Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
06:29
Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells
Published on: January 29, 2014
Autoantibody standardization in The Netherlands.
Jan Damoiseaux1, Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert, Ronald Derksen
1Maastricht University Medical Center, Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Maastricht, The Netherlands. jan.damoiseaux@mumc.nl
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|September 18, 2009
Summary
Several Dutch initiatives aim to standardize autoantibody testing, but a lack of harmonization in testing algorithms requires attention. Further development is needed to align with international European Autoantibody Standardization Initiative (EASI) goals.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Immunology
- Laboratory Medicine
Background:
- Multiple independent initiatives exist in The Netherlands for autoantibody standardization.
- These efforts are separate from the European Autoantibody Standardization Initiative (EASI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To inventory current and planned autoantibody standardization initiatives in The Netherlands.
- To identify areas for the Dutch EASI team to address.
- To compare Dutch initiatives with international EASI goals.
Main Methods:
- Inventory of existing standardization efforts (Diagnostic Compass, national guideline organizations, SKML, RELARES).
- Review of quality assessment programs, including proficiency testing by SKML.
- Analysis of RELARES's work in standard sera for rheumatic diseases.
Main Results:
- Initiatives include the Diagnostic Compass, national guideline development, SKML quality assessment, and RELARES (now merged with SKML).
- SKML's quality assessment involves reference laboratory investigations and feedback.
- A new SKML working group, Standardization Autoimmune Serology, continues RELARES's work.
Conclusions:
- Dutch autoantibody standardization efforts are diverse but lack harmonization.
- A significant gap exists between current Dutch practices and international EASI goals regarding testing algorithms.
- Harmonization of testing algorithms is the most critical future objective.
