Vitamin D Test Inaccuracies Persist Despite Gains in Field: CDC.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some vitamin D tests may still provide inaccurate results despite efforts to improve their quality. The CDC's Vitamin D Standardization-Certification Program (VDSCP) has made progress in addressing these inaccuracies, but sample-specific errors remain. For example, some tests measure compounds other than 25-hydroxyvitamin D, leading to falsely elevated results. While most tests are effective, healthcare providers should be aware of these inconsistencies to avoid misclassifying patients. The CDC's certification program has helped improve test accuracy by providing feedback to labs and companies. However, there are still immunoassays on the market that do not provide correct results. The VDSCP has seen positive trends, with average calibration bias for all assays being less than 1% in 2022. The CDC supports laboratories and researchers worldwide through the VDSCP. The Endocrine Society recommends against routine testing of blood vitamin D levels in the general population, as the causal link between vitamin D levels and many disorders has not been clearly established. The US Preventive Services Task Force also has doubts about widespread vitamin D testing, citing insufficient evidence to recommend for or against it. More research is needed to determine the benefits and harms of vitamin D screening. [Extracted from the article]