[Improved reliability of critical data exchange between the biological laboratory and clinical centres. Type of data to transfer and identification of the most relevant tools]. / Fiabiliser les échanges d'informations précieuses entre le laboratoire et les services de soins. Types d'informations à échanger et choix des outils les plus fiables.

The reliability of the transfer of critical data between the biological laboratory and the clinical centres has to be reassessed. We have a legal constraint (GBEA and best practices) to make sure that the appropriate alert is issued for severe and urgent cases. In this paper, we present a study of the performances of data transfer tools, such as the comparison between regular phone and up to date available means like in line printers and network terminals. This paper focuses on the twenty-four hours duty in the hospital at the same level of reliability for alerts.

[Molecular genetics: pre- and post-analytic "best practices"]. / Génétique moléculaire: les << bonnes pratiques>> pré-et postanalytieques.

Medical prescriptions for molecular genetic analyses are not yet very common in general practice, neverless they are becoming more and more frequent, and therefore it is more difficult to deal with them in part because of the recent french rules. Laboratory managers are supposed to be able to deal with such requests. This document, describing good laboratory practices, has been elaborated by members of the group "molecular genetics" from the "College National de Biochimie des Hôpitaux", providing details about: assessment of the prescriptions, including patient's consent, choice of the executing laboratory, specimen transmission, assessment and control of clinical and biological data, results transmission, confidentiality, archiving system. Such recommendations should facilitate exchanges with specialized laboratories, being specifically approved for practicing such analyses. The authors draw the attention of laboratory managers to the specificities of such requests.

[Gender control and Olympics events from Albertville to Atlanta or good practices in gene biochemistry]. / Le contrôle de genre et les jeux olympiques d'Albertville à Atlanta ou du bon usage de la biochimie génique.

Gender verification in sport was introduced in 1967 based on the insufficient Barr test. For Albertville's Olympic Games we proposed the Medical Commission of IOC to carry out the control for the first time thanks to molecular biochemistry. PCR/SRY amplification is described giving more than 99.9% of good results. After Albertville, Barcelona and Lillehammer the method will be used in Atlanta and Nagano. Results and ethics are discussed. Easy and respectful of athletes, this reliable gender verification is indispensable for their protection. According to the good practices of CM/IOC, samples have to be discarded after the analysis is done.

[Serum determination of IgG, IgA, IgM, transferrin and haptoglobin. I. Attempt at normalization of results]. / Dosages sériques d'IgG, IgA, IgM, transferrine et haptoglobine. I. Essai d'harmonisation des résultats.

This study demonstrates the advantages and limitations of normalizing results for five serum proteins (IgG, IgA, IgM, transferrin and haptoglobin), analysed in liquid phase on ten different systems (open clinical chemistry and dedicated protein analysers). Seven sets of results from normal and pathological sera (without monoclonal proteins) were compared using: - calibrators supplied by each manufacturer; - - serial dilutions of a single stabilized pool of liquid serum. In addition to validating the quality of the stabilised serum, we have been able to identify: - significant variations in results using different analytical systems for the same sample; - a major reduction in these variations, often greater than 50%, through normalization using a common serum pool. In some two thirds of the cases, this reduction brought the degree of variation into an acceptable range.

[Accuracy in thyroid hormonology: evaluation of free T4 by five immunometric methods using cold markers]. / Exactitude en hormonologie thyroïdienne: dosage de la T4 libre par cinq méthodes immuno-métriques avec marquage froid.

During a comparative multicentric evaluation, five commercially available non-isotopic methods for FT4 measurement were tested. As with the radioactive methods the problem with accuracy is again evident. This is true both for setting reference values and standards as well as for the specificity of the methods. The authors demonstrated highly significant correlations as described in recent papers: many of the values may, however, be up to double value in one center compared to another despite the correlation of 0.90.

[Determination of apolipoproteins B in children: use in the screening of atherogenic risk and influence of diet]. / Dosage des apoprotéines B chez l'enfant: utilisation pour le dépistage du risque athérogène et influence de la diététique.

The determination of plasma concentrations of apolipoproteins B (apo B) among 390 children (age 2-18 years) and the study of their antecedents showed that the prevalence of family histories of ischaemic cardiovascular diseases was higher among children whose apo B reached or exceeded 1.20 g/l. A low cholesterol diet was prescribed for children whose apo B levels were equal to or higher than 1.20 g/l. Two years later 45 of them were re-examined: they showed decreased apo B levels and a significant relationship between the magnitude of the decrease and the dietetic score related to the observance of the diet.

Multi-wavelength analyses of second-derivative spectra for rapid determination of acetaminophen in serum.

Measurement of acetaminophen by analysis of the second derivative of its spectrum is specific and sensitive. The method of extraction and the use of just one phosphate buffer as reagent makes this method very convenient. Readings are reliable from 10 to 1500 mg/L. A turnaround time of 20 min makes this method well suited for emergency cases. Precision and accuracy of the method are presented. Results are not biased by interferences, not even from N-acetylcysteine.

[Determination of urinary free cortisol by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) and UV detection]. / Dosage du cortisol libre urinaire par HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) et détection UV.

Using basal isocratic equipment of HPLC and only one step extraction the determination of urinary free cortisol is available in non specialized laboratory. Results are displayed about reliability and specificity of the method. An extraction coefficient of 97.8 per cent, a good practicability in connection with the use of C18 column chromatography and a reagent flow of 0.5 ml/min. enable a low cost of this determination. Reference values are established for a working adult population.