madman
Super Moderator
* Standardization and harmonization offer the possibility to make laboratory test results more comparable. Standardization refers to the process of achieving agreement between hormone tests by establishing traceability to a recognized standard reference material through a high-order primary reference material (RM) and/or reference material procedure (RMP); it concerns mainly inert hormones such as steroids.
* The quality of analyses in endocrinology is challenging but crucial. High-quality analyses ensure the reliability of research conclusions and interpretation of patient results in clinical care. The required quality of analytical and clinical characteristics of measurement methods is fundamental to making informed clinical decisions and advancing medical science.
* Hormone analysis is inherently challenging due to their low concentrations, the heterogenic structure of peptides, and proteins and the complexity of biological matrices. In addition, steroid hormones can be structurally similar, and are frequently bound to proteins, which can complicate, and interfere with accurate measurement.
Significance
The chapter underscores the critical importance of high-quality hormone analyses in endocrinology, emphasizing their role in ensuring reliable research conclusions and accurate clinical interpretations. It highlights the significance of advancements in Endocrine Laboratory Medicine for understanding hormonal interactions, early detection of disorders, and the development of effective treatments. The chapter advocates optimizing endocrine tests through standardization, personalized medicine, and innovative approaches like biomarker discovery and AI integration. Ultimately, these efforts aim to enhance patient care and advance medical science in the realm of endocrine-related diseases.
Future research directions
Optimization of current endocrine laboratory medicine
Standardization and harmonization
The development of the LC-MS/MS technique in endocrine laboratories enables steroid assays to be standardized. Research studies must be performed using standardized assays. International work is underway to ensure the deployment and monitoring of these steps, which are essential for improving the comparability of results. The IFCC and EFLM are working to ensure that results are increasingly comparable, particularly in endocrinology. For instance, the committee for the standardization of the thyroid function tests (C-STFT) has demonstrated that harmonization of TSH and standardization of FT4 is possible.Work has to be done before implementation can take place. The same effort is needed to standardize or harmonize the measurements of other hormones as well.
* The quality of analyses in endocrinology is challenging but crucial. High-quality analyses ensure the reliability of research conclusions and interpretation of patient results in clinical care. The required quality of analytical and clinical characteristics of measurement methods is fundamental to making informed clinical decisions and advancing medical science.
* Hormone analysis is inherently challenging due to their low concentrations, the heterogenic structure of peptides, and proteins and the complexity of biological matrices. In addition, steroid hormones can be structurally similar, and are frequently bound to proteins, which can complicate, and interfere with accurate measurement.
Significance
The chapter underscores the critical importance of high-quality hormone analyses in endocrinology, emphasizing their role in ensuring reliable research conclusions and accurate clinical interpretations. It highlights the significance of advancements in Endocrine Laboratory Medicine for understanding hormonal interactions, early detection of disorders, and the development of effective treatments. The chapter advocates optimizing endocrine tests through standardization, personalized medicine, and innovative approaches like biomarker discovery and AI integration. Ultimately, these efforts aim to enhance patient care and advance medical science in the realm of endocrine-related diseases.
Future research directions
Optimization of current endocrine laboratory medicine
Standardization and harmonization
The development of the LC-MS/MS technique in endocrine laboratories enables steroid assays to be standardized. Research studies must be performed using standardized assays. International work is underway to ensure the deployment and monitoring of these steps, which are essential for improving the comparability of results. The IFCC and EFLM are working to ensure that results are increasingly comparable, particularly in endocrinology. For instance, the committee for the standardization of the thyroid function tests (C-STFT) has demonstrated that harmonization of TSH and standardization of FT4 is possible.Work has to be done before implementation can take place. The same effort is needed to standardize or harmonize the measurements of other hormones as well.
