Arbitrary content (arb.cont.)

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

Arbitrary content (arb.cont.)

Abbreviation

 Arb.cont.

Definition in words

Arbitrary content of component B in system 1 compared with arbitrary content of component B in a reference system.

Note 1: The reference system is defined by the laboratory.

Note 2: Content refers to mass of system 1 or a system 1 in solid state.

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={+ < ++ < +++}
  • No algebraic operations among those quantities exist [ref. 2, concept 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
Clinical Chemistry Example 1
Generic abbreviated form NPU01393 F—Haemoglobin; arb.cont.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU01393 Faeces—Haemoglobin; arbitrary content(procedure) = +
Abbreviated form with a result NPU01393 F—Haemoglobin; arb.cont.(proc.) = +
Written expression The arbitrary content of Haemoglobin in Mr. Smith’s Faeces is [+], compared with arbitrary content of Haemoglobin 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 Microbiology Example 2
Generic abbreviated form NPU12110 F—Coxsackievirus; arb.cont.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU12110 Faeces—Coxsackievirus; arbitrary content(procedure) = none
Abbreviated form with a result NPU12110 F—Coxsackievirus; arb.cont.(proc.) = none
Written expression The arbitrary content of Coxsackievirus in Mr. Smith’s Faeces is [none], compared with arbitrary content of Coxsackievirus 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 Toxicology
Example 3
Generic abbreviated form NPU53461 Hair—Cocaine; arb.cont.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU53461 Hair—Cocaine; arbitrary content(procedure) = negative
Abbreviated form with a result NPU53461 Hair—Cocaine; arb.cont.(proc.) = negative
Written expression The arbitrary content of Cocaine in Mr. Smith’s hair is [negative], compared with arbitrary content of Cocaine 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 4
Generic abbreviated form NPU27386 DNA(P)—RHD gene; arb.cont.(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU27386 DNA(Plasma)—RHD gene; arbitrary content(procedure) = 1
Abbreviated form with a result NPU27386 DNA(P)—RHD gene; arb.cont.(proc.) = 1
Written expression The arbitrary content of RHD gene of DNA in Mrs. Smith’s Plasma is [1], compared with arbitrary content of RHD gene of DNA 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.

“1” 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 content

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
1996-01-01 Arbitrary content Term established.

NPU term identifier

 QU50105
Date Notes Example
2019-03-19 Arbitrary content should, in principle, only be used for NPU codes that describe an examination in solid patient system (e.g. hair, skin etc.). Patient system that has been exposed for sample treatment is no longer a patient system but some kind of a sample. The sample can be a fluid system but the result should be converted according to a solid patient system..