Serologic characteristics of oxaliplatin antibodies in 15 patients with drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia.

Background: Oxaliplatin, a third-generation platinum derivative is commonly used in combination treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Since 2008, it is the second most common cause of drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) investigated in our laboratory.

Study Design And Methods: Samples from fifteen patients including nine (60%) with intravascular hemolysis, suspected of having DIIHA were studied for the presence of anti-oxaliplatin.

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia investigation: Comparison between tube test and microcolumn agglutination (gel test) for the detection of drug-dependent antibodies in the presence of soluble drug.

Objectives: Testing for drug-dependent antibodies is traditionally performed with the tube method either with drug-treated red blood cells or with untreated red blood cells in the presence of soluble drug. Gel microcolumn agglutination method was compared to tube testing for the demonstration of drug-dependent antibodies in the presence of soluble drug.

Materials And Methods: Patient's samples were tested in parallel by tube and gel microcolumn agglutination method with untreated and/or enzyme-treated red blood cells in the presence of soluble drug.

[Investigation on HPV DNA detection and genotyping practices used in French laboratories in 2009].

The French National reference Laboratory for Human papillomavirus (HPV) performed in 2009 a national study in order to review the methods used to detect and identify HR HPV genotypes in microbiology laboratories. Results from this study show a great diversity in volumes of samples treated in laboratories. Among clinical indications, the most frequent is a result of ASC-US at a Pap smear.

Could the new HIV combined p24 antigen and antibody assays replace p24 antigen specific assays?

The performance of twelve HIV combined p24 antigen and antibody assays available in Europe were compared. The assays were examined with a total of 1983 samples that included 1005 unselected HIV negative samples, 7 HIV-1 p24 Ag reference samples with HIV-1 Ag, 10 samples of a HIV antigen sensitivity commercial panel, 124 samples of 31 p24 antigen panels of different HIV-1 subtypes, 168 members of 24 HIV-1 seroconversion panels, 559 HIV-1 (groups M and O) antibody positive samples and 110 HIV-2 antibody positive samples. The specificity ranged from 99.