Arbitrary amount-of-substance (arb.am.s.)

by | Feb 5, 2020 | List of kinds-of-property, Kind-of-quantity

Arbitrary amount-of-substance (arb.am.s.)

Abbreviation

 Arb.am.s.

Definition in words

Arbitrary amount-of-substance of component B in system 1 compared with arbitrary amount-of-substance of component B in a reference system.

Note: The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

Systematic terms

 Arbitrary amount-of-substance of component B in system 1

Result type

 Ordinal scale
  • Value set is ranked accoding to magnitude
  • The value set and the limit of the value set are defined by the laboratory
  • The value set can be either numerical values or words.

Example 1

Value set={none<some<high<very high}

Example 2

Value set={low<normal<high}

Example 3

Value set={0<1<2}Example 4Value set={negative<positive}

Example 5

Value set={+<++<+++}
  • Algebraic operations are not allowed (Ref. 2, 1.26)
  • Possible comparison of value sets  (a<b, a=b or a>b)

Unit

 None

Special rule(s) in the NPU syntax

“Procedure” is stated in the specification to the kind-of-property in the NPU definition.

“Procedure” indicates that the measurement procedure must be stated somewhere else than the NPU code and there may be difficulties in comparing values for the same NPU code.

Reference
  1. Ferard G, Dybkaer R, Fuentes-Arderiu X. Compendium of Terminology and Nomenclature of Properties in Clinical Laboratory Sciences : Recommendations 2016. 1 ed: Royal Society of Chemistry; 2016. 182 p.
  2. Mesures BIdPe. International Vocabulary of Metrology – Basic and General Concepts and Associated Terms VIM 3rd edition JCGM 200:2012 (JCGM 200:2008 with minor corrections). https://www.bipm.org: Bureau International des Poids et Mesures; 2008.

Laboratory field

Examples

Allergology

 Example 1
Generic abbreviated form NPU08839 Basocs(B)—Birch pollen induced HR; arb.am.s.(t3; proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU08839 Basophilocytes(Blood)—Birch pollen induced Histamine Release; arbitrary amount-of-substance(t3; procedure) = low
Abbreviated form with a result NPU08839 Basocs(B)—Birch pollen induced HR; arb.am.s.(t3; proc.) = low
Written expression The arbitrary amount-of-substance of Birch pollen induced Histamine Release of basophilocytes in Mr Smith’s blood is [low], compared with arbitrary amount-of-substance of Birch pollen induced Histamine Release of basophilocytes in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory. Birch pollen is defined by the preparation by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, http://ila37.clsi.org/) current code, t3.
Notes
  1. The reference system is defined by the laboratory.
  2. “Low” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.
Example 2
Generic abbreviated form NPU08850 Basocs(B)—Cow’s milk induced HR; arb.am.s.(f2; proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU08850 Basophilocytes(Blood)—Cow’s milk induced Histamine Release; arbitrary amount-of-substance(f2; procedure) =  2
Abbreviated form with a result NPU08850 Basocs(B)—Cow’s milk induced HR; arb.am.s.(f2; proc.) = 2
Written expression The arbitrary amount-of-substance of Cow’s milk induced Histamine Release of basophilocytes in Mr Smith’s blood is [2], compared with arbitrary amount-of-substance of Cow’s milk induced Histamine Release of basophilocytes in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory. Cow’s milk is defined by the preparation by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, http://ila37.clsi.org/) current code, f2.
Notes
  1. The reference system is defined by the laboratory.
  2. “2” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Reference

 NPU database, https://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-scientific-division/sd-committees/c-npu/npusearch/ and http://www.labterm.dk/default.aspx

    • Kind-of-property

      • Nominal kind-of-property

      • Kind-of-quantity

        • Ordinal kind-of-quantity

          • Arbitrary amount-of-substance

Reference
  • Dybkaer R. Concept system on ‘quantity’: formation and terminology. Accredit Qual Assur. 2013;18(3):253-60.
  • Dybkaer R. ISO terminological analysis of the VIM3 concepts ‘quantity’ and ‘kind-of-quantity’. Metrologia. 2010;47(3):127-34.
Date Term Note Reference
1996-01-01 Arbitrary amount-of-substance Term established. NPU database, https://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-scientific-division/sd-committees/c-npu/npusearch/ and http://www.labterm.dk/default.aspx

NPU term identifier

 QU50129
Date Note Example
2019-03-03 The concept has so far only been used in the field of allergology laboratory medicine, but is not restricted to this laboratory field.