[The serodiagnosis of viral hepatitis C and B in different population groups]. / Serodiagnostika virusnykh gepatitov C i B sredi razlichnykh grupp nasea.

Data on the frequency of detection of serological markers of hepatitis C and B viruses using enzyme immunoassay for examinations of blood donors in different regions of the country, of patients with hepatitis of obscure etiology and patients with hemophilia regularly receiving hemostatic therapy are presented. The rate of detection of antibody to hepatitis C (anti-HCV) in reserve donors varied from 2% (Baltic states) to 9.2% (Moldavia), that of the carrier state of HBsAg from 0.3% to 10.3%, respectively. Among patients with hepatitis of obscure etiology, anti-HCV was found in 9-18%. A higher rate of anti-HCV was found in donors with high levels of aminotransferases (18.75%) and in patients with hemophilia (77.6%). Epidemiological serological surveys of group incidence of hepatitis revealed a high portion of incidence of virus hepatitis C (from 50 to 90%).

[Immunodiagnosis of HIV infection in the transfusion service]. / Immunodiagnostika VICh-infektsii v transfuziologicheskoi sluzhbe.

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is the basic method of the laboratory diagnosis of HIV-infection used as the first component of donors' screening. The possibility of nonspecific reactions presents a significant shortcoming of this method. An algorithm involving three stages has been elaborated to investigate donors for anti-HIV antibodies and to verify seropositive samples. The first-stage screening is conducted with the use of Soviet test-reagents. Positive samples are assayed again in the Soviet EI-systems based on varying types of sorbed antigens. In case of questionable or positive reactions the sample is assayed in commercial imported test-systems (the second stage). The positive sera are assayed in the immunoblotting test (the third stage). The algorithm suggested provides a reliable control and is worthwhile economically. The causes of nonspecific reactions in EIA have been described.

[Comparative evaluation of the immunoenzyme test systems for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka immunofermentnykh test-sistem dlia infektsii VICh-1 i VICh-2.

Comparative investigations of enzyme immunoassay systems for the diagnosis of HIV-infection were conducted in panels with HIV-1 and HIV-2-positive and negative samples. It has been shown that immunodiagnostic reagents produced by the firms "Abbott" (USA) and "Behring" (FRG) possess the highest sensitivity and specificity. It has been established that the test-systems for HIV-1 cannot identify HIV-2-positive samples due to the absence of cross-reactivity. To decrease the risk of HIV transmission through the blood it is recommended that immunodiagnostic tests for both virus types should be conducted in blood donors' screening.

[Serological markers of viral infections and various indicators of immunity in patients with hemophilia]. / Serologicheskie markery virusnykh infektsii i nekotorye pokazateli immuniteta u bol'nykh gemofiliei.

The authors have studied the incidence rate for markers of viruses of AIDS (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and cytomegalia (CMV), as well as certain parameters of antiinfectious defense in hemophilia patients. A high incidence rate of HBV and CMV markers was established in the investigated patients, and among them no seropositive subjects, by antibodies to HIV, were detected. In the presence of a low incidence rate of chronic HBsAg-carriership in this category of patients, a significant number of immune subjects was observed, that correlated with a relative stability of such immunity parameters as concentration of serum immunoglobulin G and the level of circulating immune complexes.

[Problem of differential diagnosis of hepatitis in donors of blood for plasmapheresis]. / K voprosu differentsial'noi diagnostiki gepatitov u donorov plazmafereza.

The data obtained as a result of a serological study of virus A and B hepatitis markers by the RIA in immune plasmapheresis donors among whom there were cases of group hepatitis allowed one to exclude the etiological role of hepatitis virus A and B in immune plasma-pheresis donors.

[Specific safety and immunogenicity of a subunit vaccine against hepatitis B]. / Izuchenie spetsificheskoi bezvrednosti i immunogennosti sub"edinichnoi vaktsiny protiv gepatita B.

The results of trials of a subunit vaccine against hepatitis B in volunteers are presented. The active substance of the vaccine was HBsAg isolated from the plasma of asymptomatic antigen carriers. The preparation under study is highly immunogenic, shows poor reactogenicity, and safety in use.