ABSTRACT
We observed a slower electrophoretic mobility (in agarose gel) of alpha- and beta-globulins of pooled serum samples stored at 4 degrees C compared with that of fresh pooled serum samples. This finding was also observed in a commercial preparation of lyophilized pooled serum samples stored in the refrigerator. The concentration of several serum proteins (as measured by rate nephelometry) was not affected by storage. It is possible that protein interactions in pooled serum samples after their electrophoretric mobility.
Subject(s)
Blood Preservation , Electrophoresis , Serum Globulins , Temperature , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A young man with amenorrhea had a consistently positive pregnancy test result (serum radioimmunoassay measurement of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin hormone). No fetal or placental tissue was found after uterine curettage and exploratory laparotomy. The false-positive pregnancy test result was due to heterophilic antibovine and antigoat antibodies in the patient's serum. These antibodies interfered with radioimmunoassays using goat antibodies. This case shows that serum heterophilic antibodies can interfere with immunoassays and result in unnecessary diagnostic procedures and/or unnecessary treatment.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Heterophile/immunology , Pregnancy Tests, Immunologic/standards , Radioimmunoassay/standards , Adult , Antibodies, Heterophile/analysis , Antibody Affinity , Antibody Specificity , Chorionic Gonadotropin/blood , Cross Reactions , Curettage , False Positive Reactions , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , LaparotomyABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was measured by a hybridization technique in the sera of three patients with HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis treated with fibroblast interferon (INF-beta). Although DNA polymerase activity was undetectable in all patients 2-4 weeks after the beginning of the treatment, HBV-DNA was always present in two patients and disappeared in the only patient who showed marked clinical and histopathological improvement of the liver disease after INF treatment. This suggests that serum HBV-DNA is a valuable marker to monitor during therapeutic trials of chronic HBV infection.
