Message
Maybe
while we are all thinking about this issue we could also try to stimulate
analyser manufacturers and computer system developers (if there are any embedded
in the computer sales companies) to think about reporting to a fixed number
of significant figures.
I am
certain we are not the only ones who have PSA, TSH, Troponin and other
tests set to report to 2 (or even 3?) decimal places so we
can report values close to the lower analytical limits.
Unfortunately that means we end up reporting too many decimal places
at high levels. Results of 100.00 can encourage non-laboratory clinicians
interpret small changes because they think we really achieve the
implied accuracy & precision.
Regards
Richard Stott
Principal Clinical Scientist
Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust
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