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Department of Biochemistry

The department is included in the Complement of the laboratories of the IHBT. It continuously advocates an independent and impartial assessment of the professional competence of the Complement of Laboratories according to the ČSN EN ISO 15189 standard, the application of which is verified by the Czech Institute for Accreditation. The test methods within the scope of accreditation are defined by the Annex to the Certificate of Accreditation in the current version, which is available on the IHBT website.

The Department of Biochemistry has long been researching changes in the composition and function of low- and high-molecular-weight substances in the blood, which occur in oncohematological diseases, in disorders of haemostasis and in thrombosis, e.g. in cardiovascular diseases.

We investigate the relationships between the different components of the coagulation cascade, from monitoring the activities of serine proteases involved in the formation of the fibrin network, the structure of the formed fibrin network, to fibrinolysis. We identify acquired and inherited mutations in fibrinogen and look for a relationship between the altered structure and its properties. Methodologically, we use novel approaches to study the disease by combining liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for metabolomics and proteomics. We also use 3D imaging, real-time interaction monitoring and theoretical structural biology methods such as molecular modelling and molecular dynamics. The aim of our research work is to elucidate the physiological and pathophysiological processes in selected diseases and to use this knowledge in diagnosis or treatment monitoring.

Within the framework of routine methods, the department offers spectrophotometric determination of free hemoglobin in plasma (accredited method), SRA test for determination of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), genetic and functional fibrinogen testing, determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) by LC-MS/MS for the determination of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), busulfan, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and newly accredited methods for the determination of antifungals (posaconazole, voriconazole, isavuconazole) and immunosuppressants (cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, sirolimus).

The staff is bound by confidentiality according to the Health Services Act, 372/2011 Coll.

Confidence and high data security is one of the basic priorities within the activities of the Complement of Laboratories of the IHBT. The established procedures are carried out in accordance with the Personal Data Processing Act 110/2019 Coll. and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC. More information is available on the IHBT website.