Report from the HarmoSter study: different LC-MS/MS androstenedione, DHEAS and testosterone methods compare well; however, unifying calibration is a double-edged sword.
Flaminia FanelliMirko PeitzschStephen BruceMarco CantùAnastasia TemchenkoMarco MezzulloJohanna M LindnerJames M HawleyMariette T AckermansJody Van den OuwelandDaniel KoepplElena NardiFinlay MacKenziePierre-Alain BinzManfred RauhBrian G KeevilMichael VogeserGraeme EisenhoferAnnemieke C HeijboerUberto PagottoPublished in: Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine (2024)
Methods showed high intra-laboratory precision but variable bias and trueness. Inter-laboratory agreement was remarkably good. Calibration system unification improved agreement in androstenedione and DHEAS, but not in testosterone measurements. Multiple components, such as commutability of calibrators and EQA materials and internal standard choices, likely contribute to inter-laboratory variability.