Urinary sulfated bile acid analysis for the early detection of biliary atresia in infants.

Background: Measurement of urinary sulfated bile acid (USBA) is a non-invasive method to detect bile congestion. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of USBA analysis for the early detection of biliary atresia (BA).

Methods: We determined the USBA-to-creatinine ratio (USBA/cr) in 1148 infants at 10-40 days after birth.

[Self-testing using by OTC test kits and mail testing services--it's future prospect and problems].

Under the certification of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, OTC medicine (Over the counter medicine: medicine for general tests) such as test strips for urine protein and urine glucose as well as urinary pregnancy tests are presently available at pharmacies and drug stores for use as self-testing by ordinary people. Meanwhile, mail health check-up testing services have recently been making a rapid progress in the market. In this system, users purchase "sample collecting kits" at large-scale pharmacies, directly or indirectly, and then after collecting samples (urine, blood, etc) by themselves, they put the samples onto the mail testing service process consisting of the linkage of convenience stores--couriers--testing agencies affiliated with clinical facilities.

[Issue of education system for the medical technologist students and vision for the future].

In April 2000, education programs for student medical technologist has been revised considerably, with main thought of free-will programs at every educational facilities. Guideline for the state examination questions were published in June 2002 in related to above matter. These principles of educational programs are considered to be much effective in remarkable improvement of laboratory medicine.