Multicentre evaluation of the new ORTHO VISION analyser.

Background: Implementation of fully automated analysers has become a crucial security step in the blood bank; it reduces human errors, allows standardisation and improves turnaround time (TAT).

Objectives: We aimed at evaluating the ease of use and the efficiency of the ORTHO VISION Analyser (VISION) in comparison to the ORTHO AutoVue Innova System (AutoVue) in six different laboratories.

Methods: After initial training and system configuration, VISION was used in parallel to AutoVue following the daily workload, both automates being based on ORTHO BioVue System column agglutination technology.

Haemostatic function and biomarkers of endothelial damage before and after platelet transfusion in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Objectives: The beneficial effect of platelet transfusion on haemostasis is well established, but there is emerging evidence that platelet transfusion induces an inflammatory response in vascular endothelial cells.

Background: We investigated haemostatic function and endothelial biomarkers before and after platelet transfusion in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Materials And Methods: Blood was sampled before, 1 and 24 h after platelet transfusion.

Efficacy of selective antenatal screening for hepatitis B among pregnant women in Denmark: is selective screening still an acceptable strategy in a low-endemicity country?

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriage in Denmark is unknown, but expected to be low (0.1%). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of selective antenatal screening for HBV infection and the epidemiology of HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among pregnant women.

[Occurrence of hepatitis B and C among mentally retarded].

The objective of this study was to examine whether the prevalence of hepatitis C, like hepatitis B, is increased among the mentally retarded in Denmark. The prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and C was examined in an institution for the mentally retarded. A total of 126 out of 178 inhabitants (71%) with a median age of 49 years (range 23-78) participated.