Homocysteine measurement by Vitros® Microtip homocysteine assay
-
Geert A. Martens
Abstract
Background: Elevated circulating total homocysteine is an independent vascular risk factor. Enzymatic homocysteine measurements represent an alternative to HPLC- or immunochemistry-based assays, suitable for automation. Here, we report on analytical performance of a commercial cystathionine β-synthase-based assay, for use on Vitros® automated analyzers.
Methods: Linear range, limit of detection and analytical sensitivity were inferred from duplicate measurements of homocystine standard solutions (1–65 μmol/L). Imprecision was assessed using commercial controls according to NCCLS EP5-A2 and accuracy using NIST-SRM1955 reference material. Agreement with a clinically validated HPLC method was examined on 207 patient samples.
Results: The enzymatic assay was linear from 1 to 90 μmol/L homocysteine. Total (within-day) imprecision ranged from 4.5 (3.9)% to 2.8 (1.6)% at homocysteine 9.7–43.2 μmol/L. Accuracy was acceptable at 8.9 and 17.7 μmol/L homocysteine, with +6.4% and –1.2% bias, respectively, but showed substantial negative bias (–20.1%) at 4.0 μmol/L. High triglycerides (19.8 μmol/L) negatively interfered. The enzymatic method was slightly less sensitive than the HPLC method (limit of detection 0.7 and 0.2 μmol/L, respectively) but correlated well with the latter (r2=0.9997, slope=1.04, intercept=–0.66 μmol/L) and was more precise (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The Vitros® homocysteine assay met the CLIA Desirable Analytical Quality Specifications at homocysteine ≥9 μmol/L. Its analytical performance and suitability for automation make the Vitros® assay an analytically acceptable alternative to HPLC-based methods.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:283–6.
©2008 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Opinion Papers
- The double whammy of endogenous insulin antibodies in non-diabetic subjects
- ‘Likelihood-ratio’ and ‘odds’ applied to monitoring of patients as a supplement to ‘reference change value’ (RCV)
- Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics
- A family with multiple mutations and sequence variations in the α- and β-globin gene clusters
- CTLA-4 polymorphism 49A–G is associated with placental abruption and preeclampsia in Finnish women
- Rare TA repeats in promoter TATA box of the UDP glucuronosyltranferase (UGT1A1) gene in Croatian subjects
- Association of high sensitive C-reactive protein with apolipoprotein E polymorphism in children and young adults: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
- Relationship between thiolactonase activity and hyperhomocysteinemia according to MTHFR gene polymorphism in Tunisian Behçet's disease patients
- A rapid and sensitive method to detect specific human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles associated with celiac disease
- General Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
- Probing the redox activity of T-lymphocytes deposited at electrode surfaces with voltammetric methods
- Long-term prognostic value of midregional pro-adrenomedullin and C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 in patients with acute myocardial infarction
- Changes in serum fetuin-A and inflammatory markers levels in end-stage renal disease (ESRD): effect of a single session haemodialysis
- Modeling the variability of creatinine measurements improves estimates of the glomerular filtration rate
- Reference Values
- Age-related changes of plasma glycosaminoglycans
- Stability of heparin blood samples during transport based on defined pre-analytical quality goals
- Comparison of creatinine-based estimations of glomerular filtration rate in endurance athletes at rest
- Assay-dependent variability of serum insulin levels during oral glucose tolerance test: influence on reference intervals for insulin and on cut-off values for insulin sensitivity indices
- N-Terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations in elite rugby players at rest and after active and passive recovery following strenuous training sessions
- Strenuous exercise activates growth factors and chemokines over-expression in human serum of top-level triathlon athletes during a competitive season
- Validation and Outcome Studies
- Usefulness of six non-proprietary indirect markers of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C
- Evaluation of a new Sebia isoelectrofocusing kit for α1-antitrypsin phenotyping with the Hydrasys® System
- Different biological matrices (serum and plasma) utilization in consolidation processes: evaluation of seven Access® immunoassays
- Evaluation of the GEM® Premier™ 4000: a compact blood gas CO-Oximeter and electrolyte analyzer for point-of-care and laboratory testing
- Impact of storage conditions on genetic analysis or viral load determination in clinical specimens
- Homocysteine measurement by Vitros® Microtip homocysteine assay
- Evaluation of a novel standardized system for collection and quantification of oral fluid
- Letters to the Editor
- Tumor necrosis factor-α G(–308)A promoter polymorphism, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 5A/6A gene variation, MMP-9 C(–1562)T promoter polymorphism and risk and extent of ischemic heart disease
- Polyethylene glycol interference in the Immulite prolactin assay: treatment of the calibrators with polyethylene glycol does not improve diagnostic accuracy
Articles in the same Issue
- Opinion Papers
- The double whammy of endogenous insulin antibodies in non-diabetic subjects
- ‘Likelihood-ratio’ and ‘odds’ applied to monitoring of patients as a supplement to ‘reference change value’ (RCV)
- Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics
- A family with multiple mutations and sequence variations in the α- and β-globin gene clusters
- CTLA-4 polymorphism 49A–G is associated with placental abruption and preeclampsia in Finnish women
- Rare TA repeats in promoter TATA box of the UDP glucuronosyltranferase (UGT1A1) gene in Croatian subjects
- Association of high sensitive C-reactive protein with apolipoprotein E polymorphism in children and young adults: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
- Relationship between thiolactonase activity and hyperhomocysteinemia according to MTHFR gene polymorphism in Tunisian Behçet's disease patients
- A rapid and sensitive method to detect specific human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles associated with celiac disease
- General Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
- Probing the redox activity of T-lymphocytes deposited at electrode surfaces with voltammetric methods
- Long-term prognostic value of midregional pro-adrenomedullin and C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 in patients with acute myocardial infarction
- Changes in serum fetuin-A and inflammatory markers levels in end-stage renal disease (ESRD): effect of a single session haemodialysis
- Modeling the variability of creatinine measurements improves estimates of the glomerular filtration rate
- Reference Values
- Age-related changes of plasma glycosaminoglycans
- Stability of heparin blood samples during transport based on defined pre-analytical quality goals
- Comparison of creatinine-based estimations of glomerular filtration rate in endurance athletes at rest
- Assay-dependent variability of serum insulin levels during oral glucose tolerance test: influence on reference intervals for insulin and on cut-off values for insulin sensitivity indices
- N-Terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations in elite rugby players at rest and after active and passive recovery following strenuous training sessions
- Strenuous exercise activates growth factors and chemokines over-expression in human serum of top-level triathlon athletes during a competitive season
- Validation and Outcome Studies
- Usefulness of six non-proprietary indirect markers of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C
- Evaluation of a new Sebia isoelectrofocusing kit for α1-antitrypsin phenotyping with the Hydrasys® System
- Different biological matrices (serum and plasma) utilization in consolidation processes: evaluation of seven Access® immunoassays
- Evaluation of the GEM® Premier™ 4000: a compact blood gas CO-Oximeter and electrolyte analyzer for point-of-care and laboratory testing
- Impact of storage conditions on genetic analysis or viral load determination in clinical specimens
- Homocysteine measurement by Vitros® Microtip homocysteine assay
- Evaluation of a novel standardized system for collection and quantification of oral fluid
- Letters to the Editor
- Tumor necrosis factor-α G(–308)A promoter polymorphism, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 5A/6A gene variation, MMP-9 C(–1562)T promoter polymorphism and risk and extent of ischemic heart disease
- Polyethylene glycol interference in the Immulite prolactin assay: treatment of the calibrators with polyethylene glycol does not improve diagnostic accuracy