Correlation of Treponemal Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay Screening Test Signal Strength Values With Reactivity of Confirmatory Testing.

Background: Automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays (CMIAs) are the most common first step at high-volume laboratories for syphilis screening. If the initial screening test is reactive, 1 more treponemal test is required, resulting in increased cost. In this multicenter study, we aimed to determine the correlation between the CMIA signal-to-cutoff ratio (S/Co) and the confirmatory tests to reduce unnecessary confirmatory testing.

[Results of a multicenter study investigating plasmid mediated colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 and mcr-2) in clinical Enterobacteriaceae ısolates from Turkey].

Colistin is a polymyxin antibiotic which is considered as one of the last line agents against infections due to multidrug resistant or carbapenem resistant gram-negative pathogens. Colistin resistance is associated with chromosomal alterations which can usually cause mutations in genes coding specific two component regulator systems. The first plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene, mcr-1 was described in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in December 2015 and followed by another plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-2 in 2016.

SEROPREVALENCE OF RUBELLA ANTIBODIES AMONG TURKISH AND FOREIGN WOMEN IN TURKEY.

The aims of this study were to determine seroprevalence of rubella antibodies among Turkish and foreign women living in Turkey and to estimate percent women susceptible to rubella infection. This retrospective study was conducted among 970 women (816 Turks) attending gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinics. Serum samples were tested for anti-rubella IgG and IgM by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.

Comparison of a New and Rapid Method: Brucella Coombs Gel Test With Other Diagnostic Tests.

Background: The aim of this study was to detect reliability of Brucella Coombs gel test (BCGT) by comparing with with ELISA (IgG + IgM), Standard agglutination test, and Brucella immunocapture agglutination methods in serological diagnosis of brucellosis.

Methods: Brucella Coombs gel test (BCGT), Brucella ELISA (IgG + IgM), Standard agglutination test, and Brucella immunocapture agglutination tests of 78 patients with presumptive diagnosis of brucellosis which were sent to Microbiology Laboratory of Konya Numune Hospital from various regions of Konya were studied.

Results: Of 78 patients with ELISA IgG and IgM, STA, BICA and BCGT; 26, 21, 10, 12 and 12 were positive.

The seroprevalence of both hepatitis B and hepatitis C at the first-step health organizations and the difference between the urban and rural areas.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are very important infectious agents for public health. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and anti-HCV test results of patients who admitted to first-step health organizations in central and peripheral districts of Konya, the central region of Turkey during the period 2005-2010.

Methods: In this study, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HCV screening test results of patients who admitted to first-step health organizations in Konya during the period 2005-2010 were retrospectively investigated from the laboratory records.

Relationship between the GOLD combined COPD assessment staging system and bacterial isolation.

Background: Acute exacerbations, which are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, adversely affect chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prognosis by accelerating loss of lung function. It is important to know the microorganisms that commonly cause exacerbations in the patient groups classified according to clinical and functional characteristics for fast and accurate treatment of acute exacerbations.

Objectives: The last Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) publication recommended a new staging system containing obstruction degree, frequency of exacerbations, and quality of life questionnaires.

[Investigation of the presence of Helicobacter pylori by different methods in patients with dyspeptic complaints].

Helicobacter pylori infections which are common worldwide may be a risk factor for gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. For the detection of H. pylori, invasive methods such as culture, histopathology and rapid urease tests which require endoscopy and gastric biopsy specimen and non-invasive methods (not requiring endoscopy) such as urea breath test, stool antigen test (H.