Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is not affected by serum separators.

We studied the possible effects on serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) determination by a CDTect (Pharmacia) method of serum isolation in four different types of blood-collection tubes, namely: (1) glass tubes (glass Vacutainer tubes with no additive); (2) S-Monovette Neutral tubes (plastic tubes with no additive); (3) S-Monovette Serum tubes (plastic tubes with kaolin-coated plastic granulate coagulation accelerator); and (4) S-Monovette Serum/Gel tubes (plastic tubes with kaolin-coated plastic granulate and a polymerized acrylamide resin). Using Passing and Bablok regression analysis, we did not observe significant differences in CDT concentrations determined in 58 serum samples using any of these four blood-collection systems.

Chemically defined media for auxotyping of Campylobacter jejuni.

A set of chemically defined media has been developed for the cultivation of Campylobacter jejuni strains of human origin. A minimal medium, a complete medium and 5 different nutrient-deficient media (NDM1-NDM5) are described. Some of the strains investigated required L-methionine(lacking in NDM1), L-cystine and L-cysteine (NDM2), K2HPO4 (NDM 3), KH2PO4 (NDM4) and NAD, thiamine and calcium pantothenate (NDM5).