Pitfalls and problems in immunoanalysis

The quality and reliability of laboratory test results, and more specifically immunoassay results, depend not only on analytical accuracy and precision, but also on technical skill and knowledge of potential pitfalls and problems. It must be recalled that despite their widespread use, immunoassays can, in some circumstances, be defective. Pitfalls must be avoided from the pre-analytical phase onwards. At the analytical level, problems related to the Hoock and matrix effects as well as standardisation and interference problems that may affect all immunoassays will be discussed. (authors)