Laboratory medicine principles

Bruns D , Watine j, Sandberg S, Horvath AR. Evidence-based guidelines in laboratory medicine principles and methods. Clin Chem 2004 50 606-818.)... 

Horvath AR, Pewsner D. Systematic reviews in laboratory medicine principles, processes and practical considerations. Clin Chim Acta 2004 342 23-39... 

The complete traceability chain as presented here is valid only for those measurable quantities, which can have a value, expressed in SI units. When primary or secondary calibrators are not available the traceability chain for many measurands in laboratory medicine ends at a lower level, e.g. at the manufacturer s standing measurement procedure. In a situation where a manufacturer detects a new diagnostic marker and defines the measurable quantity by establishing a measurement procedure for this marker, the manufacturer s measurement procedure will form the top of the traceability chain. Nevertheless even in this simple situation the principles of the traceability concept are applicable. 

A Laboratory Guide. Including the Quantitative Estimation of Medicinal Principles in Certain Crude Materials. By Dr. Wilhelm Autenreith, Freiberg. Authorized Translation by William H. Warren, a.m., ph.d., (Harv.). Fifth Edition, Revised, Enlarged. 25 Illustrations. Cloth, 3-50. 

Marshall DA, O Brien BJ. Economic evaluation of diagnostic tests. In Price CP and Christenson RH, eds. Evidence-based laboratory medicine from principles to outcomes. Washington DC AACC Press, 2003 159-86. 

Among the definitions proposed for EBM, the foremost probably is the conscientious, judicious, and explicit use of the best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual pahenfs. The word judicious implies use of the skills of experienced clinicians to put the evidence in context, and to recognize patient individuality and preferences.A goal of EBM is to incorporate the best evidence from clinical research into clinical decisions" The word best implies the necessity for critical appraisal. The words making decisions indicate why the principles of EBM can, and must, be applied in laboratory medicine as laboratory medicine is one of the fundamental tools used in making decisions in the practice of medicine. 

Figure 13-7 Level of evidence for recommendations in NACB guideline for testing in diabetes. (From Bruns DE, OosterhuisWP in Price CP, Christenson RH, eds Ev/dence-Bosed Laboratory Medicine from principles to outcomes. AACC Press, 2003.)...

APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF EVIDENCE-BASED LABORATORY MEDICINE IN ROUTINE PRACTICE... 

It is hopefully clear from the foregoing discussion that the principles of evidence-based laboratory medicine can underpin the way in which laboratory medicine is practiced, from the discovery of a new diagnostic test through to its application in routine patient care. The principles provide the logic on which aU of the elements of practice are founded. The tools of evidence-based laboratory medicine provide the means of delivering the highest quality of service in meeting the needs of patients and the healthcare professionals who serve them. The application of evidence-based practice is far more complex in the case of laboratory medicine than in the major area in which such principles have previously been applied, namely the pharmaceutical intervention. 

Christenson RH, Duh S-H, Price CP. Identifying the question the laboratory s role in testing provisional assumptions aimed at improving patient outcomes. In Price CP and Christenson RH (editors). Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine from principles to outcomes. AACC Press, Washington, 2003 21-37. 

Price CP. Applications of the principles of evidence-based medicine to laboratory medicine. CUn Chim Acta 2003 333 147-54. 

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