Publications by authors named "Rukiye Berkem"

Background: Automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays (CMIAs) are the most common first step at high-volume laboratories for syphilis screening. If the initial screening test is reactive, 1 more treponemal test is required, resulting in increased cost. In this multicenter study, we aimed to determine the correlation between the CMIA signal-to-cutoff ratio (S/Co) and the confirmatory tests to reduce unnecessary confirmatory testing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We analyzed the performance parameters of the traditional and reverse algorithms to determine which is more convenient for serodiagnosis of syphilis. In total, 4,789 serum samples were obtained from a cross-sectional study. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL), Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA), and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) tests were performed on each serum sample.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis B virus continues to be a problem despite its significantly reduced prevalence. In this study, in addition to screening for the presence of HBsAg in donors' blood, anti-HBc and anti-HBs markers were investigated using the chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) method, and real-time PCR was used to detect HBV DNA.

Methods: The study's material involved serum samples of 4,073 blood donors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are the autoantibodies that are produced against nuclear antigens in the cell nucleus and/or cytoplasm, and are one of the important diagnostic criteria in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). Until today, several methods have been developed for detecting ANA's. However, indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) technique, that is also known as one of the oldest methods, is still the most commonly used one.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background/aims: Today, invasive diagnostic tests are necessary for definite diagnosis of adult celiac disease (CD). However, in selected children patients, the need for invasive tests is ceased. In this study, we evaluated adult patients according to the ESPGHAN (European Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Society) criteria.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: In this study we aimed to propose an algorithm for initial anti HCV EIA reactive blood donations in Turkey where nucleic acid amplification tests are not yet obligatory for donor screening.

Methods: A total of 416 anti HCV screening test reactive donor samples collected from 13 blood centers from three cities in Turkey were tested in duplicate by Ortho HCV Ab Version 3.0 and Radim HCV Ab.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this prospective experimental animal study was to determine whether selenium had a protective effect on oxidative stress in rats with acute otitis media, by measuring the alterations of antioxidant parameters and lipid peroxidation on days 4 and 10 after inoculation into the middle ear. Streptococcus pneumoniae was inoculated into the middle ear cavities of 32 rats in animal laboratory of a tertiary medical center. Group 1 served as the control group and the animals were administered 1.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The extent and the number of routine tests performed for blood donor screening to avoid infections transmitted through blood transfusion have been gradually increasing worldwide and is determined nationally. Following the publication of the new "blood and blood components regulation", the blood banking and transfusion system is through a reorganization stage in Turkey. The national guideline including the donor screening algorithms is to be published which requires national data to be created.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The production of one or more autoantibodies in the majority of rheumatic diseases is a common clinical finding. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test is the former and widely used method in detecting autoantibodies. Recently, commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIA) and immunoblot (IB) assays are available for the routine laboratories.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF