Evaluation of five commercial assays for the detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies: three Crithidia luciliae indirect immunofluorescence test kits and two enzyme immunoassay kits.

Objective: There are various methods for anti-dsDNA detection. Crithidia luciliae indirect immunofluorescence test (CLIFT) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) are the most commonly used at present. A number of CLIFT and EIA kits are commercially available.

Prevalence of 60 kda and 52 kda Ro/SS-A autoantibodies in anti-Ro positive Thai sera in Siriraj Hospital.

Background: Anti-Ro antibody may directly react against either Ro60 or Ro52 or both antigens. To be more applicable for routine laboratory practice, the specific antigen type for antibody detection should be identified before test application.

Objective: Investigate the prevalence of 60 kDa and 52 kDa Ro/SS-A antibodies in Thai patients' sera in Siriraj Hospital.

Comparative evaluation of three different treponemal enzyme immunoassays for syphilis.

Background: To reduce human errors and subjective interpretation, automation is currently a trend. However, replacing any tests with automation must first be validated.

Objective: Evaluate the EIA tests performance characteristics of three commercially available enzyme immunoassays; Enzygnost Syphilis (Dade Behring Ltd), Syphilis EIA 480 (Newmarket Laboratory Ltd) and ICE* Syphilis (Abbott Murex).

A simple C-reactive protein measurement for the differentiation between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the validity of pleural fluid C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and/or pleural fluid to serum CRP ratio for differentiating tuberculous pleuritis (TBP) from malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in patients presenting with lymphocytic exudative pleural effusions.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 161 patients with pleural effusion who underwent diagnostic evaluation at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between April 2001 and March 2002. The complete biochemical analysis of pleural fluid, cultures of pleural fluid, and pathological examinations of pleural fluid and pleural tissue were performed.