LGC Standards helps laboratories to shed light on global
vitamin D deficiency04-08-2010 As global concerns about vitamin D deficiency increase, LGC Standards launches range of reference materials for laboratories monitoring vitamin D
With vitamin D deficiency being implicated in an increasing number of medical conditions, LGC Standards, Europe’s leading supplier of reference materials, has launched a range of reference materials for laboratories monitoring vitamin D levels.
Global research is revealing the importance of vitamin D in protecting against a host of health problems such as rickets, cardiovascular disease, various cancers, multiple sclerosis, bone diseases, respiratory infection and depression. It has been suggested that approximately 1 billion people around the world may suffer from some form of vitamin D deficiency. Formation of vitamin D occurs within the body and requires exposure to sunlight. The increasing popularity of indoor activities such as computer gaming, combined with public health policy encouraging people to reduce their exposure to sunlight to reduce the risk of skin cancer may be contributing to the risk of vitamin D deficiency.
The key analytical target compounds for vitamin D monitoring have been identified as hydroxy and dihydroxy metabolites of vitamin D. Monitoring of these key metabolites is now routine, with laboratories using both immunoassay and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and its variants (LC-MSn). The growing availability of LC-MS/MS has permitted the development of assays which can specifically target the required analytes with the greatest clinical significance.
LGC Standards has therefore brought together a range of reference materials to satisfy laboratories’ requirements for instrumental analysis of vitamin D-related substances. These reference materials, from matrix-matched serum samples to deuterium labelled internal standards, provide laboratories with the reference standards they require to deliver accurate and reliable results to clinicians and their patients.
The complete range of vitamin D reference materials available from LGC Standards includes:
Matrix matched materials
| NIST - 972 | Vitamin D metabolites in human serum |
Solutions
| NIST - 2972 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 calibration solutions | | CERH-073 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 (50ug/ml) | | CERH-087 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 (5 μg/ml) | | CERH-083 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (100 μg/ml) | | CERH-086 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (5 μg/ml) |
Solid material
| TRC-C125700 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 | | TRC-H995820 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 | | TRC-C144500 | 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 |
Deuterium labelled materials (all D6 labelled)
| CERH-074 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 | | TRC-C125702 | 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 | | TRC-C144502 | 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 |
These reference materials are available from LGC Standards (www.lgcstandards.com), the division of LGC that provides products and services to support measurement in the laboratory. For prices and ordering information, please email: uksales@lgcstandards.com or tel: +44 (0)20 8943 8480.Notes to editors
About LGC Standards
LGC Standards (www.lgcstandards.com) provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within the laboratory, and is part of LGC, whose Science & Technology Division acts as the UK National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurements. LGC Standards supplies over 20,000 reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards, proficiency testing and training in analytical quality. LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, China, Russia and the UK, a joint venture presence in India, and representatives in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey and the US.
About LGC
LGC (www.lgc.co.uk) is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. A progressive and innovative enterprise, LGC operates in socially responsible fields underpinning the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for UK government departments and blue chip clients.
LGC operates internationally through four divisions - LGC Forensics, LGC Genomics, LGC Standards, and LGC Science & Technology, which includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supporting LGC's designated role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurement.
Our operations are extensively accredited to international quality standards such as ISO 17025. With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, the LGC Group employs 1500 staff in 28 laboratories and centres across Europe and at sites in India, China and the US. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint, LGC was founded almost 170 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist - a statutory function maintained by LGC today.
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