This study aims to establish joint fluid reference levels for Chromium (Cr) and Cobalt (Co) in a reference population of available fluid types. Method performance was evaluated on an existing urine matrix calibration method using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Method performance characteristics, including intra- and inter-assay imprecision, accuracy, linearity, AMR (analytical measurement range), sensitivity, and carryover were determined in accordance with clinical laboratory standards. Additionally, analytical and clinical recoveries were assessed to investigate comparability between available joint fluid types and existing calibrators prepared in urine to demonstrate acceptability of a matrix-substitution design. 124 de-identified joint fluid samples submitted for unrelated testing were used to establish the reference levels. Reference levels were determined, by using the 97.5th percentile, to be <20.4 µg/L for Cr and <29.9 µg/L for Co. In addition, the presented method overcomes the lack of an ample volume of joint fluid to use for matrix matched calibrators by employing a urine-based calibration curve. The data demonstrate acceptable matrix comparability.

这项研究旨在确定可用流体类型的参考人群中铬（Cr）和钴（Co）的联合流体参考水平。通过使用电感耦合等离子体质谱法在现有尿液基质校准方法上评估方法性能。根据临床实验室标准确定方法的性能特征，包括测定内和测定间的不准确性，准确性，线性，AMR（分析测量范围），灵敏度和残留。此外，评估了分析和临床回收率，以调查可用的关节液类型与尿液中制备的现有校准物之间的可比性，以证明基质替代设计的可接受性。提交用于无关测试的124个未识别的关节液样本用于建立参考水平。通过使用第97.5个百分位数确定的参考水平，对于Cr为<20.4 µg / L，对于Co为<29.9 µg / L。此外，本方法克服了缺乏足够体积的用于基体的关节液的问题通过使用基于尿液的校准曲线来匹配校准器。数据表明可接受的基质可比性。