Evaluation of the mouse test for the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A generation ago, the determination of urinary 17-hydroxycorticoids was the best available laboratory procedure for assessing adrenocortical function. Today, the plasma cortisol concentration, measured by radioimmunoassay, is a much more specific and reliable parameter, particularly in combination with simple functional tests, which are also suitable for ambulatory patients. The most appropriate tests of adrenocortical function for the diagnosis or exclusion of Cushing's syndrome or of primary and secondary adrenocortical failure are briefly described. Substitution therapy in patients with adrenocortical insufficiency must be evaluated by clinical criteria and not by steroid analysis.
Neurocysticercosis is a common disease in underdeveloped countries. Its diagnosis is based on clinical, imaging (tomography or magnetic resonance), epidemiological, and laboratory data. Several methods based on the detection of antibodies against cysticerci in cerebrospinal fluid or serum have been tested. Among them, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the use of a crude parasite antigen has been used by the laboratory network of cysticercosis in Mexico, which has given support to clinicians for up to 7 years. A Taenia solium-specific glycoprotein-based electroimmunotransfer blot (EITB) assay was reported to be highly sensitive and specific for this purpose. In order to compare both techniques, we studied 100 neurocysticercosis patients and 70 neurological noncysticercosis controls and searched for specific antibodies in paired samples of serum and cerebrospinal fluid using both techniques. We found that the EITB assay is more sensitive than the ELISA, especially when serum is being tested. Both techniques are more sensitive in cases with multiple living cysts than in cases with single cysts or calcified lesions. No global differences among cases with parasites located in different parts of the central nervous system were found. In the patients with cysts within the parenchyma, the sensitivity of the EITB assay was higher with serum than with cerebrospinal fluid. The immunodominant bands were found to be the same as those previously reported, i.e., GP-39 to -42, GP-24, and GP-13. Based on these results, we suggest the use of the EITB assay in routine diagnosis of cysticercosis for clinical cases.
By following a systematic approach to the patient history, physical examination, and laboratory analysis in cases of infections, rapid and accurate therapeutic intervention becomes possible. This action can prevent possibly devastating infectious complications, ranging from partial amputation to death. The current litigious climate dictates thorough evaluation and documentation of all infectious diseases of the lower extremity.
The complex clinico-laboratory examination of 120 infertile married couples and 120 couples with habitual miscarriage was made. For control, 96 healthy married couples were used. The microbiological risk factors of chronic pelvic inflammatory diseases were determined, namely: mixed parasitocenosis, including active anaerobic, viral and fungal components, as well as Chlamydia trachomatis. As shown in this study, metabolically active forms of chlamydial infection were characteristic of infertile married women and persistent forms of C. trachomatis, for pregnant women. At the same time chlamydial infection did not cause infertility in males. The use two of levels of laboratory tests for qualitative, quantitative and functional evaluation of parasitocenoses were proposed.
From the experiences in the field of scientific organisation of the last years results a laboratory-diagnostic model with an automatic laboratory, a district laboratory and larger central units, so-called coordination laboratories which work together with about 10 to 20 laboratories and guarantee an up-to-date diagnostic spectre for the whole territory. Apart from the increasing investigation frequency, a constant dilatation of the diagnostic spectre and improved quality control of structural conditions must be taken into consideration. The constructed model which demands the collaboration of all institutions meets these critical problems. A central balancing should also extend to the personal and technical apparative capacity. Apart from this the system is to be extended by further automation in the sense of a machine activity with improvement by control and regulation processes. An electronic data processing improves the functional capacity only when the analytic data processing has achieved a high level. The cooperation in the field of laboratory diagnostics is not only a task in scientific organisation, but in the same way also scientific problems are solved together. The requirements increasing in qualitative and quantitative respect may optimally be fulfilled only by the two partners, clinic and laboratory. With increasing independence the laboratories should in scientific and organizational respect remain a place of meeting for laboratory scientist and physician.
BACKGROUND: As clinical diagnosis of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia (HAT) is often difficult, confirmation by sensitive laboratory assays is desirable. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The sensitivity of the heparin-induced platelet activation (HIPA) test and the platelet aggregation test (PAT) was prospectively compared by using the sera of 209 patients with the putative diagnosis of HAT. Both assays were performed concomitantly with platelets of the same four donors using a different combination of donors from day to day. Further, all sera were assessed with a platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Positive results were obtained with 33 percent of sera in the PF4/heparin ELISA, with 33.5 percent of sera in the HIPA test, and with 11.5 percent of sera in the PAT. The PF4/heparin ELISA and the HIPA test showed no difference in sensitivity (p = 0.27 by McNemar's test) and were more sensitive than PAT (p < 10(-8) by McNemar's test). However, they recognized different patient cohorts. Nine HIPA-indeterminate and 12 HIPA-negative sera were positive in the PF4/heparin ELISA. Eight of the nine indeterminate sera caused platelet activation with high heparin concentrations in the HIPA test. Eleven of the 12 negative sera contained no IgG, but 9 contained IgM and 2 contained IgA HAT antibodies. Four sera that were indeterminate in the PF4/heparin ELISA and 18 sera that were negative were positive in the HIPA test. None of the sera that were positive in the PAT was missed in the HIPA test, but two of those were negative in the PF4/heparin ELISA. All sera were assessed with four low-molecular-weight heparins and a low-molecular-weight heparinoid in the HIPA test with platelets from the same four donors. Low-molecular-weight heparin caused platelet activation with positive sera in 98 percent of tests, and the heparinoid did so in 10 percent; in a further 12.8 percent, crossreactivity to the low-molecular-weight heparinoid could not be excluded. CONCLUSION: The majority of HAT antibodies react with a PF4/heparin complex, but there is strong evidence that other antigens are involved in some patients. The HIPA test and the PF4/heparin ELISA are sensitive for diagnosing HAT, and they complement one another.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.