Recent approaches in standardization of cardiac markers

The development of commercial assays for the determination of new cardiac p roteins has been one of the most important innovations in the field of card iovascular diagnostics in the last decade. This significant and sudden adva ncement has however led to some analytical and interpretative problems. The re are problems in test standardization, imprecision, interference and prea nalytical variability. We also need to standardize utilization of biomarker s in diagnosis and management of acute cardiac syndromes and clearly define decision thresholds. Powerful tests, such as cardiac markers, on which cri tical decisions will rest, need highly reliable methods. The feeling is tha t some assays are inadequately appraised prior to their introduction in cli nical use. More studies are needed to implement new devices in the laborato ry routine, and only well documented assays should be used in hospital-base d laboratories. The technology to address many analytic problems is at hand , but commitment on the part of manufacturers and their customers in the la boratory community is essential. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.