Browsing by Author "Cavusoglu, Coskun"

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Personalized reference intervals - statistical approaches and considerations
(WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH, 2022-01-01) Coskun, Abdurrahman; Sandberg, Sverre; Unsal, Ibrahim; Yavuz, Fulya G.; Cavusoglu, Coskun; Serteser, Mustafa; Kilercik, Meltem; Aarsand, Aasne K.
For many measurands, physicians depend on population-based reference intervals (popRI), when assessing laboratory test results. The availability of personalized reference intervals (prRI) may provide a means to improve the interpretation of laboratory test results for an individual. prRI can be calculated using estimates of biological and analytical variation and previous test results obtained in a steady-state situation. In this study, we aim to outline statistical approaches and considerations required when establishing and implementing prRI in clinical practice. Data quality assessment, including analysis for outliers and trends, is required prior to using previous test results to estimate the homeostatic set point. To calculate the prRI limits, two different statistical models based on `prediction intervals' can be applied. The first model utilizes estimates of `within-person biological variation' which are based on an individual's own data. This model requires a minimum of five previous test results to generate the prRI. The second model is based on estimates of `within-subject biological variation', which represents an average estimate for a population and can be found, for most measurands, in the EFLM Biological Variation Database. This model can be applied also when there are lower numbers of previous test results available. The prRI offers physicians the opportunity to improve interpretation of individuals' test results, though studies are required to demonstrate if using prRI leads to better clinical outcomes. We recommend that both popRIs and prRIs are included in laboratory reports to aid in evaluating laboratory test results in the follow-up of patients.
Personalized Reference Intervals in Laboratory Medicine: A New Model Based on Within-Subject Biological Variation
(OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2021-01-01) Coskun, Abdurrahman; Sandberg, Sverre; Unsal, Ibrahim; Cavusoglu, Coskun; Serteser, Mustafa; Kilercik, Meltem; Aarsand, Aasne K.
BACKGROUND: The concept of personalized medicine has received widespread attention in the last decade. However, personalized medicine depends on correct diagnosis and monitoring of patients, for which personalized reference intervals for laboratory tests may be beneficial. In this study, we propose a simple model to generate personalized reference intervals based on historical, previously analyzed results, and data on analytical and within-subject biological variation. METHODS: A model using estimates of analytical and within-subject biological variation and previous test results was developed. We modeled the effect of adding an increasing number of measurement results on the estimation of the personal reference interval. We then used laboratory test results from 784 adult patients (>18 years) considered to be in a steady-state condition to calculate personalized reference intervals for 27 commonly requested clinical chemistry and hematology measurands. RESULTS: Increasing the number of measurements had little impact on the total variation around the true homeostatic set point and using >= 3 previous measurement results delivered robust personalized reference intervals. The personalized reference intervals of the study participants were different from one another and, as expected, located within the common reference interval. However, in general they made up only a small proportion of the population-based reference interval. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that, if using results from patients in steady state, only a few previous test results and reliable estimates of within-subject biological variation are required to calculate personalized reference intervals. This may be highly valuable for diagnosing patients as well as for follow-up and treatment.