Question 1

What is the Meaning of Immunoassay Interference?

Accepted Answer

Immunoassay interference refers to the presence of endogenous or exogenous substances in a patient's biological sample that disrupt the accurate measurement of an analyte by an immunoassay. This disruption leads to falsely elevated or lowered results, compromising the test's specificity or sensitivity and hindering reliable quantification.

Question 2

What is the Context of Immunoassay Interference?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon primarily occurs within clinical diagnostic laboratories where immunoassays quantify hormones, tumor markers, and other critical biomarkers in patient samples like serum, plasma, or urine. It directly impacts the reliability of results used for endocrine assessment, disease monitoring, and therapeutic management across various physiological systems.

Question 3

What is the Significance of Immunoassay Interference?

Accepted Answer

The clinical significance of immunoassay interference is substantial, as it can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment decisions. Falsely high or low hormone levels may prompt extensive investigations or initiate unindicated therapies, potentially delaying correct diagnosis or causing patient harm. Recognizing interference is paramount for patient safety and effective clinical management.

Question 4

What is the Mechanism of Immunoassay Interference?

Accepted Answer

Interference mechanisms often involve heterophile antibodies or human anti-animal antibodies binding to assay reagents, creating false signals. Biotin, a common supplement, can also compete with biotinylated reagents in streptavidin-biotin based assays, leading to erroneous results. Certain medications, autoantibodies, or high analyte concentrations can also disrupt immunoassay specific binding reactions.

Question 5

What is the Application of Immunoassay Interference?

Accepted Answer

In clinical practice, immunoassay interference manifests when a patient's laboratory results do not align with their clinical presentation. For example, a symptomatic patient might show paradoxically normal or abnormal hormone levels. Clinical suspicion arises when serial measurements are inconsistent or results are physiologically implausible, prompting investigation through dilution studies or alternative assay methods.

Question 6

What is the Metric of Immunoassay Interference?

Accepted Answer

Immunoassay interference is not directly measured but inferred through laboratory strategies and clinical correlation. Approaches include repeating the assay with sample dilution, using different immunoassay platforms, or employing blocking reagents. Clinical assessment of patient symptoms and physiological context remains a crucial "metric" for identifying potential interference.

Question 7

What is the Risk of Immunoassay Interference?

Accepted Answer

The primary risk of unaddressed immunoassay interference is patient mismanagement due to inaccurate laboratory results. This can lead to unnecessary invasive procedures, inappropriate drug therapies, or delayed diagnosis and effective treatment. Misinterpreting results, such as falsely elevated cardiac troponin or missed adrenal insufficiency, could result in significant patient harm.

Immunoassay Interference

Meaning

Context

Significance

Mechanism

Application

Metric

Risk

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