Faecal Immunochemical Tests for Haemoglobin: Analytical Challenges and Potential Solutions.

Faecal Immunochemical Tests for Haemoglobin: Analytical Challenges and Potential Solutions. Clin Chim Acta. 2021 Feb 08;: Authors: Benton SC, Symonds E, Djedovic N, Jones S, Deprez L, Kocna P, Maria Auge J, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry Faecal Immunochemical Test Working Group (IFCC FIT-WG) Abstract Quantitative faecal immunochemical tests for haemoglobin (FIT) are being used increasingly around the world in colorectal cancer screening programmes, and in patients presenting with lower bowel symptoms to determine who should proceed to further bowel visualisation investigations, usually colonoscopy. The clinical utility of FIT is well reported. There are a number of analytical challenges including pre-analytical variation, difficulty setting up external quality assessment schemes, access to third party internal quality control material and a lack of standardisation or harmonisation of FIT methods. Here we report the work of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry FIT Working Group. We provide an overview of the main pre-analytical variables; discuss different approaches to external quality assurance of FIT; propose a solution to third party internal quality assurance materials and summarise the challenges of standardisation and harmonisation of FIT. PMID: 33571484 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: International Journal of Clinical Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Clin Chim Acta Source Type: research