Evaluation of an adenosine deaminase (ADA) assay in serum, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and cerebrospinal fluids on the Roche cobas c501 analyzer.

Objectives: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) can be increased in various body fluids during infectious and inflammatory states. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance characteristics of the Diazyme ADA assay for serum, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and cerebrospinal fluids using the Roche cobas c501 analyzer.

Methods: Accuracy, linearity, recovery, precision, sensitivity, specificity, reference interval, and stability studies were conducted.

Plasma hemoglobin: A method comparison of six assays for hemoglobin and hemolysis index measurement.

Introduction: Plasma hemoglobin (Hb) is measured for assessment of in vivo and in vitro hemolysis. The objective of the present investigation was to conduct a method comparison of five quantitative and one semi-quantitative Hb and H-index (hemolysis index) assays to evaluate their performance measuring plasma Hb in clinical specimens.

Methods: One hundred and fourteen clinical specimens previously tested for plasma Hb using a laboratory-developed spectrophotometric assay were also tested for Hb using a HemoCue Plasma/Low Hb assay (azide methemoglobin), a laboratory-modified Pointe Scientific Hb assay (cyanmethemoglobin), tested for H-index measurements using a Roche cobas c501, an Abbott Architect c8000, and a semi-quantitative (binned) H-index measurement on a Beckman AU5800.

The availability of community ties predicts likelihood of peer referral for mammography: geographic constraints on viral marketing.

Engaging social networks to encourage preventive health behavior offers a supplement to conventional mass media campaigns and yet we do not fully understand the conditions that facilitate or hamper such interpersonal diffusion. One set of factors that should affect the diffusion of health campaign information involves a person's community. Variables describing geographic communities should predict the likelihood of residents accepting campaign invitations to pass along information to friends, family, and others.