘Normal’ Diseased TestValue +2.5% FalseNegatives FalsePositives
Is the change significant? • A GP measured the serum creatinine of a 41-year-old man newly diagnosed as having diabetes and hypertension. The result was 105 mol/L. Six months later, both conditions were well controlled and the test repeated.
Is the change significant? • Investigation • Serum creatinine = 118 mol/L (105 mol/L previous) • Patient was alarmed at the increase and the GP uncertain whether the change was significant.
Is the change significant? • Analytical Variation • Biological Variation • Extrinsic • Time, posture, stress. • Intrinsic
A 4 year old boy was seen in the paediatric out-patients’ department because of hepatomegaly, metabolic acidosis, and growth retardation. Some of his abnormal blood test results are: • Glucose 2.0 mmol/L (3.0 – 5.6 ) • Uric Acid 610 μmol/L (200 – 430 ) • Lactic Acid 3.7 mmol/L (0.5 – 1.5 ) • Cholesterol 5.4 mmol/L (<5.0 ) • Triglycerides 6.7 mmol/L (0.5 – 1.5)
Finding a low glucose is common in paediatrics and it triggers a whole raft of tests. • Hypoglycaemia is a feature of many inborn errors of metabolism
Von Gierke’s Disease • This case Glucose-6 phosphatase deficiency • Hepatomegaly due to excess glycogen stores • Raised urate due to raised lactate • Abnormal lipids due to lack of glucose • Lactate raised because G6P taken down a pathway to lactate not glucose.
Demonstrates the knock on effects from what a first might appear common; low glucose.