Quality Control Materials for Serum Micronutrients
CDC offers sets of value-assigned serum quality control (QC) materials. These materials have been characterized for biomarkers of:
- Water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins,
- Iron status, and
- Inflammation status.
Target laboratories:
Laboratories engaged in public health work assessing micronutrient status in populations.
Program goals:
Improve analytical performance of micronutrient assays by offering QC materials that support in-house quality assurance programs for laboratories engaged in public health work.
Featured analytes:
- Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A and D)
- Water-soluble vitamins (folate and vitamin B12)
- Iron-status indicators (ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor)
- Inflammation indicators (C-reactive protein and alpha-1-glycoprotein)
About the Serum Micronutrient Quality Control Materials
CDC’s Nutritional Biomarkers Branch (NBB) offers sets of value-assigned serum QC materials for biomarkers of nutritional status and inflammation. The laboratory can use the materials to set up an in-house quality assurance program or to supplement an existing program and conduct long-term monitoring of assay performance. CDC’s value assignment uses CLIA-approved routine methods performed over multiple days and in duplicate.
Shipping Schedule
Requesting laboratories must be able to receive frozen samples packed in dry ice, retrieve samples from customs at the airport, and pay for any costs required by customs.
Costs of the Serum Micronutrient Quality Control Materials
CDC offers materials for one (1) analyte, up to three (3) analytes, and up to eight (8) analytes. Requestors pay a user fee to cover CDC’s costs for developing program materials. Requestors also pay for material shipping costs. CDC offers materials for different box sizes: 30, 60, or 100 vials. Sets of 30 vials consist of 2 pools (15 vials/pool); sets of 60 vials consist of 3 pools (20 vials/pool); and sets of 100 vials consist of 5 pools (20 vials/pool).
To request QC products, contact micronutrbiomarkers@cdc.gov. Please include the country and/or laboratory name and “Micronutrients QC Materials” in the subject line.