Arbitrary concentration (arb.c.)

Abbreviation

Arb.c.

Definition in words

Concentration of component B in system 1 compared with concentration of component B in a reference system

Note: The reference system is defined by the laboratory

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 1Value set={none < some < high < very high}

    Example 2

    Value set={low < normal< high }

    Example 3

    Value set={0 < 1 < 2}

    Example 4

    Value set={negative < positive}

    Example 5

    Value set={+ < ++ < +++}

  • Algebraic operations are not allowed (Ref. 2, 1.26)
  • Possible comparison of values (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 NPU11389 P—Goose feather antibody(IgE); arb.c.(e70; proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU11389 Plasma—Goose feather antibody(Immunglobulin E); arbitrary concentration(e70; procedure) = 0
Abbreviated form with a result NPU11389 P—Goose feather antibody(IgE); arb.c.(e70; proc.) = 0
Written expression The concentration of Goose feather antibody(Immunglobulin E) in Mr. Smith’s plasma is [0], compared with the concentration of Goose feather antibody(Immunglobulin E) in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory, e70 (CLSI current code, http://ila37.clsi.org/ ) is the preparation that defines Goose feather.
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“0” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Clinical Chemistry Example 2
Generic abbreviated form NPU17675 P—M-component; arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU17675 Plasma—M-component; arbitrary concentration(procedure) = None
Abbreviated form with a result NPU17675 P—M-component; arb.c.(proc.) = None
Written expression The concentration of M-component in Mr. Smith’s plasma is [none], compared with the concentration of M-component in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“None” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Clinical Pharmacology
Example 3
Generic abbreviated form NPU53587 Saliva—2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine; arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU53587 Saliva—2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine; arbitrary concentration(procedure) = high
Abbreviated form with a result NPU53587 Saliva—2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine; arb.c.(proc.) = high
Written expression The arbitrary concentration of 2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine in Mr. Smith’s saliva is [high], compared with the arbitrary concentration of 2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“High” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Clinical Immunology and Blood banking Example 4
Generic abbreviated form NPU58219 Csf—Gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1+2 antibody(IgG); arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU58219 Cerebrospinal fluid—Gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1+2 antibody(IgG); arb.c.(proc.) = very high
Abbreviated form with a result NPU58219 Csf—Gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1+2 antibody(IgG); arb.c.(proc.) = very high
Written expression The concentration of Gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1+2 antibody(IgG) in Mr. Smith’s Cerebrospinal fluid is [very high], compared with the concentration of Gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1+2 antibody(IgG) in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“Very high” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Clinical microbiology Example 5
Generic abbreviated form NPU58236 Secr(Pharynx)—Influenza A virus H3N2(RNA); arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU58236 Secret(Pharynx)—Influenza A virus H3N2(RNA); arbitrary concentration(procedure) = negative
Abbreviated form with a result NPU58236 Secr(Pharynx)—Influenza A virus H3N2(RNA); arb.c.(proc.) = negative
Written expression The concentration of Influenza A virus H3N2(RNA) in Mrs. Smith’s Secr(Pharynx) is [negative], compared with the concentration of Influenza A virus H3N2(RNA) in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“Negative” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Molecular biology and genetics Example 6
Generic abbreviated form NPU17785 Amf—Dehydro-cholesterol; arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU17785 Amniotic fluid—Dehydro-cholesterol; arbitrary concentration(procedure) = 4
Abbreviated form with a result NPU17785 Amf—Dehydro-cholesterol; arb.c.(proc.) = 4
Written expression The concentration of Dehydro-cholesterol in Mrs. Smith’s Amniotic fluid is [4], compared with the concentration of Dehydro-cholesterol in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Nores

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“4” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Reproduction and Fertility Example 7
Generic abbreviated form NPU18192 Sem—Leukocytes; arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU18192 Semen—Leukocytes; arbitrary concentration(procedure) = some
Abbreviated form with a result NPU18192 Sem—Leukocytes; arb.c.(proc.) = some
Written expression The concentration of Leukocytes in Ms. Smith’s Semen is [some], compared with the concentration of Leukocytes in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“Some” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Thrombosis and Haemostasis Example 8
Generic abbreviated form NPU02616 P—Lupus anticoagulant; arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU02616 Plasma—Lupus anticoagulant; arbitrary concentration(procedure) = +
Abbreviated form with a result NPU02616 P—Lupus anticoagulant; arb.c.(proc.) = +
Written expression The concentration of Lupus anticoagulant; in Mrs. Smith’s plasma is [+], compared with the concentration of Influenza A virus H3N2(RNA) in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“+” is a value according to a value set defined by the laboratory.

Clinical Toxicology Example 9
Generic abbreviated form NPU08955 U—Cocaine+metabolite; arb.c.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU08955 Urine—Cocaine+metabolite; arbitrary concentration(procedure) = low
Abbreviated form with a result NPU08955 U—Cocaine+metabolite; arb.c.(proc.) = low
Written expression The concentration of Cocaine+metabolite in Mr. Smith’s urine is [low], compared with the concentration of Cocaine+metabolite in a reference system. The measurement is performed according to a procedure defined by the laboratory,
Notes

The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

“Low” 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

      • Unitary kind-of-quantity

      • Ordinal kind-of-quantity

        • Arbitrary concentration

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 of entry Term Note Reference
1996-01-01 Arbitrary concentration Term established NPU database, https://www.ifcc.org/ifcc-scientific-division/sd-committees/c-npu/npusearch/ and http://www.labterm.dk/default.aspx