ABSTRACT
Laboratory based tests form an important component in the final diagnosis. These tests are carried out on different commercially available systems, which have specific reagent kits that are available for determination of various analytes of the human body. A majority of laboratories resort to adoption of normal ranges that have been proposed by the kit manufacturers, and hence exhibit a great variation. The frequent change from one kit to another often results in the formulation of new reference ranges. This paper describes the variation in normal ranges for two different systems of the same manufacturer, based upon different technologies. It seems that the normal range does not vary with the kits, but with the studied population
ABSTRACT
The diagnostic products market is full of different commercial kits which are available for determination of various analytes of the human body. In the absence of established national normal ranges, a majority of laboratories resort to adoption of normal ranges that have been proposed by the kit manufacturers, and hence exhibit a great variation. This paper describes the variation in normal ranges for two different systems of the same manufacturer, based upon the same technology. It can be concluded that the normal range does not vary with the kits, but with the studied population
ABSTRACT
Semen analysis is the most valuable diagnostic tool in the assessment of male fertility potential. Possible changes were determined in semen quality of Pakistani infertile men, over a period of 3 years [1999 to 2002]. Retrospective analysis of semen volume, liquefaction time, pH and sperm concentration were carried out for 150 men' from infertile couples in which 50 cases [33.33%] showed azoospermia [A], 50 cases [33.33%] had oligozoospermia [B], 20 cases [13.33%] were asthenozoospermic [C] and 30 cases [20%] were found to be normozoospermic [D]. The linear regression analysis shows a decrease in semen volume in groups A and B, mean semen volume [ml] for the four respective studied groups being 1.5 +/- 0.4, 1.7 +/- 2, 2.5 +/- 0.1 and 2.4 +/- 0. The mean liquefaction time [min] was 37.5 +/- 0.7, 28.7 +/- 3.7, 18.5 +/- 0.7 and 18.6 +/- 3.6 in groups A, B, C and D, respectively, showing linear increase in groups A and B. pH did not vary much amongst groups and ranged from 7.0-8.5. Mean sperm concentration was 0.0, 6.7 +/- 1.7, 45.3 +/- 8.8 and 86.8 +/- 7.5 million/ml in groups A, B, C and D. The hormonal profile showed normal or low levels of testosterone while FSH and LH levels indicated inverse/negative correlation to sperm concentration, whereas no significant relationship between serum prolactin and semen density was detectable between different groups
ABSTRACT
Measles outbreak was investigated in Afghan refugees camp, Haripur, NWFP where around 80 cases of measles had occurred among children of age 1-7 years during a period of two months from December 2000 to January 2001. All the 12 children who died out of the 80 measles cases were residing in a camp served by the Basic Health Unit-3 of the camp. This specific camp had high influx of refugees with low immunization coverage and high malnutrition rate