Quality control in tumor marker values: methology, results and potential problems]

Ensuring the quality is one of the first preoccupations of every biologist. However, measuring the circulating tumor markers could be more vital especially that the result is decisive for the diagnostic and the therapeutic attitude. In this study, we report methods used for an internal and external < or = quality control < or = program applied in the immunology laboratory of Sfax university hospital for the dosage of tumor markers AFP, CEA and CA15-3. The results obtained are analysed comparatively with those reported in literature. Factors causing discrepancies in the results of tumor marker measurements are recalled.