A new study by the IFCC‑IOF Committee for Bone Metabolism shows large within- and between-assay variation for ß-CTX measurement; until harmonization is achieved, proposes measuring ß-CTX by the same assay on EDTA plasma, especially for research.

Bone turnover markers, and specifically bone resorption markers, are commonly used to monitor patients' response to pharmacological treatment and adherence.

In 2011, the Joint Committee on Bone Marker Standards of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) designated Procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP) and the C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ß-CTX) in blood as reference bone turnover markers for bone formation and bone resorption, respectively, in osteoporosis.

However, the effective clinical implementation of these recommendations requires the standardization/harmonization of the different commercial assays.

In its latest publication, published in the journal 'Calcified Tissue International', the IFCC-IOF joint Committee has carried out a multicentre evaluation of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ß-CTX) with the current assays used in clinical laboratories. For the study, four centres (Athens GR, Copenhagen DK, Liege BE and Sheffield UK) collected serum and EDTA plasma samples from 796 patients presenting to osteoporosis clinics.

The study derived regression equations for the interconversion of ß-CTX results assayed on serum and plasma specimens, and between Roche cobas e, IDS iSYS immunoassay platforms and IDS manual ELISA. The study findings and recommendations include:

• Significant variation was found between the individual centres;
• No useful regression equation could be calculated to harmonize results obtained with the different platforms, mainly because of the large between-centre variations;
• Until harmonization is achieved, the IFCC-IOF Committee recommends measuring ß-CTX by the same assay on EDTA plasma, especially for research purposes in large pharmacological trials where samples can be stored for long periods before they are assayed;
• It is recommended that patients are followed by the same method and that laboratories identify the assay used for ß-CTX determination on their protocols.

Professor Nicholas Harvey, Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors added:

"Together with IFCC, the International Osteoporosis Foundation looks forward to the important next steps which will lead to reliable reference ranges across assays and thus greater capacity for these measures to inform both clinical care and research. The project demonstrates the huge value of such international collaborations in setting the state of the art to improve bone health globally."