Tools, Technologies and Training for Healthcare Laboratories

Optimal Biological Variation database specifications

How good can you get? The Biologic Variation database, compiled by the Spanish CC society and Dr. Carmen Ricos, not only includes desriable specifications for imprecision, bias and total error, but also optimal specifications. For labs in search of "stretch" goals, here's the place to start. Updated for 2014.
[Please note: in October 2018, the EFLM and SEQC requested that Westgard.com no longer display this data.]

Optimal Specifications for Total Error, Imprecision, and Bias, derived from intra- and inter-individual biologic variation

This most recent and extensive listing of biologic goals has been provided by Ricos C, Alvarez V, Cava F, Garcia-Lario JV, Hernandez A, Jimenez CV, Minchinela J, Perich C, Simon M. "Current databases on biologic variation: pros, cons and progress." Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1999;59:491-500. This database was most recently updated in 2014: see what was updated here.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: "[T]he BV data on your website is provided by the Analytical Quality Commission of the SEQC....
"The Analytical Quality Commission and ourselves have discussed this and agree that the EFLM database probably will provide estimates of Total allowable error. Furthermore, once the EFLM database is available, the BV database provided by the SEQC should be removed from both your website and the SEQC website. We would therefore not agree to new data being added to the 2014 BV database update. The aim is for the EFLM website to be available within 4-6 months and we will contact you once it has been published. Thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards,
Aasne Krine Aarsand, Sverre Sandberg,  Pilar Fernandez Calle, Carmen Perich & Carmen Ricos
On behalf of the Working Group on Biological Variation, EFLM and the Analytical Quality Commission, SEQC, April 26, 2018"

See The Reference List

See The References
See The original Guest Essay

Note on abbreviations:
CVI = within-subject biologic variation
CVG = between-subject biologic variation
I = minimum specification for imprecision
B = minimum specification for inaccuracy
TE = minimum specification for allowable total error

    Analyte   Biologic Variation   Optimal Specification  
CVI CVG CV(%) Bias (%) TEa
S- α-Amylase 8.7 28.3 2.2 3.7 7.3
U- α-Amylase 94.0 46.0 23.5 13.1 51.9
U- α-Amylase pancreatic 69.5 105.0 17.4 15.7 44.4
S- α1-Acid Glycoprotein 11.3 24.9 2.8 3.4 8.1
S- α-Fetoprotein 12.2 45.6 3.1 5.9 10.9
S- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 19.4 41.6 4.9 5.7 13.7
S- Aspartate aminotransferase(AST) 12.3 23.1 3.1 3.3 8.3
U- Albumin 35.0 35.0 9.9 7.0 23.3
U- Aldosterone 32.6 39.0 8.2 6.4 19.8
S- Bilirubin 21.8 28.4 5.5 4.5 13.5
S- Bilirubin, conjugated 36.8 43.2 9.2 7.1 22.3
S- C4 Complement 8.9 33.4 2.2 4.3 8.0
S- CA 125 Antigen 24.7 54.6 6.2 7.5 17.7
S- CA 15.3 Antigen 6.1 62.9 1.5 7.9 10.4
S- CA 19.9 Antigen 15.95 130.5 4.0 16.4 23.0
U- Calcium, output 26.2 27.0 6.6 4.7 15.5
S- Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) 12.7 55.6 3.2 7.1 12.4
S- Cholesterol 5.95 15.3 1.5 2.1 4.5
S- Cortisol 15.2 38.1 3.8 5.1 11.4
S- C peptide 16.6 23.2 4.2 3.6 10.4
S- C reactive protein 42.2 76.3 10.6 10.9 28.3
S- Creatine kinase 22.8 40.0 5.7 5.8 15.2
S- Creatinine kinase MB, % 6.9 42.8 1.7 5.4 8.3
S- Creatinine kinase MB, mass 18.4 56.6 4.6 7.4 15.0
S- Creatinine 11.0 23.0 2.8 3.2 7.7
S- Cyfra 21.1 Antigen 22.2 31.1 5.6 4.8 13.9
S- Estradiol 22.5 24.4 5.6 4.1 13.4
S- Ferritin 14.2 15.0 3.6 2.6 8.4
S- Folate 24.0 73.0 6.0 9.6 19.5
S- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) 11.0 47.2 2.8 6.1 10.6
S- γ-Glutamyltransferase 13.4 42.15 3.4 5.5 11.1
S- Haptoglobin 20.4 36.4 5.1 5.2 13.6
S- Immunoglobulin A 5.4 35.9 1.4 4.5 6.8
S- Immunoglobulin M 5.9 47.3 1.5 6.0 8.4
S- Iron 26.5 23.2 6.6 4.4 15.3
B- Lactate 27.2 16.7 6.8 4.0 15.2
S- Lactate dehydrogenase 8.6 14.7 2.2 2.1 5.7
S- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) 23.0 27.4 5.8 4.5 14.0
S- Myoglobulin 17.6 46.3 4.4 6.2 13.5
U- Osmalality 28.3 57.9 7.1 8.1 19.7
B- pH 3.5 2.0 0.9 0.5 1.9
S- Parathyroid hormone (PTH) 25.9 23.8 6.5 4.4 15.1
S- Phosphate 8.15 10.8 2.0 1.7 5.1
U- Phosphate, output 18.0 22.6 4.5 3.6 11.0
U- Potassium, output 24.4 22.2 6.1 4.1 14.2
S- Prolactin 23.0 34.95 5.8 5.2 14.7
S- Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) 18.1 72.4 4.5 9.3 16.8
U- Protein, output 35.5 23.7 8.9 5.3 20.0
U- Sodium, output 28.7 16.7 7.2 4.2 16.0
S- Triglyceride 19.9 32.7 5.0 4.8 13.0
S- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) 19.3 24.6 4.8 3.9 11.9
S- Thyroglobulin 14.0 39.0 3.5 5.2 11.0
S- Urate 8.6 17.5 2.2 2.4 6.0
U- Urate 16.8 14.4 4.2 2.8 9.7
S- Urea 12.1 18.7 3.0 2.8 7.8
U- Urea 17.4 25.4 4.4 3.8 11.0