Bone Metabolism (C-BM)

Membership

As of January 2019 the IFCC has created this Committee on “Bone Metabolism (C-BM)”, formed by the joining of the already existing Working Groups:
- Standardization of Bone Markers Assays (WG-BMA) in collaboration with IOF
- Parathyroid Hormone (WG-PTH)
- Vitamin D Standardization Program (WG-Vit D)

The Terms of Reference

• Standardize PTH assays
• Standardize or harmonize bone markers assays
• Standardize vitamin D metabolites assays

Current Projects   

1. PTH assays

• Create liaison with International Endocrinological, Rheumatological and Nephological organizations
• Define the measurand (what we need to measure for all clinical situations)
• Develop a reference measurement procedure for PTH(1-84) and moieties of clinical interest
• Evaluate the commutability of PTH International standard PTH 95/646 and the need to create primary reference material
• Replicate the RMP in a second lab and create a network of 3-4 reference labs
• Create an accuracy-based external quality assessment scheme
• Constitute an appropriate and international panel of sera and plasma to establish PTH reference intervals
• Specify performance criteria for RMP and routine methods
• Provide services to manufacturers, notably by providing a reliable source for primary reference materials
• Post-survey of the standardization effects

2. Bone markers assays 

• Continue the liaison with IOF and extend to other relevant international societies

        Current CTX and PINP project:

• Complete the multicenter study and harmonize CTX and PINP assays
• Collaborate with EQAS provider(s) to improve the surveys
• Constitute an appropriate and international panel of sera and plasma to establish CTX and PINP reference intervals
• Post-survey of the standardization/harmonization effects.

        Future projects:

• Select biomarkers to be standardized/harmonized (g.: bone alkaline phosphatase, FGF-23, sclerostin).

3. Vitamin D metabolites

• Re-evaluate current VDSP performance guidelines for 25(OH)D
• Establish VDSP performance guidelines for 24,25(OH)2D, C3-epimer and vitamin D binding protein
• Post-survey of the standardization effects
• Propose services to reassess the true value of 25OHD obtained in former epidemiological or interventional studies that had used non-standardized methods

List of Corresponding Members, nominated by National Societies