Clinical requirements for albumin: report of an IABS study

Requirements for human serum albumin (HSA) asked for by physicians in six countries were analyzed. Compilation of data obtained by a questionnaire revealed differences of opinion that could be traced to the frequency of HSA therapy in the respective country. Where albumin was used frequently clinical and experimental evidence for the efficacy of this therapy was high too, and so was the interest in the binding capacity of HSA for a number of substances. In contrast, negative attitudes towards HSA therapy were reported predominantly from countries where the frequency of use of albumin was low. Since the request to obtain more information on the binding capacity of HSA was strongly expressed by responding physicians, this wish should be considered for future quality control preferably in the process of manufacture.