Harmonization of values for serum alkaline phosphatase catalytic activity concentration employing commutable calibration materials.

BACKGROUND: Harmonization of results allows a more effective utilization of laboratory tests; we verified the feasibility of harmonizing serum alkaline phosphatase results by two methods. METHODS: Patient sera (n=106) and candidate calibration materials (n=8) were analyzed by two methods, employing either diethanolamine (DEA) or 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) as phosphate-accepting buffers. Results for patient sera by the DEA method were recalculated, with either a commutable or a non-commutable calibration material, both with values assigned by the AMP method. RESULTS: After calibration with the commutable material, the median intermethod difference (DEA-AMP) and ratio (DEA/AMP) dropped from 195 U/l to 0 U/l and from 2.47 to 1.00, respectively. When a non-commutable material was used the former became 124 U/l and the latter 1.94. After recalibration with the commutable material, linear regression and correlation analysis of DEA vs AMP values for the set of 106 patient sera gave: intercept=0.8 U/l; slope=0.997; and nonparametric correlation coefficient r=0.9995. CONCLUSIONS: Harmonization of alkaline phosphatase results by AMP and DEA methods is feasible when commutable calibration materials are used in the trueness transfer process.