How well do viruses survive during transport?

Centralisation of viral diagnostic services offers the potential for cost saving in laboratories, but incurs costs for transporting specimens. In a trial of 326 paired specimens, isolation rates of viruses sent by overnight post and a more expensive same-day courier service were similar.

Comparison of an ELISA system for the quantification of hepatitis B antibody with an automated and a semi-automated system.

In order to manage the increased workload resulting from post vaccination hepatitis antibody testing of health care workers, the anti-hepatitis B ELISA assay ETI-AB-AUK (Sorin Biomedica), adapted for quantification using standards available as an addition to the qualitative kit assay (ABAU-STD-SET, (Sorin Biomedica)) and a sample pre-dilution step, was compared with a fully automated microparticle enzyme immunoassay IMX AUSAB (Abbott Laboratories), and a semi-automated enhanced luminescence system (Amerlite Amersham, now Kodak). Seventy-eight samples were concurrently tested and analysed statistically using a Regression Coefficient computer package (Apple Mackintosh Cricket). Good quantitative agreement was observed with ELISA vs IMX giving a linear correlation coefficient (r = 0.

Immunization against hepatitis B--what can we expect? Results of a survey of antibody response to immunization in persons 'at risk' of occupational exposure to hepatitis B.

One thousand three hundred and twenty adults at risk of occupational exposure to hepatitis B were immunized using genetically engineered surface antigen and their antibody response (anti-HBs IU/l) assessed. Sex was known for all subjects and age for 1120 (range from 17-71 years). Seven hundred and sixty-four subjects were immunized in the local Department of Occupational Health, the remainder mainly by general practitioners.

Rapid diagnosis of adenovirus pharyngoconjunctival fever: use of a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA test during an outbreak.

A monoclonal antibody-based solid-phase immunoassay (ELISA) was used to detect adenovirus antigen in clinical specimens during an outbreak of pharyngoconjunctival fever at a boarding school. The use of the kit enabled rapid diagnosis of the cause of the outbreak. The assay was also valuable in confirmation of tissue culture isolation of adenovirus.