Biologic Variation Terminology: I before G, except separate from A

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

One of the least controversial outcomes of the Milan 2014 meeting on Quality Goals was the agreement to standardize the terminology. That is, make sure when we debate quality goals, at least we're all speaking the same language and using the same terminology.

A Letter to the Editor was published in Clinical Chemistry making the suggestion for the standard terms:

Terms and Symbols Used in Studies on Biological Variation: The Need for Harmonization Simunduc A; Kackov S, Miler M, Fraser CG, Petersen PH. Clin Chem 61:2(2015): 438-439

Without further ado:

• CV_I: within-subject biological variation
• CV_G: between-subject biological variation
• CV_A: analytical variation
• RCV: reference change value
• II: index of individuality

We will be changing over the biologic variation tables we have to conform to the new standards.