Disparities in clinical laboratory performance for blood lead analysis

Article Abstract:

Some medical laboratories may have a high rate of misclassifying measurements of lead in blood samples, which may result in lack of treatment for children with high blood lead levels. Researchers sent blood lead samples to 18 laboratories for analysis. Differences in laboratory performance were attributed to systematic, random, and human error. One large state laboratory reported blood samples with a high actual blood lead concentration as being within the acceptable range. This laboratory, handling a large volume of blood samples, may be causing many children with treatable lead exposure to go untreated. Physicians who send blood samples to medical laboratories for testing should be able to obtain data on the accuracy of the testing procedure. The atomic absorption spectroscopy method appears to be superior to anodic stripping voltammetry.

Diagnosis, Lead poisoning

---

Accuracy and reproducibility of blood lead testing in commercial laboratories

Article Abstract:

Most clinical laboratories seem capable of accurately measuring lead levels in blood samples. Researchers sent 20 blood samples to eight clinical laboratories to be tested for lead. Five of the laboratories were commercial and one was the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's reference laboratory. The samples were from seven humans and also included three blood samples from cows with known levels of lead. All the laboratories reported similar blood lead levels. The human samples were drawn two weeks apart and the labs also reported consistent lead levels in these samples.

Evaluation, Medical laboratories, Biomedical laboratories

---

Predictors of smoking cessation in adolescents

Article Abstract:

Adolescents who only smoke occasionally may be more likely to quit smoking than those who use cigarettes daily. Researchers surveyed 276 high school-aged smokers, then resurveyed them annually for several years. At the first survey, 26% of smokers reported that they wanted to quit. On subsequent surveys, 46% of occasional smokers, 12% of daily smokers of nine or fewer cigarettes, and 7% of daily smokers of 10 or more cigarettes had successfully quit smoking. Daily smoking, more likely to lead to nicotine addiction, may make smoking cessation more difficult.

Demographic aspects, Smoking cessation programs, Smoking cessation, Smoking and youth, Youth smoking

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: States face rocky road to reform. Creating a basis for good outcomes. Studies suggest dog walking a good strategy for fostering fitness
• Abstracts: Ethical Considerations in the Public Policy Laboratory. Alcohol advertising in magazines and adolescent readership
• Abstracts: Evidence-based behavior change in curriculum for the ambulatory clerkship: the double helix. Training patients to ask information verifying questions in medical interviews
• Abstracts: Bakers, arise: wonderfully homey recipes for your bread machine
• Abstracts: Expanding the skills needed in clinical supervision. Conducting a research interview. Taking counsel

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.