Alinity m, a Random-Access System, for Hepatitis B Virus DNA Quantification in Plasma and Whole Blood Collected on Dried Blood Spots.

The International Liver Association recommends the use of accurate and sensitive molecular methods for determination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels in plasma or serum of chronic HBsAg carriers. The level of HBV replication represents the strongest predictive biomarker associated with disease progression and long-term outcome of chronic HBV infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability to the new Alinity m System to detect and quantify HBV DNA in plasma and whole blood collected on dried blood spots (DBS).

Performance of a high-throughput, automated enzyme immunoassay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen, including in viral "variants of concern": Implications for clinical use.

Unlabelled: Direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens could replace RT-PCR, provided that its clinical performance is validated in different epidemiological settings. Here, we evaluated the performance of the VITROS Antigen test, an enzyme immunoassay detecting a SARS-CoV-2 antigen, in NPSs from 3 cohorts of patients.

Methods: Three cohorts including SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive samples collected during the first and second wave of the French epidemic between March 2020 and February 2021 (including variant B.

Performance of six rapid diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection and implications for practical use.

Background: Direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins in nasopharyngeal swabs using lateral flow immunoassays is a simple, fast and cheap approach to diagnose the infection.

Aims And Methods: The performance of 6 SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid diagnostic tests has been assessed in 634 hospitalized patients or outpatients including 297 patients found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by means of RT-PCR and 337 patients presumed to be SARS-CoV-2 RNA-negative.

Results: The specificity of SARS-CoV-2 RDTs was generally high (398.

Performance of 30 commercial SARS-CoV-2 serology assays in testing symptomatic COVID-19 patients.

We report evaluation of 30 assays' (17 rapid tests (RDTs) and 13 automated/manual ELISA/CLIA assay (IAs)) clinical performances with 2594 sera collected from symptomatic patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR on a respiratory sample, and 1996 pre-epidemic serum samples expected to be negative. Only 4 RDT and 3 IAs fitted both specificity (> 98%) and sensitivity (> 90%) criteria according to French recommendations. Serology may offer valuable information during COVID-19 pandemic, but inconsistent performances observed among the 30 commercial assays evaluated, which underlines the importance of independent evaluation before clinical implementation.

[Improvement of the pre-examination phase of medical biology exams at the Henri Mondor University Hospitals: a pilot study].

The medical and university department of biology pathology at Henri Mondor hospital in Créteil has been engaged in an NF EN ISO 15189 accreditation process since 2014. One of the elements of this process concerns the quality of handling of samples and their transportation to laboratories, including the implementation place requires fighting against pre-examination non-conformities, which are the source of many dysfunctions. The pre-examination group has implemented several actions in a targeted care service.

Indeterminate genotypes of hepatitis C virus by the Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II assay in Morocco. About eight cases resolved by a sequencing method.

The early detection and genotyping of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are important in the management of this infection. The genotype is the major factor influencing treatment decisions. That's why it is necessary to use fast and accurate methods in its determination.

Performance of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of anti-HBs in various patient populations.

Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) represent an attractive alternative method to conventional diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of commercially available RDTs for the detection of anti-HBs in various patient populations.

Study Design: A total of 347 individuals, 198 positive and 149 negative for anti-HBs, were studied.

Evaluation of a new random-access HBV DNA molecular assay: The VERIS HBV assay.

Background: Detection and quantification of HBV DNA are essential to diagnose chronic HBV infection, monitor the virological response to treatment and the possible selection of resistant viruses in order to tailor therapy. The VERIS/MDx System HBV Assay is a random-access system that quantifies HBV DNA in clinical samples using unique single sample and reagent access during the workflow process without the need to reload other tests and delivers results within 1.2h following sampling.

Spectrum of adult Parvovirus B19 infection according to the underlying predisposing condition and proposals for clinical practice.

The virological diagnosis of Parvovirus B19 (PvB19) infection is currently based on sero-diagnosis, molecular methods or both, yet without clear recommendations. We retrospectively identified patients with polymerase chain reaction-positive PvB19 and/or positive serological assay between 2007 and 2013. Eighty-two adults with at least one diagnostic criterion of recent PvB19 infection (IgM antibodies, viral DNA in blood and/or in marrow) were included and classified into three homogeneous groups: 30 patients had no underlying predisposing condition, 25 a hereditary haemolytic anaemia, 27 an underlying immunodeficiency.

Performance of a new rapid test for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen in various patient populations.

Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) have been developed for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). They represent a promising alternative to enzyme immunoassays and a powerful tool for large-scale screening and diagnosis of HBV infection, especially in regions without easy access to serological and molecular testing.

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the characteristics and clinical performance of a new CE-marked HBsAg RDT, DRW-HBsAg v2.

Targeting intratumoral B cells with rituximab in addition to CHOP in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. A clinicobiological study of the GELA.

Background: In angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, symptoms linked to B-lymphocyte activation are common, and variable numbers of CD20(+) large B-blasts, often infected by Epstein-Barr virus, are found in tumor tissues. We postulated that the disruption of putative B-T interactions and/or depletion of the Epstein-Barr virus reservoir by an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) could improve the clinical outcome produced by conventional chemotherapy.

Design And Methods: Twenty-five newly diagnosed patients were treated, in a phase II study, with eight cycles of rituximab + chemotherapy (R-CHOP21).

Successful treatment of aciclovir and foscarnet resistant Herpes simplex virus lesions with topical imiquimod in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Aciclovir (ACV)-resistant Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infections are observed commonly in patients also infected with HIV-1. The use of foscarnet (FOS) in these patients may also lead to resistance. This situation can become a difficult therapeutic challenge.

Efficacy of serologic marker screening in identifying hepatitis B virus infection in organ, tissue, and cell donors.

Background & Aims: Screens for serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are used to prevent its transmission through transplantation. However, exclusion of noninfectious seropositive donors exacerbates graft shortages, and a residual risk of transmission by seronegative donors also exists. This study assessed the risk of HBV associated with different HBV serologic profiles in organ, tissue, and cell transplants, as well as the risk of HBV transmission from seronegative donors.

Determinant roles of environmental contamination and noncompliance with standard precautions in the risk of hepatitis C virus transmission in a hemodialysis unit.

Background: Nosocomial transmission is the second most frequent cause of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A prospective observational study was conducted to assess the roles of environmental contamination and noncompliance with standard precautions in HCV cross-transmission in a hemodialysis unit.

Methods: Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in a French university hospital unit were systematically screened, revealing 2 sporadic cases of HCV transmission.

Serological viral testing of cadaveric cornea donors.

Background: Cornea graft recipients are exposed to viral transmission from the donor. Cadaveric donor serum is often of poor quality and frequently yields falsely positive results in serological assays that may result in the graft being needlessly discarded.

Objective: We examined the influence of the time of blood collection after death, and the macroscopic aspect of serum, on serological test results in cadaveric cornea donors.

HIV and hepatitis C virus RNA in seronegative organ and tissue donors.

The objective of our study was to determine whether nucleic acid testing could detect HIV RNA or hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in a large series of seronegative organ and tissue donors, and whether this technique should be routinely used to improve viral safety of grafts. We studied 2236 organ donors, 636 tissue donors, and 177 cornea donors. We identified five HCV RNA-positive donors in 2119 HCV-seronegative organ donors, and one HCV RNA-positive donor in 631 HCV-seronegative tissue donors.

Infliximab therapy for rheumatic diseases in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.

Objective: To describe the safety of tumor necrosis factor-a blockade in 2 patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease with chronic hepatitis B and C.

Methods: We used infliximab therapy in 2 patients with chronic inflammatory joint disease and chronic hepatitis B or C. We describe the clinical and laboratory test data obtained in these patients during the first year of treatment.

Hepatitis C virus-Epstein-Barr virus interaction in patients with AIDS.

Immortalization of B cells by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and their subsequent proliferation leads to B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in immunocompromised patients. The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has recently been raised, and an interaction between HCV and EBV is supported by recent in vitro experiments. The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo interactions between HCV and EBV in patients with AIDS, i.

Prospective evaluation of risk factors of cutaneous drug reactions to sulfonamides in patients with AIDS.

Background: Persons with HIV infection have increased rates of drug eruptions.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the risk factors of drug eruptions in response to sulfonamides in patients with AIDS, using a case-control analysis.

Methods: One hundred thirty-six patients who were hospitalized for pneumocystosis or toxoplasmosis were evaluated at the onset of treatment for various risk factors, which were then compared among patients with (48, 36%) and without (88, 64%) a drug eruption.