Detection of a High-Dose Hook Effect and Evaluation of Dilutions of Urine Myoglobin Specimens Using a Serum Myoglobin Assay.

This letter to the editor published in the Annals of Laboratory Medicine discusses the detection of a high-dose hook effect and the evaluation of dilutions of urine myoglobin specimens using a serum myoglobin assay. The authors explain that commercially available kits for measuring myoglobin levels are designed for serum or plasma, but severe muscle injuries can lead to myoglobin being released into the urine. The authors conducted experiments to determine the appropriate dilution factor for urine specimens to avoid the hook effect while still obtaining accurate results. They found that a 1:400 dilution was necessary for some specimens to obtain accurate results. The article recommends using a predilution step when analyzing urine specimens using the Roche Myoglobin assay. [Extracted from the article]