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Biomedical subjects

N Crofts

Publications and source records attributed to N Crofts.

93 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

An evaluation of competitive and second generation ELISA screening tests for antibody to HIV.

Two competitive anti-HIV ELISA screening assays (Behring and Wellcozyme) and two second generation assays using antigens generated by recombinant DNA technology (Abbott) and synthetic peptides (Biochrom) were evaluated against common panels of anti-HIV positive sera and sera known or thought likely to give false positive reactions. The assays were also tested on fresh sequential blood donations. Conventional estimates of sensitivity and specificity did not reveal a significant difference between the assays. Statistical analyses using log10 transformed data to determine delta values (the distance of the mean optical density (OD) ratio from the cut-off measured in standard deviation units) showed the Abbott assays to have the highest probability (greater than 99.99%) of detecting anti-HIV positive samples and the Behring assay as having the highest probability (greater than 99.99%) of correctly identifying anti-HIV negative specimens. The combined data from conventional estimates of sensitivity and specificity and delta values suggests that the Abbott assay is the test of choice for screening purposes.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genital chlamydial infection: diagnostic practices of general practitioners in Melbourne, Australia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is marked underdiagnosis of genital chlamydial infection in Victoria, Australia, and little is known about the diagnostic or treatment practices of general practitioners (GPs) for this condition. Such information is required to develop more effective epidemiologic surveillance and control of this disease in Australia. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To measure indicators of knowledge and practices of GPs in Melbourne in relation to their diagnosis and management of genital chlamydial infection. STUDY DESIGN: A self-administered questionnaire delivered by mail to a random sample of 327 Melbourne GPs. RESULTS: The response rate was 83%. Female doctors were significantly more likely to test symptomatic patients and to screen asymptomatic patients than were male doctors. Having a large proportion of patients in the high-risk age groups was not a reliable predictor of diagnostic practices. Only 49% of respondents knew how to correctly take specimens for diagnosis of chlamydial infection, and only 41% knew the disease is notifiable. CONCLUSION: Underdiagnosis of chlamydia is due partially to general practitioners having a low level of suspicion of the disease in their patients and to inappropriate specimen collection technique. The present system of chlamydia surveillance is inadequately measuring disease trends, and the information from this survey should be useful in the development of medical training programs.

Adult↗