Access analyzer

Complete blood counts were measured with Unicel DxH800 Coulter Cell Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) from K2EDTA samples. Serum LDH, creatinine, and ALT parameters were analyzed with AU 680 (Beckman Coulter, USA) spectrophotometrically. Ferritin levels were measured with a two-site immunoenzymatic assay in Access Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA). D-dimer parameter was quantitated with an immunoturbidimetric assay in 3.2% sodium citrated venous plasma (STA Compact, Diagnostica Stago, France). hs-CRP levels were measured nephelometrically (BN Prospec, Dade Behring, Germany). TSH, FT3, FT4, TPOAb, and TGAb parameters were measured by paramagnetic particle, chemiluminescent immunoassays in serum samples (DxI800, Beckman Coulter, USA). The reference range for TSH was 0.34–5.60 mU/L, for FT3 was 2.6–4.37 ng/L (0.061–0.103 pmol/L), and for FT4 was 0.61–1.12 ng/dl (0.144–0.26 pmol/L). TGAb was 0–115 IU/ml, and TPOAb was 0–34 IU/ml.
FSH and LH levels were also measured by paramagnetic particle, chemiluminescent immunoassays in serum samples (DxI800, Beckman Coulter, USA). Estradiol and testosterone levels were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Modular Analytics E170, Roche Diagnostics, Germany).

Blood concentration of fasting glucose, low and high density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides was measured using commercially available kits on a Roche/Hitachi 912 (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). Insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), apoliprotein-A1, and-B100 (Apo-A1 and Apo-B) levels were assessed using immunochemical methods and an Access Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, CA, USA). Creatinine was measured by Jaffè method, fibrinogen by Clauss method, and urea by a colorimetric method. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured in all subjects using an HPLC auto-analyzer Adams HA 8160 (Menarini, Italy). All these determinations were performed according to the manufacturer's specifications, and quality control was within the recommended precision for each test.