Errors and pitfalls in immunoassays

Author(s): C Sturgeon

Description

The increasing use of non-isotopic immunoassays, facilitated by their convenience and availability on automated platforms, means that these tests are now performed in most hospital laboratories. As the number of tests has increased, so has the risk of errors and analytical discrepancies that may adversely affect patient care. Some of the more common pitfalls that can be encountered in immunoassays are described in this brief review.