Experience of the introduction of routine antibody testing in primary care and of running a trial for latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).

This brief report discusses the introduction of routine Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibody (GADA) testing in primary care for newly diagnosed diabetes. GADA testing is well used and the majority of people found to be positive are initiated on insulin rapidly and progress to require a basal bolus regime.

Robust, routine haematology reference ranges for healthy adults.

Accurate, reliable laboratory reference ranges are essential for effective clinical evaluation and monitoring. We present robust reference ranges established for haematology, coagulation and haematinic parameters using the Sysmex XE 2100, CA 1500 and Beckman-Coulter Access analysers. Blood samples were taken from 250 healthy laboratory personnel and routine haematology, coagulation and haematinic parameter analysis performed. Our data represent findings from an extensive study to establish reference ranges in healthy adults.

A capillary whole blood method for measuring the INR.

This study describes a method of measuring the INR on native whole blood capillary samples using Innovin recombinant thromboplastin. Modification of the reagent was necessary to compensate for the nonoptimal level of calcium in the sample/reagent mixture. Ninety-five percent of results obtained by the capillary blood method were no more than 0.42 INR higher or 0.38 INR lower than the venous blood method. The effect of changes in haematocrit was minimal. Significant differences in results were found between the Innovin and Thrombotest capillary blood methods. Provided the reagent was properly stored, there was no reagent drift and satisfactory results were obtained on samples supplied by UKNEQAS (coagulation) from previous trials. The method described is a convenient, simple and accurate method of measuring the INR using native capillary whole blood and Innovin recombinant thromboplastin.