Multicenter evaluation of the new HIV DUO assay for simultaneous detection of HIV antibodies and p24 antigen.

A multicenter survey was performed to evaluate a new semi-automated human immunodeficiency virus fourth generation antibodies and antigen simultaneous assay. This assay showed a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99.6% among sera obtained from hospitalized patients or blood donors.

Evaluation of a competitive enzyme immunoassay in screening for syphilis.

A competitive immunoenzymatic method has been developed and evaluated for the serological screening of syphilis. The method detects both anti-Treponema Pallidum IgG and IgM. The kit, commercially known as "Syphilis Screen", is produced by DIESSE Diagnostica Senese (Siena, Italy); all the required reagents are included and are ready for use.

"Inapparent" hepatitis B virus infection and hepatitis C virus replication in alcoholic subjects with and without liver disease.

We evaluated hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis C virus RNA in sera from 110 HBsAg and IgM HBc antibody-negative heavy drinkers (50 cirrhosis, 13 chronic active hepatitis, 25 fatty liver with or without mild to moderate fibrosis, alcoholic hepatitis or both and 22 healthy alcoholic subjects) with polymerase chain reaction. Results of hepatitis C virus polymerase chain reaction were compared with those obtained with two tests (second generation recombinant immunoblot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) used to detect hepatitis C virus antibodies. Hepatitis B virus DNA was found in three (2.

Kinetics of anti-CMV antibodies after administration of intravenous immunoglobulins to bone marrow transplant recipients.

Polyspecific iv immunoglobulins (IVIG) are routinely used to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in bone marrow transplant recipients; however, the plasma disappearance pattern of CMV-specific antibodies after administration of this product remains unclear because conflicting kinetic data have been reported previously. We studied the half-life of CMV-specific antibodies in 9 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation after administration of 500 mg/kg of a conventional polyspecific IVIG preparation (Sandoglobulin, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals). Eight serial blood samples were drawn for kinetic evaluation after the dose.

Serological survey of antibodies to cytomegalovirus in the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is known to be worldwide, and prevalent in developing countries (Krech & Tobin 1981). To our knowledge, no previous serologic studies of CMV infection have been reported from Bolivia. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of CMV infection in the Santa Cruz region, south-eastern Bolivia.