Publications by authors named "Donald Kirby Milton"
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the reliability of recombinant Factor C (rFC) kits as an alternative to traditional Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) methods for measuring endotoxins in environmental samples, highlighting issues with lot-to-lot variability in current assays.
- The researchers tested twenty indoor dust samples using four different extraction and assay media, comparing the results from rFC assays to those from LAL and gas-chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) methods.
- The results indicate that while the rFC kits show reproducibility across lots, the choice of assay media can significantly affect endotoxin estimates, suggesting that using Tris buffer or water may provide a more standardized method for endotoxin measurement.
Respiratory viruses are difficult to characterize in the airborne environment due to their low concentration and the presence of a wide range of inhibitors. As a first step in studying airborne viruses, we optimized molecular biology methods to quantify influenza viruses and human rhinovirus. Quantitative PCR was used as an endpoint to evaluate RNA extraction techniques and reverse transcription protocols.
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