[The value of repeated determinations of brain natriuretic peptide for the diagnosis of unstable angina].

The diagnosis of unstable angina (troponine undetectable) is often difficult in the absence of electrocardiographic changes after suggestive chest pains. The object of this study was to analyse the kinetics of Brain Natiuretic Peptide (BNP) during acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without ST elevation. Plasma BNP was measured every 6 hours for 48 hours in 65 patients admitted for suspicion of ACS without ST elevation and without clinical, radiological or echocardiographic signs of left ventricular dysfunction.

External evaluation of LIAISON tumour marker assays on the fully automated chemiluminescent LIAISON immunoassay analyser.

The LIAISON immunoassay analyser was tested in a multicentre evaluation performed by 8 laboratories. The analytes evaluated were CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CA 125II, AFP, CEA, NSE and PSA. Excellent results were obtained for within-run and between-run precision with most assays showing within-run CVs < 5% and between-run CVs between 4 and 8%.

[Validity of immunochemical assays for blood estradiol. Study conducted in 1994].

Since 1989 many kits have been commercialized for measuring estradiol by non-isotopic immunoassays which largely contributed to the diffusion of this parameter. Rapidly, in quality control schemes, a wide dispersion of results has been observed. In this paper, the kits' characteristics (precision, accuracy and detection limit) have been studied and compared to a reference method (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry).

[Value of immunoassay of hCG for the determination of high plasma concentrations].

The serum concentration of human chorionic gonadotrophin is higher in trisomy 21 than in normal pregnancy. Our study aimed at comparing 17 commercial kits, both those for measuring high concentrations and others for diagnosis and initial follow-up of pregnancy under specific conditions, ie for measuring hCG concentrations between weeks 14 and 18 of pregnancy. All kits were satisfactory; however, usual values for the gestational weeks concerned need to be established for each reagent.

Free triiodothyronine (FT3) EIA-BioMerieux. Analytical and clinical evaluation.

We tested a new immuno-enzymatic kit: FT3-EIA BioMerieux, for direct measurement of FT3. Precision is good, with coefficients of variation below 10%. Detection limit is 0.