Better stability of total homocysteine measurement with sodium fluoride than with EDTA.

The total homocysteine (tHcy) plasma concentration increases 10% per hour when whole blood is collected on ethylene diamine tetraacetate (EDTA) and stored at room temperature. The aim of this study was to investigate the stability of tHcy plasma concentration during 24 hours of storage at room temperature in two different collection tubes: EDTA and sodium fluoride (NaF). The evolution of tHcy plasma concentration was also compared in two different populations: healthy individuals (controls) and patients with end-stage renal failure, known to have increased plasma tHcy concentrations.

[Transfusional alloimmunization].

In this condensed review, we present some of the most important mechanisms which induce allo-immunisation among patients who receive blood transfusions. The understanding of these mechanisms implies simple blood transfusion rules which guarantee the recipient's safety.

A one-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect anti-CMV antibodies; development and clinical validation.

A simple one-step ELISA to detect anti-CMV antibodies was developed. The test was based on the inhibition principle, and used anti-CMV coated microtitre plates, CMV nuclear antigen and anti-CMV Fab'-HRP conjugate; total assay time was 1.5 h.

[Islet-cell antibodies and organ-specific antibodies in diabetic children and adolescents. Relationship with age, age at onset, duration of diabetes, residual insulin secretion and retinopathy (author's transl)].

The prevalence of islet-cell antibodies and of 10 organ-specific auto-antibodies was determined in 71 diabetic children and adolescents whose mean duration of diabetes was 4 1/2 years. Forty-four p. cent of the patients had autoantibodies; 15% had islet-cell antibodies and 31% had organ specific antibodies.