What is is called when the RI is adopted from another source (e.g., manufacturer, reference laboratory)?

• A. Transference
• B. Transfer
• C. Adoption
• D. Acquisition

Answer: (A)

When a reference interval is adopted from another source for use with your own testing platform, the process is called transference. This term conveys the act of moving an established reference interval from a manufacturer or reference laboratory into your lab’s method and population context. It recognizes that the RI wasn’t developed locally by you but is being applied to your assay, often with verification to ensure it still fits your instrument and patient population.

Transfer is a nearby idea but not the formal term used in this context. Adoption and acquisition imply different nuances: adoption is a generic acceptance without specifying the transfer of an external standard, and acquisition suggests obtaining something new through study or acquisition rather than simply using an existing external RI.