Protocol for adopting clinical chemistry methods: adoption of assay to model

A protocol is presented for adopting clinical chemistry methods in the service laboratory. The protocol may be used to adopt alternate procedures to those currently in use and for the adoption of new methods not previously performed by the service laboratory. The critical points in method adoption which require consideration are presented along with instruction for the resolution of each critical point. Following the protocol, a manual kinetic g-Glutamyl Tranfserase assay method was adopted in the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Utah Medical Center. The steps taken, from the selection of assay conditions through the introduction of the new test to staff physicians, are described.