Biochemical Data in Screening, Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Monitoring - Literature review Example

Clinical Biochemical Data Name Institution Date Course Clinical Biochemical Data Introduction Biochemical results are usually obtained from the analysis of blood plasma. The analysis is usually applied for a wide variety of substances. The clinical biochemical tests are regularly accompanied by a wide range of analysis of the results. Different processes are mainly involved during the analysis for the purposes of obtaining and interpreting the results. The clinical patterns are usually used for the purposes of confirming or denying the hypothesis that have been developed. According to Murthy (2011), the process of handling the samples is important when carrying out the clinical biochemical tests. The biochemical data has a wide range of applications which includes screening, diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of treatment. Murthy (2011) points out that the clinical biochemical results are also related to other sources of information. The other sources of information can also be used for the purposes of making comparisons with regards to the biochemical results. The paper critically discusses the uses of biochemical data in clinical medicine and the acquisition and interpretation of the biochemical data. Relationship of clinical biochemical results to other sources of information The biochemical results is related to the other sources of information and it is useful in terms of aiding in the decision making process. The clinical biochemical results cannot be used as a substitute for physical exams. It is for this reason that the biochemical results are related to the other sources of information. The results from the other sources are usually used for developing hypothesis which can be tested through the use of clinical biochemical results in comparison with the information from the other sources. The other sources of information may include the history of the patient. Diamandis (2010) argues that such information is vital and it cannot be substituted with the clinical biochemical results. This means that the treatment of the patients is dependant on the results of both the clinical biochemical results and the other sources of information. It is also important to note that the clinical biochemical results influences 70% of the medical decision making while the other 30% is based on the other sources of information. This therefore means that the clinical biochemical results are closely related to the other sources of information. According to Diamandis (2010), lack of proper interpretation of the clinical biochemical results may also take place which may contribute to errors during the decision making process. It is for this reason that the other sources of information are important during the process of making decisions. Biochemical data in screening, diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring The biochemical screen is an important step that is usually carried out for the purposes of detecting the presence of a disease. The process is usually carried out through multiphasic screening or multiple screening of the sample of serum obtained. The result of the screening in clinical biochemistry usually leads to the diagnostic interventions. The diagnosis process mainly involves the determination of the disease that is causing the signs and symptoms. This is mainly based on the results of the screening process. Although the decision is usually based on the clinical biochemical results, is important to note that the other sources of information are also used before the final decision is reached. Bruns (2012) argues that prognosis mainly involves the process of predicting the likely outcome of the patient based on the results from the diagnosis and the other sources of information. In most cases, it is however difficult to apply the results of the prognosis to an individual patients. It is for this reason that the screening and diagnosis is important in determining the problems facing the patients. The monitoring process is also important after the diagnosis. It is useful in ensuring that the abnormalities are fully evaluated and studied (Bruns, 2012). Factors affecting data-preanalytical, technical The technical factors affecting the data-preanalytical process may impact negatively on the outcome. The transportation of the sample may lead to errors that may lead to negative impacts during the data preanalytical process. The personnel competency is also an important factor that affects the data-preanalytical process. Incompetent personnel may interpret the data wrongly and hence affecting the process. The level of accuracy is also affected by the errors that may occur during the data-preanalytical process. McDonald (2011) argues that the quality control process is also important during the data-preanalytical process. However, errors during the quality control process have a negative impact on the data-preanalytical process. The equipment that is used during the collection of the sample also has effects on the data-preanalytical process. The use of faulty equipment during the collection of the sample has a negative impact on the process. On the other hand, it is also important to note that the test collection errors can be caused by human errors. Patient identification errors are also a factor that affects the data-preanalytical process. This may also occur due to human errors that lead to incorrect or missing identification. The failure to label the tubes correctly also has negative impacts on the process of data-preanalytical process (McDonald, 2011). Factors affecting data-preanalytical, biological, endogenous The type of clinical specimen is an important factor that affects the data-preanalytical process. This is because the different specimens have different characteristics with regards to the biological processes. This also includes the type of blood specimen that is used during the process. The site of the blood collection is also a biological factor that affects the process. This is considering that the blood sample can be collected in the veins, capillaries or arteries. Squeezing the blood during the capillary puncture has negative impacts as it leads to the dilution with the tissue fluids (Plebani, 2012). The presence of excess anticoagulant in the container also has negative impacts on the data-preanalytical process. This may contribute to low levels of accuracy and hence affecting the final outcome of the analytical process. The patient complications are also a biological factor that affects the process. The patient could also be on medication which may also affect the process. This is considering that medication may affect the internal biological processes. The state of the disease is also an important biological factor that affects the process. This is considering that the state of the disease may be affected by the state of the disease. Factors affecting data-preanalytical, biological, exogenous The exogenous factors are mainly composed of the external factors that affect the biological processes. The use of narcotic drugs is one of the exogenous factors that affect the data-preanalytical process. The patient could also be on medication which may also affect the process. This is considering that medication may affect the internal biological processes. According to Anderson (2012), the plasma volume of protein of blood may be affected by certain types of medications and hence affecting the outcome of the data-preanalytical process. The diet of the patient is also an important exogenous biological factor that affects the data-preanalytical process. This is considering that the different diets may lead to the production of different results when it comes to the biochemical analysis. The type of food that is taken by the patient may force the body to react in a certain way and hence affecting the process. The consumption of caffeine or tobacco products can have diverse effects on the body and hence affecting the process. It is for this reason that it is important to ensure that the important liquid additives are added during the blood collection process. It is also important to note that the negative effects may affect the outcome of the process (Anderson, 2012). Factors affecting data-analytical The data analytical process is affected by various factors that may also cause negative impacts on the process. The machinery and experimental methods of are factors that can affect the data-analytical process. The method of collection and storage of the blood has effects during the data-analytical process. This is considering that different methods of collection can be used during the process. On the other hand, the storage of the samples can be poor and hence impacting negatively on the data-analytical process. Precision, competence and accuracy are some of the factors that affect the analytical process. Reiner (2012) points out that the quality control and quality assurance are also important factors that affect the analytical phase. The failure of abiding to the quality control and quality assurance may impact negatively on the results and hence the negative effects. The maintenance of the sample during the analytical process is also an important factor that affects the data-analytical process. Proper maintenance of the sample is thus required for the purposes of ensuring that the process is accurate. The results must be sufficiently reliable for clinical use in order to meet the required standards. The analytical variation in the results also impacts negatively on the process and hence impacting negatively on the levels of accuracy. The ability of the tests to meet the standards is also an important factor during the analytical process. High levels of standards should always be maintained during the process In order to ensure that accurate results are obtained. The level of accuracy and precision therefore plays an important role in determining the outcome of the analytical process (Reiner, 2012). Factors affecting data-postanalytical The post analytical phase mainly involves the interpretation after the analysis has been completed. The accuracy of the results in the previous stages is one of the main factors that affect the post-analytical process. According to Sturgeon (2011), errors in the previous stage usually affect the postanalytical stage as it may result to the errors. It is also important to note that this stage also requires a lot of competency during the interpretation of the data. The level of competence therefore affects the outcome of this stage. Low levels of competency may result to misinterpretations and hence leading to inaccurate results. The consistency of the results with the clinical findings is also a factor that affects this stage. The lack of consistency with the clinical findings may be an indication that there are errors. The reporting process is also important during the post analytical stage. Poor reporting may result to low levels of accuracies and hence affecting the results at thus stage. Poor recording can also result to the errors during the post-analytical. This is because the correctly results may be wrongly reordered and hence affecting the results. The transcriptional errors therefore influence the outcome of the results and it may contribute to inaccuracies at this stage. It is also important to ensure that the unnecessary tests are avoided for the purposes of ensuring that the errors are reduced at this stage. Inaccuracies at this stage may also lead to the repetition of the entire process (Sturgeon, 2011). Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that the clinical biochemical results have to undergo different stages. Each of the stage is usually affected by various factors and the negative impacts may affect the outcome of the results. The biochemical tests are usually carried out for the purposes of ensuring that the appropriate decision is made with regards to the patient. The handling of the samples is a factor that affects the pre-analytical stage. This involves both the biological and technical factors in the pre-analytic stage. It is evident that this stage is crucial in terms of determining the levels of accuracies of the other stages. The analytical stage is also important and the levels of competency as well as the standards are important in ensuring that high levels of accuracies are maintained. The maintenance of the sample is also important at this stage. The final stage is the post-analytical phase and it is affected by the levels of accuracy of the other stages. It is evident that high levels of competency and knowledge is also required at this phase. List of References Anderson, N 2010, The clinical plasma proteome: a survey of clinical assays for proteins in plasma and serum, Clinical chemistry, 56(2), 177-185. Bruns, D 2012, Tietz textbook of clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics, Elsevier Health Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Diamandis, E 2010, National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines for use of tumor markers in liver, bladder, cervical, and gastric cancers, Clinical chemistry, 56(6), e1-e48. Murthy, N. 2011, A study of pre-analytical variables in clinical biochemistry laboratory, Clinical biochemistry, 44(10), 944-945. McDonald, J 2011, Analysis of circulating microRNA: preanalytical and analytical challenges, Clinical chemistry, 57(6), 833-840. Plebani, M 2012, Exploring the initial steps of the testing process: frequency and nature of pre-preanalytical errors, Clinical chemistry, 58(3), 638-642. Reiner, M 2012, Standard methods of clinical chemistry, Elsevier. Sturgeon, C 2011, Roadmap for harmonization of clinical laboratory measurement procedures, Clinical chemistry, 57(8), 1108-1117. Read More