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Biomedical subjects

M F Garner

Publications and source records attributed to M F Garner.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1970

The biological false positive reaction to serological tests for syphilis.

Acute and chronic biological false positive reactions to serological tests for syphilis are discussed. Three cases are presented, one showing an acute and one a chronic reaction, and one in which it was not possible to determine if the reaction was acute or chronic. Once a biological false positive reaction is found, serum from the patient should be tested at intervals for at least six months to determine if the reaction is acute or chronic. If a chronic reaction is found the patient should then be investigated to find the underlying cause. Problem sera from 753 patients are reviewed. Biological false positive reactions were shown by 47 sera and 257 sera gave results indicating they came from patients infected with syphilis. The reactive sera were divided into four groups: sera from blood donors, antenatal patients, cases of recent vaccination, and a miscellaneous group. It was found that in the first three groups the number of sera from patients showing biological false positive reactions was equalled or exceeded by the number showing syphilitic reactions. Biological false positive reactions in sera from cases of lepromatous leprosy and in sera from the inhabitants of the Okapa region of New Guinea are also discussed. It is concluded that sera which give reactive results to reagin detection tests for syphilis and come from patients known to have conditions which cause acute or chronic biological false positive reactions should never be dismissed as such. Experience has shown that a number of these sera will give reactive Treponema pallidum immobilization test results, that is, they come from patients who have or have had syphilis.

Adult↗
PubMed1970

Chronic biological false-positive reactions to serological tests for syphilis in blood donors.

Problem sera from 375 blood donors were investigated for biological false-positive reactions to serological tests for syphilis. Problem sera are those sera in which submitting laboratories have found a reactive result to a screening test for syphilis. On each serum a cardiolipin Wassermann reaction, a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, a Reiter protein-complement fixation test, a Treponema pallidum immobilization test, and a fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test were performed. Of the sera 49.9% were found to be non-reactive in all five tests, 28.8% gave results indicating a diagnosis of syphilis, and 21.3% showed biological false-positive reactions. There were 80 sera from blood donors which gave biological false-positive reactions. A further specimen of serum from 67 of these donors was tested after an interval of a minimum of six months. Sixty-six of the sera showed chronic biological false-positive reactions. Some donors were only found reactive for the first time after they had given very many donations of blood. It is concluded that sudden blood loss, as in blood donation, appears to stimulate the production of excess reagin in certain individuals, causing a chronic biological false positive reaction to serological tests for syphilis. This may only appear after several blood donations have been made.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1968

An immunofluorescence method for the diagnosis of primary syphilis using an absorption technique.

An immunofluorescence technique for demonstrating Treponema pallidum in fixed films made from suspected chancre exudate is described. The method used is basically a reversal of the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test. It makes use of the fact that by using a syphilitic serum from which group antibody has been absorbed by an extract of Reiter treponemes, leaving only specific antibody, Treponema pallidum can be indentified. Neither the non-pathogenic genital treponemes nor mouth treponemes showed any fluorescence when tested by the technique described. All the reagents used in the test are available commercially, thus placing it within the scope of any laboratory with suitable fluorescence equipment. In the present state of knowledge of the treponematoses, this technique would seen to be the most accurate means of diagnosing primary syphilis because it permits the specific identification of Treponema pallidum in chancre exudate. It has the advantage over the dark-ground method that fixed films can be sent to the laboratory.

Exudates and Transudates↗
PubMed1968

Treponematosis in the eastern highlands of New Guinea.

Serological tests for treponemal disease were undertaken among the inhabitants of 10 census units in the Eastern Highlands of New Guinea. Many sera gave reactive results to some or all of the tests performed. To exclude biological false positive reactions the Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) test was carried out on each serum, the results being taken to indicate the presence or absence of treponemal disease in the individual. Clinically, leprosy and malaria were rare and no cases of active yaws were seen. Some middle-aged people showed clinical evidence of old yaws infections. The prevalence of treponemal disease in the census units varied from 3.9% to 79.2%, males having a higher prevalence than females. The children under 15 years showed no serological evidence of treponemal disease in all but 3 units, in which the prevalence ranged from 14.3% to 40%. It is concluded that the treponemal disease involved was yaws. Special interest lies in the non-infected children and adults who have no relative cross-immunity from yaws in a country which is rapidly developing.

Adolescent↗