Arbitrary rate (arb.rate)

Abbreviation

Arb.rate

Definition in words

Arbitrary rate of component B in system 1 compared with arbitrary rate 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 1

Value 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

Clinical Chemistry Example 1
Generic abbreviated form NPU17681 Cns—Immunoglobulin M production; arb.rate(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU17681 Central nervous system—Immunoglobulin M production; arbitrary rate(procedure) = very high
Abbreviated form with a result NPU17681 Cns—Immunoglobulin M production; arb.rate(proc.) = very high
Written expression The arbitrary rate of Immunoglobulin M production in Mr Smith’s central nervous system is [very high] compared to the arbitrary rate of Immunoglobulin M production 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.

Example 2
Generic abbreviated form NPU17680 Cns—Immunoglobulin A production; arb.rate(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU17680 Central nervous system—Immunoglobulin A production; arbitrary rate(procedure) = 2
Abbreviated form with a result NPU17680 Cns—Immunoglobulin A production; arb.rate(proc.) = 2
Written expression The arbitrary rate of Immunoglobulin A production in Mr Smith’s central nervous system is [2] compared to the arbitrary rate of Immunoglobulin A production 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.

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

 Clinical Microbiology Example 3
 

Generic abbreviated form

NPU56150 Csf—Borrelia antibody production; arb.rate(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU56150 Cerebro spinal fluid—Borrelia antibody production; arbitrary rate(procedure) = none
Abbreviated form with a result NPU56150 Csf—Borrelia antibody production; arb.rate(proc.) = none
Written expression The arbitrary rate of Borrelia antibody production in Mr Smith’s central nervous system is [none] compared to the arbitrary rate of Borrelia antibody production 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.

Example 4
Generic abbreviated form NPU29229 T-lymcs(B)—Interferon gamma release(TB-related); arb.rate(proc.) = ?
Full form with a result NPU29229 T-lymphocytes(Blood)—Interferon gamma release(Tuberculosis-related); arbitrary rate(procedure) = +
Abbreviated form with a result NPU29229 T-lymcs(B)—Interferon gamma release(TB-related); arb.rate(proc.) = +
Written expression The arbitrary rate of Tuberculosis-related Interferon gamma release in Mr Smith’s central nervous system is [+] compared to the arbitrary rate of Tuberculosis-related Interferon gamma release 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.

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 rate

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 rate Term established