House dust mites and bronchial asthma in Libyan children

A total of 300 asthmatic patients [children from 6 months to 13 years], who were attending paediatrics respiratory clinic at Ibn Sina Teaching Hospital and Out-Patient Clinic in Central Polyclinic, Sirt-Libya, were tested for their responses to skin prick test using purified house dust mites [HDM] allergens. Out of the 300 patients suffering from bronchial asthma, 204 [68%] showed variable allergic response to various HDM purified allergens.57% of the positive cases showed positive response to Dermatophagoide pteronyssinus [Der pter] antigens, and 28% of cases to Dermatophagoide farinae [Der far] antigens and 14% showed positive response to Lepidoglyphus destructor [L.d] antigens. Of the 204 patients with positive reaction, 64.2% gave severe reaction while 21% gave moderate and 14.8% gave mild reactions. These reactions were more severe in males than females

An evaluation of a new gel system (ID-gel) for antibody screening and identification.

An evaluation of the new "ID-Gel System" (Diamed) for the detection of red cell antibody-antigen reactions was undertaken in the King Khalid University Hospital Blood Bank. Antibody screening was performed in 700 patient samples using both the conventional test tube (bovine albumin and LISS) techniques and the new ID-gel technique. The results obtained were as follows: a) 70 antibodies of various types were detected by the bovine albumin technique. b) 98 antibodies were spotted by LISS. c) The ID-gel system detected 122 antibodies (17.43%) which included all those detected by the other two techniques. It was concluded that the ID-gel system is a far more sensitive technique than the conventional Blood Bank immuno-haematological tests. In addition, the ID-system has the further advantage of standardization of the test, shorter incubation time, no washing procedure and reduces the technologist time, effort and perhaps number.