Categories

The full table contains over 600 rows. Buttons just below the title allow you to filter the list to see only the category of interest. 'Unclassified' contains analytes we have not yet placed into the appropriate category.

Find

Enter a text string in the search box and click Find to show analytes that contain that string anywhere in the analyte name, the sort key, or a list of synonyms that is not printed in the table due to lack of space. For example, a find on 'glu' will show Glucose, Gamma glutamyltransferase, etc. The search is not case-sensitive.

Exit

After looking at several categories, your browser's Back button may take you back through a long list of allowable error subsets. Exit takes you directly back to the home page for the Tables of Essential Laboratory Statistics.

'Sort' Column

The error limits were merged from several different sources, often inconsistent in spelling of analyte names. For example, one source might read "Total Bilirubin", while another uses "Bilirubin, Total". The Sort column contains a short abbreviation that ties similar analytes together for sorting.

Analyte / Fluid / Method

Which columns are used depends on the source. The Biological Variation data splits the Fluid out into a separate field; other sources combine it with the analyte name. Only the CAP limits are method-specific.

Limit

The Allowable Total Error or proficiency testing limit. Depending on the source and analyte, this may be expressed as greater of percent/concentration, number of SDs from the peer group mean or, for qualitative analytes, percent consensus. Limits stated in concentration units may be in either US or SI units, depending on the source.

Sources

1 CLIA - CLIA '88 Proficiency Testing Limits, U.S. Federal Register.

2 WLSH
WSLH Proficiency Testing is a national, full-service PT program located at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene on the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. (undated, approx June, 2004). For more information, visit www.slh.wisc.edu/pt.

3 NYS
Wadsworth Center Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program, Guide to Program Requirements and Services, New York State Department of Health (undated, approx June, 2004). For details, visit www.wadsworth.org/labcert.

4 CAP
College of American Pathologists Participant Summary, April 2004. Special thanks to Dr. Veronica Luzzi and Dr. Frank Wians, UT Southwestern Medical Center, for compiling this list from their participant report.

5 BV
Spanish Society of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Pathology (SEQC) table of Desirable Quality Specifications based on Biological Variation, 2004 Update. For details, visit www.westgard.com/guest26.htm

6 AAB
American Association of Bioanalysts Table of Grading Limits (undated, approx Oct 2005). For details, visit www.aab.org/pts/grdlim.htm

7 RCPA
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and the Australasian Clincal Biochemist association Quality Assurance Program

8 CFX
"Canadian Fixed Limits", The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan