The section is responsible for a large number of WHO International Standards and other reference materials, used worldwide in the assessment and development of assays and tests used in the diagnosis of disorders of the endocrine system. These standards are essential for external quality assessment services in clinical endocrinology and are important for the global harmonisation of immunoassays for endocrine analytes, for example the recent harmonisation in the reporting of GH units in terms of the new IS for Somatrophin (98/574).

Recently established WHO International Standards for endocrine diagnostics.

Current and future standardisation projects for endocrine diagnostics.

The full list of reference materials for protein hormones and endocrine products can be found here. The provision of WHO International Standards for both the diagnostic and therapeutic communities relies on the generous donations of materials from manufacturers and other interested parties. We are currently planning collaborative studies to establish replacement standards for prolactin, menotrophin (FSH/LH), proinsulin, C-peptide and recombinant erythropoietin. If you are able to donate materials or wish to participate in the collaborative study for any of these standards then please contact chris.burns@nibsc.hpa.org.uk or melanie.moore@nibsc.hpa.org.uk for more information.