The CECs of buffer A (blank), the reference serum, and three serum samples (A, B, and C) were determined using the same ILM lot with (white bar) and without (black bar) washing immediately before the assays (A). The fluorescence was corrected by subtracting the blank value (basic diffusion) from each experimental value. (B) Values are presented as mean + SD (n=3). Student’s t-test (unpaired, two-tailed) was used to compare the fluorescence intensity with and without washing; *P<0.05, **P<0.01. Abbreviations: AU, arbitrary unit; NS, not significant.