[Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of a test system for detecting hepatitis virus C RNA by polymerase chain reaction "AmpliSens(TM) HCV-240/BKO-440)"]. / Otsenka diagnosticheskoi éffektivnosti tests-sistemy dlia vyiavleniia RNK virusa gepatita C metodom polimeraznoi tsepnoi reaktsii "AmpliSens(TM) HCV-240/VKO-440".

The test system developed at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for identification of hepatitis C virus RNA was studied. The sensitivity of the test system which the rate of similar results was 100% with its 5-fold reproduction was evaluated. That was 5 x 103 genomic equivalents (or international units) per ml of a sample. A scheme for evaluation of the reproductibility of test systems based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by using model samples is proposed. Whether it can be used for intra- and extra-laboratory assessment of the quality of PCR analyses is discussed.

[Construction of reference panel of immune serum against hepatitis C virus with standard level of IgG antibodies]. / Konstruirovanie referens-panelei syvorotok k virusu gepatita C s normirovannym urovnem IgG-antitel.

A panel of anti-HCV sera (lot 03HC) was prepared from human sera obtained at blood transfusion centers and infectious hospitals. Donor sera and high-titer sera from patients infected with HCV were used. For positive samples, specific sera reactive with the core and/or NS proteins of HCV 1b and 2 were selected. Positive sera were standardized by the concentrations of IgG with a pool of negative sera containing no HBsAg and antibodies to HIV, HCV, and syphilis. The sera for the panel were selected and titered in screening and specific tests. The anti-HCV panel includes negative and positive sera with low and high titers. The panel sera are stabilized and can be stored for a short time at room temperature. The anti-HCV panel of sera, lot 02HC, was certified at L. A. Tarasevich Institute for Standardization and Control as anti-HCV reference panel intended for sensitivity, specificity, and stability control of diagnostic systems for detection of antibodies to HCV in Russia.

[Comparative evaluation of the methods of determining perfringens A antitoxin]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka metodov opredeleniia urovnia antitoksina perfringens tipa A.

The methods for determining the level of type A Perfringens antitoxin in human blood sera were examined and compared. The ratios for correlating the data obtained in the toxin neutralization test (NT) in vivo, in the passive hemagglutination test (PHT), and as a result of the enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with regard to the antitoxin level measured in the NT in vitro were equal to 0.88, 0.64 and 0.39, respectively. The sensitivity of the NT in vivo and in vitro was 0.25 IU/ml, that of the PHT 0.01-0.005 IU/ml, and that of the ELISA 0.01-0.02 IU/ml Perfringens antitoxin. To perform the NT, not less than 1 ml blood serum is required, while for the PHT and ELISA, 0.1-0.05 ml. Provided hyghly purified anatoxin is used for preparing the erythrocyte diagnosticum Perfringens, and polysterene plates are sensitized in performing the ELISA, all the reactions are specific. While titrating human blood sera containing type A Perfringens antitoxin, use in the PHT may be made of type A Perfringens rabbit antiserum as reference.