Detection of type-specific antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2: comparative analysis of a chemiluminescence immunoassay with a conventional ELISA.

Type-specific serologic tests for human herpes simplex virus (HSV) are critically important for sexually transmitted disease evaluation. We compared the LIAISON® HSV-1 and HSV-2 Type Specific assays relative to an established commercial ELISA. The overall agreement of the chemiluminescence immunoassay versus the ELISA assay was 99.

γ/IgG ratio: role in distinguishing monoclonal spikes from fibrinogen.

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a standard screening method for detecting monoclonal gammopathies. Presence of fibrinogen, however, can mimic a true monoclonal spike and interfere with accurate monoclonal protein identification. We describe a novel approach for distinguishing fibrinogen spikes from true monoclonal spikes.

Gamma heavy chain disease in a patient with diabetes and chronic renal insufficiency: diagnostic assessment of the heavy chain fragment.

Heavy chain diseases are rare B-cell disorders that are characterized by an overproduction of abnormal and structurally incomplete monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chains and are devoid of light chains. We describe a case of a 62 year-old African-American woman with a long history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and subsequent probable diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, and recent onset of peripheral neuropathy involving all extremities. Routine laboratory testing revealed a distinct beta spike by urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP).

Experimental coronavirus retinopathy (ECOR): retinal degeneration susceptible mice have an augmented interferon and chemokine (CXCL9, CXCL10) response early after virus infection.

Mouse hepatitis virus induces a biphasic disease in BALB/c mice that consists of an acute retinitis followed by progression to a chronic retinal degeneration with autoimmune reactivity. Retinal degeneration resistant CD-1 mice do not develop the late phase. What host factors contribute to the distinct responses to the virus are unknown.