Objective To discuss the application of allowable total error (Tea) and allowable imprecision derived from biological variation in routine chemistry external quality assessment ( EQA) and internal quality control (IQC) and set up quality specifications of routine chemistry in our country.Methods Data of test items including K,Na,CI,Ca,P,Glu,Urea,UA,Cre,Alb,TP,TC,TG,AST,ALT,Tbil,ALP,AMY,CK,LDH,Fe,Mg,Cu,Zn and GGT was collected and evaluated by a nationwide EQA.At the same time the coefficients of variation (CVs) of these test items during the month were acquired from the IQC reports of each laboratory and then the results were analyzed.Results Percent of pass was different in these test items based on Tea derived from biological variation in EQA results.Except for items of CI,Mg,Cu and Zn,about 80％ of participant laboratories could achieve the minimum performance of biological variation.About 80％ of participant laboratories could achieve the desired performance of biological variation for K,P,Glu,Urea,UA,Cre,TC,TG,ALT,AST,Tbil,AMY,CK,LDH,Fe and GGT.About 80％ of participant laboratories could achieve the optimum performance of biological variation for Urea,UA,TC,TG,ALT,AST,Tbil,C K,and GGT.And the IQC results showed that acceptable percents of different items based on three allowable imprecision were different.More than 80％ of participant laboratories could achieve the minimum allowable imprecision for K,P,Glu,Urea,UA,TC,TG,ALT,AST,Tbil,AMY,CK,LDH,Dbil,Fe,GGT,the desirable imprecision for P,Urea,UA,TG,ALT,AST,Tbil,CK,Dbil,Fe,GGT and the optimum imprecision for TG,ALT,CK,Dbil,Fe.Conclusions The quality specifications derived from biological variation can be as evaluation criteria for EQA and IQC in order to know the detection ability of each laboratory more completely and objectively,set up quality specifications derived from allowable total error and allowable imprecision in routine chemistry and to provide basis for mutual recognition of routine chemistry test results.

Objective To summarize and analyze the results of national external quality assessment (EQA) of maternal serum prenatal screening in second trimester during 2004-2013,in order to provide a assistance for the quality improvement of the prenatal screening testing.Methods Five different concentration samples were distributed to each participated laboratories and were measured at each external quality assessment program during 2004 to 2013.The results reported in a specified time.The testing performance of alpha fetoprotein (AFP),total human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG),total β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG),free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (free β-HCG),unconjugated estriol (uE3) were evaluated.Results During 2004-2013,the number of laboratory participated increased from 57 to 500.The robust variation coefficient increased from 2.77％ to 18.98％ for AFP,5.6％ to 36.12％ for HCG,4.69％ to 24.38％ for β-HCG,2.66％ to 81.54％ for free β-HCG,and 3.83％ to 26.51％ for uE3.The percentage of passing rate reached 93％ (463/496) for AFP,66％ (35/53)for HCG,85％ (137/ 161) for β-HCG.The percentage of passing of free β-HCG (μg/L) increased from 52 ％ (24/46) to 94％ (248/264),but the passing percentage of free β-HCG (mIU/ml) were 47％ (18/38).The percentage of passing of uE3 reached 84％ (252/299).Conclusions The testing performance of AFP is best in prenatal screening,followed by β-HCG,other item testing have some problems.It is great important to improve the quality of maternal serum prenatal screening by strengthening external quality assessment and building comprehensive quality control system in China.

The aims of this article is to provide the quality control requirements of preanalytical variation for the determination of trace element aluminum,arsenic,chromium,cadmium and mercury in samples of human origin,reduce the influence of preanalytical variation on the test results.Refer to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) documents,Control of Preanalytical Variation in Trace Element Determinations and other references and guidelines,the methods of quality control of aluminum,arsenic,chromium,cadmium and mercury determination have been made,including:the factors needed to be considered in collection,preservation,transportation and other preanalytical factors,the abilities and considerations of laboratory staff,etc.Hope this article provide some useful suggestions and help to the laboratories of determination of aluminum,arsenic,chromium,cadmium and mercury in samples of human origin.

Objective To investigate and analyze the current situation of reference intervals and decision limits of reticulocyte count in China.Methods The information related to upper/lower limits,decision limits,data resources,method principles, instruments and reagents of reticulocyte count in 2014 was collected via the external quality assessment software system based on website.The participants were divided according to their methods and instruments.The SPSS 1 9.0 was used for conducting the data analysis and statistics of results for each group.Results There were 276 laboratories submitting the val-id results.The major resources for reference intervals came from national guide to clinical laboratory procedures (53.99%), instructions of instrument manufacturers (16.30%),textbook (9.78%),instructions of reagents manufacturers (9.06%) and others.The major resources for decision limits were national guide to clinical laboratory procedures (56.06%),instruc-tions of instrument manufacturers (16.67%),textbook (7.58),instructions of reagents manufacturers (7.58%)and others. The medians and averages of upper/lower limits and decision limits among subgroups were close,whereas the P2.5 and P97.5 were significant discrepancies.Only 45.65% and 48.48% of participant laboratories had verified reference intervals and deci-sion limits before clinic use.The lower limits and decision limits among subgroups had nostatistical difference (P>0.05), where as the upper limits of different instrument groups had significant differences (P<0.001).Conclusion The current situation of reference intervals and decision limits of reticulocyte count is unsatisfactory.It is certain to establish a uniformed reference interval and decision limits for reticulocyte count,which provides a reference for the standardization of reticulocyte count testing.

Objective Discussthe reference intervals and their sources of lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry tests by all Chinese clinical laboratories at 2014 with a comparison of difference between different test systems.Methods Questionnaires about reference intervals were distributed to 212 clinical laboratories participating in October 2014 national external quality assessment scheme of lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry tests of National Center for Clinical Laboratory.Relevant information about reference intervals of 5 relative counting items CD3 + (％),CD3 + CD4 + (％),CD3 + CD8 + (％),CD3-CD16 + CD56 + (％) and CD3-CD19 + (％) was collected by a internet-based external quality assessment software systems.Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS 19.0 were used to sort out raw data,eliminate unreasonable or incorrect data,and only analyze source distribution,arithmetic average,median,minimum value,maximum value and percentiles (P2.5 and P97.5) of upper and lower limits about healthy adults' reference intervals.Laboratories derived from the highest percentage of source distribution whose reagent and instrument were matching with each other were grouped according to the test systems used and the differences of reference intervals between different systems were compared with Mann-Whitney test.Results For five items collected,in the clinical laboratories who accepted statistical analysis,respectively 39.32％ (81/ 206),37.44％ (79/211),37.68％ (78/207),37.11％ (72/194),36.98％ (71/192) of them had verified the reference intervals they used.The top three sources of reference intervals were instructions of reagent and instrument manufactures (49.70％-52.54％),calculations by laboratories themselves (18.64％-20.00％),and calculations by other laboratories (14.12％-15.43％).The arithmetic averages and medians of upper and lower limits about every item were relatively close.But the minimum and maximum values of upper and lower limits of certain items had moderate differences.As Mann-Whitney test later showed,all items with the P values of upper and lower limits between different test systems,except for the lower limit of CD3 + CD4 + (％) (P value is 0.052) and the upper limit of CD3-CD19 + (％) (P value is 0.117),were lower than 0.05 which meant an existing statistical difference.Conclusions The sources of lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry tests in all Chinese clinical laboratories were different and the instructions of reagent and instrument had the highest percentage,but the reference intervals among differenttest systems had statistically significance.

AIM: To assess the effect of raloxifene, a selective estrogen modulator, on the transcriptional activity of estrogen responsive element (ERE) in vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Vascular endothelial cells were transfected with ERE-TK-Luc reporter plasmid and PRL-SV40 control plasmid via FuGENE 6. The activities of firefly luciferase and renilla luciferase were measured with dual-luciferase reporter assay system. The transcriptional activity in transfected cells treated with raloxifene was compared with that in untreated cells. Furthermore, raloxifene was used to cotreat the cells with estradiol (E_2) and the influence of raloxifene to the effect of E_2 was assessed. RESULTS: Compared to untreated cells, the luciferase activity in cells treated with raloxifene decreased and showed significance at concentration of 10~(-7)mol/L (P

Objective To investigate the dates of 477 Chinese prenatal screening centers for previous half year analyse prena-tal screening status and provide recommendations for quality control.Methods All China prenatal screening centers were sent the data via the National Quality Assessment Scheme.This covered the software used,the risk cut-offs,monthly sample throughput,monthly median MoM of AFP,hCG,β-HCG,freeβ-HCG and uE3,monthly screening positive rate for trisomy 21,trisomy 18 and Open Neural Tube Defect.Results Screening protocol were versatile,with 73.48% (133/181)used two-marker model,24.31% (44/181)used three-marker model and 2.21% used four-marker model.About the software used, 350 laboratories never updated the screening parameters,89 laboratories had updated their median or parameter by manufac-turers,24 laboratories had updated the parameters by themselves.Cut-offs differed between laboratories.59.91% (275/459) used 1/270 as their cutoffs for trisomy 21.66.22% (296/447)used 1/350 as their cutoff for trisomy 18 and 96.52% (361/374)used cutoffs between 2.0~2.5 MOM for ONTD.Results of monthly median MOM:the percentage of laboratories that all six monthly median MOM within the target of 0.90~1.10 was 46.69% (155/332)for AFP,20.0% (4/20)for hCG, 29.17% (28/96)forβ-HCG,15.66% (31/198)for freeβ-HCG and 4.82% (11/228)for uE3.The percentage of laborato-ries that all six monthly median MOM within the target of 0.95~1.05 was 14.16% (47/332)for AFP,0% (0/20)for hCG,4.17% (4/96)forβ-HCG,12.63% (25/198)for freeβ-HCG and 4.82% (11/228)for uE3.About screening positive rate,there were difference of trisomy 2 1 positive rate in the same laboratory within the six month.Conclusion There were variations types of screening protocol,different kinds of soft platform,randomness of choice or update of medians or other important parameters and great difference in awareness of quality control.It would be taken effective and practical quality control measures to help laboratories improve quality control.

Objective To carry out the current status of internal quality control by statistical analysis of the Internal Quality Control (IQC)data of homocysteine in 2014 March.Methods Web-based External Quality Assessment (EQA)system was used to collect IQC data of homocysteine from 292 EQA participant laboratories nationwide.The data include thecoefficient of variation (CV)of IQC data under control in March 2014 and long-term cumulative data.Acceptable rates of CVs of two-lot internal quality controls in homocysteine were calculated according to 5 criteria,that were 1/3TEa,1/4TEa and the speci-fications based on biological variation including the minimal,appropriate and optimal allowable imprecision.The instrument the participant laboratories used were sorted into 6 groups and the passing rate of each group were calculated by the 5 crite-ria.Results 292 laboratories reported the data of level 1 IQC for homocysteine,106 of which reported the data of level 2 IQC.The passing rate was different according to different criteria.The passing rate had few difference by the criteria of 1/3TEa and the minimal allowable imprecision based on biological variation,which were from 63.36% to 76.42%.It was also true for 1/4TEa and the appropriate allowable imprecision based on biological variation,which were from 34.25% to 57.55. The passing rate was only 10.62%~16.98% by the criteria of appropriate allowable imprecision based on biological varia-tion.Statistical results showed that instruments the participant mainly used were HITACHI (77/292),Olympus (61/292), Roche (19/292),Beckman (14/292),Abbott (10/292)and Simens (10/292).The passing rates of all the instrument group had few difference except Simens group.Conclusion Most of the laboratories could meet the criteria of 1/3TEa and the min-imal allowable imprecision based on biological variation.But less than half of the laboratories could meet the criteria of 1/4TEa and the appropriate and optimal allowable imprecision based on biological variation.The precision performance of ho-mocysteine among laboratories needs further improvement.

Objective To describe the reference intervals and their sources of tumor markers in clinical laboratories all over China.And make a comparison of difference between different testing systems.Methods The questionnaires about reference intervals of tumor markers testing were distributed to participants.The information was collected by external quality assessment software system based on website, which including upper and lower limits, sources, validation information and testing systems.The analytes were AFP, CEA, total-PSA, CA125, CA153, CA199, ferritin and free-PSA. The participants were classified according to the testing systems they used.The mean, median, maximum and minimum of each group were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2007.The difference of reference intervals between different testing systems were compared by Kruskal-Wallis test.Results The main source of reference intervals was instructions of testing system manufactures ( 83.1% for mean of 8 ratios ) .The next in sequence were instructions of reagent manufactures(8.4% for mean), National Guide to Clinical Laboratory Procedures (4.6%for mean), determined by their own laboratory(2.0% for mean) and the rest (1.9% for mean). There were 48.0% ( 1 906/3 967 ) of analytes whose reference intervals had been validated.Difference of reference intervals which was with P value of Kruskal-Wallis test with <0.05 was found between different testing system groups except the upper limit of free prostate specific antigen ( PSA ) .Conclusions Most clinical laboratories establish the reference intervals of tumor markers on the basis of instructions of testing system manufactures.The reference intervals among different testing systems have statistically significance.

Objective To compare the current application status of reference intervals in dry chemistry to the reference inter-vals of anlytes of wet chemistry in the same hospital.Methods By using web-based external quality assessment (EQA) software system,collecting the submitted data from the laboratories which attended national reference intervals investigation of reference intervals of analytes in dry chemistry and wet chemistry,using professional statistical software for analyzing the data,including paired-samples t test and Yates’Chi-square test.Results 231 laboratories submitted their investigation re-sults including the reference intervals of 23 analytes of dry and wet chemistry.69.6% (32/46)of reference intervals of ana-lytes in dry chemistry have significant statistical differences compared with the wet chemistry in paired-samples t tests. 80.4% (37/46)of medians of reference intervals of analytes in dry chemistry had significant statistical differences in loca-tions and distributions compared with medians of reference intervals of wet chemistry in the same institute.Conclusion The reference intervals of analytes of dry chemistry have differences compared with the wet chemistry in the same hospital.The medians of reference interval’s lower and higher limits of dry and wet chemistry have difference in locations and distribu-tions.Proposed to create our own reference intervals of dry chemistry in China.