The outcomes card. Development of a systems-based practice educational tool.

Introduction: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires competence in systems-based practice (SBP) demonstrating understanding of complex interactions between systems of care and its impact upon care delivery. Patient safety is a useful vehicle to facilitate learning about these interactions.

Aim: Develop an educational tool, Outcomes Card (OC), to reinforce core concepts of SBP.

An enhanced-sensitivity branched-DNA assay for quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA in plasma.

The quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA has facilitated clinical research and expedited the development of antiretroviral drugs. The branched-DNA (bDNA) assay provides a reliable method for the quantification of HIV-1 RNA in human plasma and is considered one of the most reproducible assays ready for use in clinical trials. A series of oligonucleotide probe design and solution changes have been developed to enhance the sensitivity of the bDNA assay while maintaining its performance characteristics.

Branched DNA amplification multimers for the sensitive, direct detection of human hepatitis viruses.

Branched oligonucleotides (bDNA) have been synthesized containing a unique primary segment and a set of identical secondary fragments covalently attached to the primary sequence through branch points. The primary sequence is designed to hybridize (directly or indirectly) to a target nucleic acid, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic DNA or RNA, respectively. The secondary fragments are used to direct the binding of multiple copies of a small oligonucleotide labelled with alkaline phosphatase.