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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1975

[Paracoagulation tests in laboratory verification of intravascular coagulation. Comparative clinical evaluation of the SDPS test and of the ethanol test with serial dilution (SD ethanol test)].

The AA. remark that laboratory diagnosis of intravascular coagulation is a still alive methodological problem. The presence in the flowing blood of certain molecules (fdp) that derive from that alteration of fibrinogen metabolism, that is at the basis of any intravascular coagulation syndrome, can be detected by immunological methods. Paracoagulation tests allow on the contrary to detect fibrin monomers and fibrin degradation products (fdp) that are still clottable (nonenzymatic coagulation). The positivity of these ones constitutes therefore an indirect evidence of the effects of thrombin on fibrinogen and keeps us nearer to the pathogenetic moment which is the real basis of any I.C. syndrome. The AA. make here a parallel between the two principal paracoagulation tests that are S.D.P.S. test according to GUREWICH (1971 [7]) and Ethanol Gelation test according to GODAL (1966 [6]) whose details are given. These two tests were performed in parallel in 589 cases which showed clinical evidence or suspicion of I.C. mostly supported by the further clinical courses of the patients. The two tests are both positive only in 164 cases (27,8%); both non-positive in 109 cases (18,6%); S.D.P.S. test is positive alone in 306 cases (51,9%); Godal's test is positive alone in 10 cases (1,7%). These data, supported by clinical course, allow the AA. to think that S.D.P.S. test is more sensitive than Godal's test. Although the AA. make the hypothesis that S.D.P.S. test may be more sensitive owing to its serial diluitions method that allows it to achieve an optimal ratio between the paracoagulant agent and the molecules which are capable to be clotted (paracoagulated). So they modify Godal's test applying to it too the principle of serial diluitions. The details are given. This new Serial Diluition Ethanol Gelation test is therefore performed in parallel with S.D.P.S. test in 314 cases which showed clinical evidence or suspicion of I.C. mostly supported by further clinical courses of the patients. In this second series of 314 patients the two tests are both positive in 138 cases (43,9%); both non-positive in 33 cases (10,5%); S.D.P.S. test was positive alone in 108 cases (34,3%); S.D.E.G. test was positive alone in 35 cases (11,3%). As we can see in this second series S.D.P.S. test remains more sensitive showing positivities in 246 cases (78,2%) whereas S.D.E.G. test is positive in 173 cases (55,2%). In conclusion the application of serial diluitions also to Ethanol Gelation test increase its sensitivity (from 29,5% to 55,2%), but it does not reach S.D.P.S. test's one. S.D.E.G. test may be really useful in clinics because it gives informations within 10 min but its non-positivity must be supported by the results of S.D.P.S. test which on the contrary gives sure informations only after 24 hours.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗
PubMed1986

Quantitative determination of beta-lactamase production in Staphylococcus aureus strains compared to qualitative testing by a microbiological clover leaf test, a chromogenic cephalosporin test and a iodometric test.

One hundred and twelve beta-lactamase producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus with known quantitative production were investigated together with 45 non-beta-lactamase producing derivatives by three qualitative beta-lactamase tests: the microbiological clover leaf test, the iodometric tube test and a chromogenic cephalosporin disc test. For the beta-lactamase producing strains strong positive reactions in the qualitative tests were not correlated with high beta-lactamase production, large degree of extracellularity or high induction ratio in any of the tests. Low beta-lactamase production was not correlated to weak reactions. Best results in identifying beta-lactamase production were obtained using the iodometric test in which 109 of 112 beta-lactamase producing strains were positive and no false positive reactions were observed. Some strains had only weak positive reactions but they were easily read. The clover leaf test and the chromogenic cephalosporin test detected 105 and 107 of 112 strains, respectively. The chromogenic cephalosporin disc test had more weakly reacting strains, which were difficult to read, especially among strains of phage type 95. Three non-beta-lactamase producing strains of phage type 95 were positive in the clover leaf test. It is concluded that the iodometric tube test is the most useful one for qualitative determination of beta-lactamase production in S. aureus. It is recommended as control when normal susceptibility testing for penicillin has shown susceptibility or doubtful susceptibility. Furthermore, it is useful when no susceptibility testing has been carried out and a rapid result is needed.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1989

[A study of caries activity test. 1. Comparison of MSBB test, Cariostat test, RD test].

In the present study, experiments were performed using three variations of the caries activity test: the modified MSBB test (MSBB test), Cariostat test and Resazurin Disk test (RD test). The subjects of experiment I consisted of 147 patients treated in Nippon Dental University Hospital and first- and second-year students of Affiliated School of Dental Hygiene. Those of experiment II consisted of 25 men and women, aged 14 to 28 years. Experiment I was performed to determine the influence of the subject's concept of dental hygiene, DMF rate, presence or absence of regular brushing and skill in brushing, on the scores of MSBB and Cariostat test, and to determine whether or not there was a correlation between these two test. In experiment II, the correlation between the MSBB and Cariostat tests was studied, using the RD test as a standard. In experiment I, a comparison of MSBB scores before and after practice in dental hygiene revealed significantly decreased caries activity in the first-year students. Similar results were obtained by the Cariostat test. There was a positive correlation between the scores of the MSBB and Cariostat tests. The second-year students, who were considered to have a relatively good sense of oral hygiene, had the lowest scores. Experiment II revealed a correlation between the scores of the RD and MSBB tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Mutagenicity testing of ST-film with the Ames test, chromosome test in vitro and micronucleus test in female mice.

The mutagenicity of ST-film and its components polyoxyethylenenonylether (NP-10) and polyvinylalcohol (PVAL) were studied by a reverse mutation test in S. typhimurium (Ames test), a chromosome test in cultured Chinese hamster V 79 cells and a micronucleus test in female mice. The results obtained from these test systems were all negative. Thus, it may be concluded that ST-film is not mutagenic either in vitro or in vivo mutagenicity testing systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Comparative study of three tests (dye test, indirect haemagglutination test, latex agglutination test) for the detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in human sera.

An evaluation has been made of a commercial latex agglutination test, Toxotest-MT (TMT) (Eiken, Japan), for the detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in human sera. In qualitative studies, 878 sera were examined in both the TMT and dye test (DT) and 96.6% agreement was found, In quantitative studies 339 sera were titrated in the TMT and DT, with 337 of these sera also titrated in the indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT). Agreement between the DT and TMT was best, 78% of the sera showing titres within +/- 1 dilution in the two tests. The IHAT and TMT gave 66% agreement, while the DT and IHAT showed least agreement, 40.9%. The results suggest that the pattern of antigenic determinants to which antibody levels are measured are different in the three test systems. The TMT is a better substitute for the DT than the IHAT.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1982

Mutagenicity and dominant lethal test of kojic acid--Ames test, forward mutation test in cultured Chinese hamster cells and dominant lethal test in mice.

The mutagenicity of kojic acid was studied by means of reversion mutation test in bacteria (Ames test), forward mutation test in cultured Chinese hamster cells and dominant lethal test in mice. A positive result was obtained only in Ames test (TA 98, 1535 and 100) which was not modified by the presence of S-9 fraction. Thus, it is concluded that although kojic acid is a weak mutagen in bacteria, it is nonmutagenic in eukaryotic systems either in vivo or in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A direct immunofluorescence test for the detection of sperm surface bound antibodies. Comparison with sperm agglutination test, indirect IF test and MAR test.

A direct immunofluorescence (DIF) test using sperm suspensions and F (ab')2 antisera was carried out on 30 patients with sperm-agglutinating (SA) activity and on 25 negative controls. Its results were related with the occurrence of SA activity in serum and seminal plasma, with the results of the indirect IF test and those of the direct IgG-MAR test. DIF test gave positive results in all patients with significant serum SA activity, even when it was undetectable in seminal plasma, except in 2 cases with serum IF-reactivity for IgM, and negative results in all controls. IgG were involved in IF-reactivity in 88.4% of positive cases and IgA in 42.3%. IgA were always found in association with sustained SA activity in seminal plasma. In these cases the IgG-MAR test might not result strongly positive, in spite of the high titre of SA activity in semen.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1993

Genotoxicity testing of the herbicide Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosate isopropylamine using the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test, Salmonella mutagenicity test, and Allium anaphase-telophase test.

The genotoxic potential of the herbicide Roundup and its active agent, glyphosate isopropylamine salt, was studied in three different assays. No clastogenic effects were found in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test for either of the two agents. In the Salmonella assay only Roundup was tested. It showed a weak mutagenic effect for the concentrations 360 micrograms/plate in TA98 (without S9) and 720 micrograms/plate in TA100 (with S9). These concentrations are close to the toxic level. The anaphase-telophase Allium test showed no effect for the glyphosate isopropylamine salt, but a significant increase in chromosome aberrations appeared after treatment with Roundup at concentrations of 1.44 and 2.88 mg/l when calculated as glyphosate isopropylamine. The most frequent aberrations observed could be characterized as disturbances of the spindle.

Allium↗
PubMed1968

Standardized ability tests and testing. Major issues and the validity of current criticisms of tests are discussed.

At the outset a distinction was made between criticisms directed at the validity of tests and criticisms not affected by the validity of the tests. It was noted further that all criticisms of tests must take into consideration the type of test and the use to which the test is put. Criticisms of the validity of tests involved the following issues: (i) tests may be unfair to certain groups and individuals, including the extremely gifted, the culturally disadvantaged, and those who lack experience in taking tests; (ii) tests are not perfect predictors of subsequent performance; (iii) tests may be used in overly rigid ways; (iv) tests may not measure inherent qualities of individuals; and (v) tests may contribute to their own predictive validity by serving as self-fulfilling prophecies. Criticisms that are more or less independent of test validity included the effects of tests on (i) thinking patterns of those tested frequently; (ii) school curricula; (iii) self-image, motivation, and aspirations; (iv) groups using tests as a criterion for selection or allocation, or both; and (v) privacy. Several concluding remarks are in order: 1) This paper has focused almost entirely on criticisms of tests. However, the positive value of standardized tests should not be ignored. Here we must keep in mind what possible alternative measures would be used if standardized tests were abandoned. 2) We must begin thinking about tests in a much broader perspective- one that includes consideration of the social effects of tests as well as their validity and reliability. 3) Finally, an effort should be made to develop rational and systematic policies on the use of tests with the culturally disadvantaged, the dissemination of test results, and the problem of invasion of privacy. Such policies can be formulated only if we are willing to take a long hard look at the role we want testing to play in the society. Standardized tests currently are a cornerstone in the edifice of stratification in American society. It is up to the social scientist to conduct research that will enable policy makers in education, business and industry, and government to determine in a consistent and rational way the ultimate shape of this edifice.

Achievement↗
PubMed1975

[Potency testing of inactivated rabies vaccines with the antibody binding test in comparison with the NIH and habel test(author's transl)].

The Antibody Binding Test, a new technique for the evaluation of inactivated Rabies vaccines, developed by Arko, Wiktor and Sikes, was compared with the NIH- and Habel Test. Various vaccines were tested with these methods with the following results and conclusions. 1. The Habel Test was useful for testing of Hempt vaccines. With highly potent vaccines however it was not possible to get exact protection values, for all vaccinated mice were protected against all virus dilutions. 2. The NIH Test seemed to have an advantage over the Habel Test, since animals are vaccinated only twice, instead of 6 times, within two weeks. But this test was less suitable for the evaluation of Hempt vaccines. The requested Antigenic Value was reached only rarely with these vaccines. Repeated, NIH Tests gave widely differing results with Hempt vaccines. Vaccines which passed the NIH Test also passed the Habel Test, but not always vice versa. Antigenic Values of highly potent vaccines could be determined exactly with the NIH Test. This method is much better standardized by using a Standard vaccine in the test. The NIH Test is preferable for inactivated Rabies vaccines, with the exception of vaccines containing brain tissue, like the Hempt vaccine. 3. The Antibody Binding Test is a useful technique for the examination of inactivated cell culture vaccines. Consistent results can be achieved by skilled and experienced laboratory personnel. To avoid irregularities in the mortality rates, at least 10 mice should be used for each dilution of vaccine. With this method only Rabies virus antigen is measured which is bound by serum antibody during an incubation period of 60 min. Other factors supporting immunization like adjuvant- or booster-effects are not evaluated. Compared with the Habel and NIH Test the Antibody Binding Test is the best method for the evaluation of the amount of antigen in a Rabies vaccine. Hempt vaccines reached - as they did in the NIH Test - only Antigenic Values in this test. Vaccines with an Antigenic Value of larger than or equal to 0,3 in the Antibody Binding Test gave positive results also in the Habel and NIH Test, Vaccines with a Protection Value of 10-3 in the Habel Test and an Antigenic Value of 0,3 in the NIH Test did not always reach an Antigenic Value of 0.3 in the Antibody Binding Test.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Modification of the Rappaport rapid test in large-scale testing for syphilis. Evaluation of the rapid plate and rapid card tests.

The Rappaport rapid (RR) plate and card tests were developed as modifications of the RR tube test to permit rapid and inexpensive screening of large numbers of subjects for the diagnosis of syphilis. More than 2,000 sera were examined in parallel by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) slide test, the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) card test and the RR plate and card tests. There was complete agreement between the RR plate and card tests and the VDRL slide and RPR card tests in 96.6% of sera. In a selected group of 1,530 sera examined, in addition, by the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test, there was agreement between the RR plate and card tests and the FTA-ABS test in 74.3% of sera and between the VDRL and RPR tests and the FTA-ABS test in 73.7% of sera. The RR plate test was found to be sufficiently sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of syphilis, although the VDRL slide test is perhaps more sensitive in primary and late latent syphilis. Since the antigen used in the RR tests is colored and stable and the sera do not require inactivation before the test, the tests are easier to perform than the VDRL slide test: the RR plate and card tests could therefore replace the VDRL test as a screening test, with hardly any loss of accuracy.

Flocculation↗
PubMed1992

A comparative study of test methods for assessment of the biodegradability of chemicals in seawater--screening tests and simulation tests.

A comparative study has been performed on test methods for assessing the biodegradability of chemicals in seawater environments. A simple shake flask die-away test with natural seawater and 14C-labeled chemicals added in microgram/liter concentrations is proposed as a "simulation" test. The analytical parameter used in this test is residual dissolved 14C activity. The performance of the simulation test has been compared with the performance of similar screening tests with dissolved organic carbon analysis and test compounds added in mg/liter concentrations to nutrient-enriched seawater. All chemicals investigated that passed the screening tests were also degradable in the simulation test and some results with simulation tests were positive; even screening tests were negative, while some compounds, including maleinhydrazide, known to be degradable in soil, remained undegraded in either type of test. Disappearance times after the ended lag time were smaller in screening tests than in simulation tests, but the rates of biodegradation cannot be meaningfully compared, as zero-order kinetics in combination with an exponentially growing population of degraders prevail in screening tests, while first-order kinetics and frequently a constant activity of degraders (cooxidation) prevail in simulation tests where the test material is a secondary substrate only. In screening tests, lag times are sometimes excessively long and highly variable. Whether the lag times could be decreased and their variability narrowed by supplementation with a cosubstrate (yeast extract) or by inoculation with seawater that had been preadapted to the test material was investigated. In most experiments such test modifications had no significant effect but in one experiment with 4-nitrophenol, inoculation with 1% preadapted seawater decreased the lag phase from greater than 35 to 9 days.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of a new rapid plasma reagin card test with the standard rapid plasma reagin 18-mm circle card test and the venereal disease research laboratory slide test for serodiagnosis of syphilis.

The rapid plasma reagin (RPR) card test manufactured by Beckman Instruments, Inc., was compared, qualitatively and quantitatively, with the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) slide test and the standard RPR 18-mm circle card tests for the serodiagnosis of syphilis. Sera from 638 individuals were used in this study. Two pilot lots and two production lots of antigen were submitted by Beckman Instruments, Inc., for evaluation. Qualitative agreement among the three RPR card tests was 98.1%; between the Beckman RPR card and the VDRL slide tests, 95.0%; and between the reference RPR card and the VDRL slide tests, 95.5%. The Beckman RPR card test was 95.3% specific, whereas the specificities of the reference RPR card and the VDRL slide tests were 98.8% and 96.1%, respectively. Sensitivities of the three nontreponemal tests were: Beckman RPR card test production lots, 94.7%; reference RPR card test, 96.8%; and VDRL slide test, 90.6%. Quantitative agreement +/- 1 dilution among the three RPR card tests was 93.0%, whereas quantitative agreement was approximately 40% when both RPR card tests were compared with the VDRL slide test. We found the Beckman RPR card test comparable to the standard RPR card tests. Therefore, the decision of which test to use for the serodiagnosis of syphilis is at the discretion of the user.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of eight methods for identification of pathogenic Neisseria species: Neisseria-Kwik, RIM-N, Gonobio-Test, Minitek, Gonochek II, GonoGen, Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test, and Syva MicroTrak Test.

The performance of eight methods in identifying Neisseria species, particularly N. gonorrhoeae, was evaluated. These methods included four rapid carbohydrate utilization tests (Gonobio-Test, Neisseria-Kwik, RIM-N, and Minitek); the Gonochek II, a test which is based on the utilization of chromogenic substrates; and three monoclonal antibody tests (Syva MicroTrak, GonoGen, and Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test). In all, 182 isolates comprised in six species of Neisseria as well as Branhamella catarrhalis and Moraxella sp. were tested. Cystine-tryptic digest agar supplemented with sugars was included for reference purposes. In the carbohydrate utilization tests, the sensitivity and specificity of the Neisseria-Kwik and Minitek tests for the identification of N. gonorrhoeae were 100%. This compared with sensitivities and specificities, respectively, of 100 and 99.1% for the Gonobio-Test and 99.1 and 100% for cystine-tryptic digest agar sugars and the RIM-N test. The sensitivity and specificity of the Gonochek II test were 99.0 and 86.7%, respectively. Although most test kits did not claim to identify all Neisseria species, in several cases isolates of N. subflava were misidentified or could be misinterpreted as N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis. With the monoclonal reagents, the Syva MicroTrak system was 100% sensitive and 100% specific. The GonoGen test was both 99.1% sensitive and specific, while the Phadebact Monoclonal GC OMNI Test was 99.1% sensitive but 91.2% specific. With this latter test, cross-reactions were observed with strains of B. catarrhalis, N. cinerea, and N. lactamica.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1989

Reproducibility of patch test results: comparison of TRUE Test and Finn Chamber test results.

To evaluate the reproducibility of patch test results, duplicate patch test series comprising 12 allergens were simultaneously applied to either side of the back in 63 patients by the use of a newly developed patch test system, TRUE Test. When a positive test result occurred on only one side of the back, it was regarded as nonreproducible. For evaluation of the concordance of test reactions between the TRUE Test and the Finn Chamber test, the same 12 allergens mixed in petrolatum were also applied to the upper back according to the Finn Chamber technique. The reproducibility of TRUE Test results was compared with the reproducibility of the Finn Chamber test in 76 other patients. The concordance of positive reactions between the two tests was 57%, somewhat lower than in recently published studies. The percentage of nonreproducible positive results was more than twice as high with Finn Chambers, (22 of 58 positive reactions, or 37.9%) as with the TRUE Test (5 of 28 reactions, or 17.9%). However, this difference in reproducibility in the two test systems was not significant as determined by the chi 2 test (p less than 0.05).

Allergens↗
PubMed1992

Mutagenicity testing of protein-containing and biological samples using the Ames/Salmonella plate incorporation test and the fluctuation test.

Mutagenicity testing of biological samples and proteins is complicated by the presence of histidine and histidine-related growth factors which may produce a false positive result in the Ames/Salmonella plate incorporation test. A bioassay method, utilizing an automated dispenser-photometer and Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1535 as the indicator bacteria, was used to estimate the presence of histidine-related growth factors in three enzyme solutions submitted for mutagenicity testing. One of the solutions was clearly positive in the Ames/Salmonella test and also contained the highest amount of L-histidine-HCl-equivalents. The two other solutions, with low or undetectable amounts of L-histidine-HCl-equivalents, gave equivocal and negative results, respectively, in the Ames/Salmonella test. Studies were also performed with strains TA98, TA100 and TA1535 to determine the amount of added L-histidine-HCl that would result in a 'positive' result in the Ames/Salmonella test. Because the minimum amount of L-histidine-HCl required to double the number of revertant colonies was 150 nmol/plate, and the maximum amount of L-histidine-HCl-equivalents supplied by the enzyme preparations was 40 nmol/plate at the highest tested dose, the mutagenicity test results of the enzyme solutions cannot be explained solely by histidine or related compounds. Smokers' and non-smokers' urines, concentrated with liquid extraction (CHCl3) and adsorbent (XAD-2 and XAD-2/Sep-Pak C18) techniques, were studied to reveal differences in efficiencies to extract histidine and histidine-related compounds in the urines. Amounts of 'histidine' in concentrates of urine were measured using the bioassay method and a chemical method employing derivatization with fluorescamine. The fluorescamine method also efficiently detected 3-methyl-L-histidine, a product of muscle metabolism excreted in urine, which was found to be unable to support auxotrophic growth in TA1535, leading to exaggerated estimations of the auxotrophic growth enhancing properties of urine extracts. The urine extracts, and pure L-histidine-HCl, were tested using a two-step fluctuation test to estimate auxotrophic growth factor effects in this type of test. Because of a strong dilution effect when adding the histidine-free selection medium, the fluctuation test employed in this study was not found to be particularly sensitive to growth factors. The results of this study indicate that use of a bioassay, employing the same indicator bacteria as the mutagenicity test themselves, is a reliable way to measure histidine-related growth factors in biological samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Enzymes↗