Changes in Toxoplasma diagnosis.

The serological laboratory workload in detecting toxoplasma infection may be expected to change with changes in the clinical profile of patient populations. We have examined the clinical information and laboratory results for patients referred to the Scottish Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory in April-March 1999-2000 and 2009-2010. Numbers of patient sera submitted for testing were similar (1624 and 1552) but there was a change in the clinical profile, with a significant fall in patients with symptoms of current infection (612 versus 335; P<0.

More specific bands in the IgG western blot in sera from Scottish patients with suspected Lyme borreliosis.

Aims: To identify further Western blot bands that may be specific in the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.

Methods: The Borrelia burgdorferi antibody profiles of 270 western blot positive patients and 241 western blot negative patients from 2008 were examined.

Results: 27 different non-specific bands were detected in both groups.

Toxoplasma tachyzoites from cell culture are more appropriate in some situations.

Background: Laboratories traditionally culture toxoplasma tachyzoites in animals for testing and experimental use. This article considers why available cell culture methods are not used more often.

Aim: To compare HeLa cell culture and animal culture for production of toxoplasma tachyzoites.

Learning to cope with chronic illness. Efficacy of a multi-component treatment for people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of an out-patient, multi-component programme developed for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Methods: Twenty-two patients were assessed before and after six months of treatment. Findings were compared with 22 individuals on the waiting list.

Comparison of mumps-IgM ELISAs in acute infection.

Background: In Scotland there has been an outbreak of mumps with over 4000 confirmed cases in the last 2 years. As laboratory diagnosis is usually requested on patients with symptoms, a prompt diagnosis early in the illness is required.

Objectives: To assess the performance of the five different commercial IgM-ELISAs used in Scottish Virus laboratories.

Audit of the laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease in Scotland.

An audit was performed on the laboratory diagnosis of lyme disease in Scotland. The problem of a significant number of patients with clinical symptoms of lyme disease being reported as seronegative or equivocal by the confirmatory Western blot test was identified. Comparisons of current practice were made with American and European standards, and the Western blot scoring system revised.