NEWS(spring '05). - Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology

Latest News - Introduction of eGFRAddition of ‘Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate’ to Biochemistry ReportsFrom 5th September 2005, a value for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the MDRD formula has been includedat no charge on our reports whenever serum creatinine is requested for all patients who are 18 years and over.It is anticipated that provision of the eGFR value based upon serum creatinine measurement and the patient’s age and gender“will lead to a vast increase in detection of chronic kidney disease in Australia” 1 .Previously, changes were made to our reporting of creatinine results in September 2004. The addition of automatic reportingof eGFR to these earlier changes ensures that our practice is fully compliant with the recommendations contained inthe Position Statement of the Australasian Creatinine Consensus Working Group 2 published on 1st August 2005. Itis important to note that there are a number of conditions where use of the MDRD formula is not appropriate for glomerularfiltration rate estimation as shown in the reference material below 3 .Further details about conditions that apply to eGFR interpretation and recommendations concerning patientfollow-up are available at the Kidney Health Australia website (www.kidney.org.au).1 Chadban SJ, Ierino FL. Editorial – Welcome to the era of CKD and the eGFR. MJA 2005; 183 (3): 117-118.2 The Australasian Creatinine Consensus Working Group. Chronic kidney disease and automatic reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate: a positionstatement. MJA 2005; 183 (3): 138-141.3 Kidney Health Australia 2005 eGFR GP Desktop Resource Card - reproduced in part with permission.KIDNEY HEALTH AUSTRALIA GUIDELINESCHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) & eGFReGFR ACTION PLANIf you have any questions about our reporting of eGFR, please do not hesitateto contact Dr Grahame Caldwell on (02) 98 555 312DOUGLASS HANLY MOIR PATHOLOGY • ABN 80 003 332 858A subsidiary of SONIC HEALTHCARE LIMITEDBARRATT & SMITH PATHOLOGYA trading name of DOUGLASS HANLY MOIR PATHOLOGY PTY LTD • ABN 80 003 332 858A subsidiary of SONIC HEALTHCARE LIMITED95 EPPING ROAD • MACQUARIE PARK • NSW 2113 • AUSTRALIATEL 98 555 222 • FAX 9878 5077MAIL ADDRESS • LOCKED BAG 145 • NORTH RYDE • NSW 1670 • AUSTRALIA31 LAWSON STREET • PENRITH • NSW 2750 • AUSTRALIATEL 4734 6500 • FAX 4732 2503MAIL ADDRESS • PO BOX 443 • PENRITH • NSW 2751 • AUSTRALIA