Evaluation of anti-ds DNA antibody measurement by using commercial kits for use in a clinical laboratory

Three hundred and seventy-six consecutive antinuclear antibody-positive sera were tested for anti-ds DNA antibody by using three commercial kits which use 125 I recombinant DNA [radioimmunoassay], highly purified calf thymus DNA [enzyme linked immunosorbent assay] and Crithidia lucilliae [immunofluorescence assay] as substrates. All patients' sera, after reviewing medical records, were classified into three broad groups: Group I [systemic lupus erythematosus], Group II [rheumatic diseases and rheumatoid arthritis], and Group III [nonspecific ANA antibody test positive]. A sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive test value and negative predictive test value for Group I against Group II-III [generally these two groups of sera should not show any anti-ds DNA antibody] combined showed for Crithidia lucilliae [IF assay] 58.8%, 93.6%, 82% and 82%, for 125 I recombinant DNA [RIA] assay, 75.8%, 94%, 86.2% and 88.7% and calf thymus highly purified DNA [ELISA] assay using positive cut-off value >100 U/mL, 97.5%, 35%, 42.9% and 24%. The 125 I recombinant DNA [RIA] assay based on the principle of the Farr technique, which is still considered to be the gold standard for anti-ds DNA antibody detection, showed the best specificity and sensitivity among all three methods tested in this study

Prevalence of anti-HTLV-1 antibodies in sera from 153 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Anti-T-lymphotrophic virus type 1 [HTLV] antibody concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 153 sera specimens from patients with histologically proved non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The presence of anti-HTLV-1 virus antibody was demonstrated in 5.2% [8/153]

Anti-delta-virus antibody in sera positive for hepatitis B surface antigen in male Saudi blood donors

Anti-delta-virus antibody was determined by readioimmunoassay technique in 490 healthy male Saudi blood donors with serum positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. The presence of anti-delta-virus antibody was demonstrated in 11.2% [55/490] of donor sera. This is considerably higher than the reported incidence of 3.8%, 0.5%, and from the United states, Canada, and 8%, 6.7%, and 5.4% from Saudi Arabia in healthy HB[s]Ag-positive blood donor sera

Hepatitis B virus markers in male Saudi blood donors

Hepatitis B surface antigen was determined by radiommunoassay in 2487 male Saudi and 7587 Western expatriate volunteer blood donors. The HB[s]Ag positivity rate was 8.5% in male Saudi and 0.7% in Western expatriale blood donors. This study was further extended to test other hepatitis B virus [HBV] markers and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] in 200 consecutive Saudi male blood donors' sera. A positivity rate for HB[s]Ag was 8.5%, anti-Hbs wasas 35.5%, anti-HB[c] [alone] was 1.5%, HB[e]Ag was 1.0%, and anti-HBe was 2.5%. A suggested nonspecific screening test for ALT enzyme with levels of >/= 45 IU/L [normal 6-36 IU/L] for non-A, non-B hepatitis carrier state was performed on the 200 male Saudi blood donor sera, using Dupont ACA III methodology. The result showed an elrvation of enzyme in 2.5% of Saudi donors. If a blood donor with any HBV marker were excluded then only 1.5% showed ALT enzyme elevation, considerably lower than the reported 3.6% in the U.S. blood donor population. The positivity rates of 8.5% for HB[s]Ag, 35.5% for anti-HB[s] and 49% for any HBV serological markers in male Saudi blood donors are significantly higher than in American volunteer blood donors

Hepatitis B serological markers in a Saudi Arabian patient population and their implications for health care workers

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence rate of hepatitis B in the patient population and the risk of contracting hepatitis B by health care workers in this comprehensive care hospital. The sera of 500 consecutive admissions were tested hepatitis B serological markers using sensitive radioimmunoassay methods. The significant positive results show: hepatitis B 'surface' antigen [HB[s]Ag], 8.8%; antiHB[c] ['core' alone], 3.4%; and, anti-HB[s] 46.6%. There was at last one positive hepatitis B virus marker in 56.6% of those tested. The presence of HB'eAg, suggesting high infectivity, was detected in 9% of HBsAg positive sera. An 8.8% HB[s]Ag and 3.4% anti-HB[c] [alone] diction rate gives a total of 12.2% of patients who potentially may transmit hepatitis B to health care workers at this hospital. This is significantly higher than the 0.3 to 2% reported from U.S general metropolitan hospital. The presence of a hepatitis B markers inn 56.6% of the patient population places health care workers of this hospital at considerable risk of contracting hepatitis B, compared to that in North American hospital