Techniques
Tumor markers can be detected by immunohistochemistry.
If repeated measurements of tumor marker are needed, some clinical testing laboratories provide a special reporting mechanism, a serial monitor, that links test results and other data pertaining to the person being tested. This requires a unique identifier for the person. In the United States commonly a Social Security number & Civil Personal Record (CPR) in Bahrain are used for this. One important function of this mechanism is to ensure that each test is performed using the same assay kit. For example, for AFP many different commercial assay kits, based on different technologies, are available. AFP measurements obtained using different assay kits are not comparable unless special calculations are performed.
Interlaboratory proficiency testing for tumor marker tests, and for clinical tests more generally, is an emerging field.In the United States, New York state is prominent in advocating such research.
Read more about this topic: Tumor Marker
Famous quotes containing the word techniques:
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—John Steinbeck (1902–1968)
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—Neil Kurshan (20th century)