No abstract

A robust testing method for simultaneous quantitation of urinary HVA and VMA by GCMS was developed. This method is accurate, precise and fit for its clinical purpose and suitable for developing countries. Age-related reference intervals of urinary HVA and VMA were established for Vietnamese children and the intervals declined progressively with increasing age for each analyte.

No abstract

Johnston and Jupp' described an interesting case of factitious hypocalcaemia in which the blood sample had been taken from the collection bag used to contain the patient's blood after venesection. This bag contained citrate as an anticoagulant and the resultant calcium concentration was low because the citrate complexed with the calcium and did not reflect the patient's in vivo calcium concentration. We encountered the opposite problem when reviewing a case. A boy, 13 years old, was investigated for a progressively enlarging, nontender swelling of his neck. He had poor appetite, vomited after food intake, felt lethargic and had abdominal pain. He had a temperature of 101°F. On examination he had bilateral enlarged submandibular lymph nodes and enlarged posterior cervical chain lymph nodes. Full blood count was as shown in Table I. A diagnosis of acute lymphatic leukaemia was made. It was planned to start chemotherapy but because of the risk of tumour lysis WBC = white blood cells.