Projects

Project LS2 - Traceable reference measurements for clinically significant protein and nucleic acid based diagnostics (Traceable measurements)

Background

The CCQM Bioanalysis Working Group (BAWG) is exploring ways of tying biomeasurements to high order standards, ideally to the SI, in order to improve the long-term comparability of these measurements. Because of the complexity of many biomeasurements, this is not a trivial task. It has therefore devised a route map towards this goal and this project is designed to support activities on two arms of the roadmap, covering protein and nucleic acid measurements.

Although much of the work is focussed on research activities to support this long-term goal, the outputs of the work should have maximum impact. This is achieved by ensuring that, whenever possible, the materials being characterised are of industrial or clinical significance and are made available as reference materials.

Aims and objectives

The overall aim is to support the international work being undertaken to make protein and nucleic acid measurements traceable to the SI by taking key steps down the BAWG route map to these goals. The specific aims of the project are to:

• Co-ordinate a CCQM key comparison on peptide quantification.
• Develop a practical framework for the assignment of higher order reference values to proteins.
• Assign traceable reference values to a clinically significant protein.
• Assign traceable quantitative reference values to a reference panel of relevance to gene expression measurements. 
• Participation in at least two CCQM studies on nucleic acid measurements organised by the BAWG.

Project outputs

• Publication of a paper entitled 'Toward Système International d’Unité-traceable protein quantification: From amino acids to proteins'.
• Publication of a paper entitled – ‘Protein Quantification by Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry of Proteolytic Fragments: Cleavage Rate and Accuracy’.
• Publication of a paper entitled – ‘An international comparability study on quantification of total methyl cytosine content’.
• A poster entitled: ‘Absolute protein quantification and traceability to the SI’ was presented at the HUPO (Human Proteome Organisation) 7th Annual World Congress held in Amsterdam in August 2008.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the NMS helpdesk at LGC.