Software Vendors

Creatinine Standardization Recommendations

Software vendors are crucial partners in the successful implementation of the Creatinine Standardization Program. Software vendors should consider the following:

1. Software provided for laboratory information systems should change the equation used to estimate glomerular filtration rate to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation. Software should provide an option to use either the Original MDRD Study equation or the isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS)-traceable MDRD Study equation so that laboratories can use the equation appropriate for the calibration of their creatinine method.
   
   
2. Because there are legacy recommendations for drug-dose adjustments based on the Cockcroft-Gault and other equations, an option should be provided to adjust the creatinine value used in equations other than the MDRD Study equation based on the relationship between an IDMS-traceable creatinine value and the legacy creatinine method used with these equations. The creatinine method manufacturer has been asked to provide the adjustment parameters; however, the software should be flexible to accept constant and proportional parameters.