An outline for a vocabulary of nominal properties and examinations--basic and general concepts and associated terms.

Scientists of disciplines in clinical laboratory sciences have long recognized the need for a common language for efficient and safe request of investigations, reporting of results, and communication of experience and scientific achievements. Widening the scope, most scientific disciplines, not only clinical laboratory sciences, rely to some extent on various nominal examinations, in addition to measurements. The 'International vocabulary of metrology--Basic and general concepts and associated terms' (VIM) is designed for metrology, science of measurement. The aim of the proposed vocabulary is to suggest definitions and explanations of concepts and terms related to nominal properties, i.e., properties that can be compared for identity with other properties of the same kind-of-property, but that have no magnitude.

Clinical laboratory sciences data transmission: the NPU coding system.

In health care services, technology requires that correct information be duly available to professionals, citizens and authorities, worldwide. Thus, clinical laboratory sciences require standardized electronic exchanges for results of laboratory examinations. The NPU (Nomenclature, Properties and Units) coding system provides a terminology for identification of result values (property values). It is structured according to BIPM, ISO, IUPAC and IFCC recommendations. It uses standard terms for established concepts and structured definitions describing: which part of the universe is examined, which component of relevance in that part, which kind-of-property is relevant. Unit and specifications can be added where relevant [System(spec)-Component(spec); kind-of-property(spec) = ? unit]. The English version of this terminology is freely accessible at http://dior.imt.liu.se/cnpu/ and http://www.labterm.dk, directly or through the IFCC and IUPAC websites. It has been nationally used for more than 10 years in Denmark and Sweden and has been translated into 6 other languages. The NPU coding system provides a terminology for dedicated kinds-of-property following the international recommendations. It fits well in the health network and is freely accessible. Clinical laboratory professionals worldwide will find many advantages in using the NPU coding system, notably with regards to an accreditation process.

A data base for 3000 monoclonal immunoglobulin cases and a new classification.

Data from monoclonal immunoglobulin cases screened in our laboratory for 40 years were used to assemble a cohort of 3094 cases selected according to immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation interpretation and clinical data availability. Molecular distribution and original classification were used to establish five categories of cases: multiple myeloma (MM) and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), other lymphoproliferative diseases, cases associated with heavy immunological diseases or other tumors, and benign cases. Free light chain (FLC) cases comprise 7% of the cohort, pluriclonal Ig, 6%. More than 50% of 1335 cases with identified diagnoses are not malignant hemopathies. Male/female ratio is less than 1 for MM cases and close to 1 for benign and other lymphoproliferative cases. Males are a majority in MW and associated cases. Follow-up periods range from 5 to 30 years for 263 cases. The main characteristics of this data base have been defined and the benefit of the original classification is highlighted. Future studies will investigate improvements resulting from immunofixation and current urinary analysis practices, as well as long-term follow-up, pluriclonal Ig cases, cryoglobulins, the meaning of the presence of FLC and malignant transformation.