CALIPER: Supporting the steps forward in paediatric laboratory measurement

摘要

There are clear reasons why appropriate pediatric reference intervals are so important; first and foremost, the anxiety associated with pediatric venipuncture significantly affects both child and parent [1] making the optimal interpretation of results from such precious samples even more important. Secondly, because the presence of disease in children is unexpected and feared, the avoidance of false positive results requires highly specific reference intervals. The laboratories at large pediatric institutions have expertise and are less likely to misclassify a child. But because testing is often performed outside this specialist setting, patients may be disadvantaged due to inadequately sourced pediatric reference intervals from laboratories in small local hospitals or in community private pathology practices.