Comparison of three D-dimer assays for the diagnosis of DVT:ELISA, latex and an immunofiltration assay (NycoCard D-Dimer).

Ninety-two consecutive patients referred for suspicion of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were analyzed for D-dimer using ELISA, latex test, and a new immunofiltration method (NycoCard D-Dimer). Contrast venography verified the diagnosis in 40, and excluded the diagnosis in 52 patients. The sensitivity, negative predictive values, specificity and positive predictive values were, for ELISA 98%, 95%, 38% and 54, for NycoCard D-Dimer 100%, 100%, 42% and 57% and for the latex test 73%, 78%, 75%, and 69%, respectively.

Assay of D-dimer based on immunofiltration and staining with gold colloids.

In this immunofiltration assay of D-dimer in plasma samples, the antigens are captured by a monoclonal antibody on a porous membrane, and labeled with the same antibody conjugated to gold colloids. The assay time is < 2 min, and a color of intensity proportional to the concentration of D-dimer is left on the membrane. The reference range (mean +/- 2 SD) was 0.

A transition-state analysis of the enzyme catalysis in the affinity labelling of horse-liver alcohol dehydrogenase by bromoacids.

The effect of temperature on the inactivation of liver alcohol dehydrogenase and on the alkylation of a model thiol free in solution by bromoacetate, 2-bromopropionate, 3-bromopropionate and 2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)-propionate has been studied and the thermodynamic activation parameters calculated. All the bromoacids had a favourable entrôpy of activation in reaction with the enzyme compared to the model reaction with the thiolate anion of cysteine. This results from the formation of a reversible bromoacid-enzyme complex prior to the irreversible inactivation.