Graphical comparisons of interferences in clinical chemistry instrumentation.

Instrument- and analyte-specific interferences can be produced by adding known concentrations of potentially interfering substances to serum from healthy volunteers. Analytical results are expressed as a percentage of the original (unaffected) result. Graphical displays of the transformed data document the conditions under which erroneous results would be probable for specimens containing the additive. If several analytical systems are available, one can make an informed choice of which to use for a particular analysis by comparing the appropriate graphical information. Comparisons of such displays of data from newer systems being considered for purchase may facilitate decisions regarding laboratory instrumentation.