A mathematical epidemiological model of gram-negative Bartonella bacteria: does differential ectoparasite load fully explain the differences in infection prevalence of Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus?

We postulate that the large difference in infection prevalence, 24% versus 5%, in R. norvegicus and R. rattus, respectively, between these two co-occurring host species may be due to differences in ectoparasite and potential vector infestation rates. A compartmental model, representative of an infectious system containing these two Rattus species and two ectoparasite vectors, was constructed and the coefficients of the forces of infection determined mathematically. The maximum difference obtained by the model in the prevalence of Bartonella in the two Rattus species amounts to 4.6%, compared to the observed mean difference of 19%. Results suggest the observed higher Bartonella infection prevalence in Rattus norvegicus compared to Rattus rattus, cannot be explained solely by higher ectoparasite load. The model also highlights the need for more detailed biological research on Bartonella infections in Rattus and the importance of the flea vector in the spread of this disease.

Bartonellae of the Namaqua rock mouse, Micaelamys namaquensis (Rodentia: Muridae) from South Africa.

The aim of this study was to determine Bartonella prevalence and diversity in Namaqua rock mice, Micaelamys namaquensis, a species endemic to South Africa, which can attain pest status. A total of 100 heart samples collected monthly from March to December were screened for Bartonella genome presence using three primer sets targeting the citrate synthase (gltA) gene, the NADH dehydrogenase gamma subunit (nuoG) gene and the RNA polymerase ß-subunit-encoding gene (rpoB). An overall prevalence of 44% was obtained, with no statistically significant differences or correlations between infection rates and rodent sex, month of capture or season of capture. Phylogenetic analysis of 34 unambiguous gltA sequences revealed the presence of three discrete Bartonella lineages in M. namaquensis, one of which corresponds to Bartonella elizabethae, a species with known zoonotic potential.

Transferability of lipase titrimetric assays: deductions from an interlaboratory study.

Following the selection of the most appropriate method for emulsification and the optimization of the reaction medium, interlaboratory studies were conducted to check the effect of preparing substrates and measuring the catalytic concentration of lipase at different sites as well as the effect of transport on emulsion. The determinations of lipase activity in an abnormal chemistry control against emulsions prepared by two laboratories (and used by both laboratories) and, also, against five separate emulsions prepared by one laboratory (and used by five different laboratories) resulted in average enzyme activity values (2234 +/- 125 and 2263 +/- 204 U/l respectively) which are not statistically different. Standard preparations of lipase, control sera and reference materials can therefore be titrated according to the procedure followed by at least two laboratories for at least 3 days against two separate emulsions.

Efecto de matrices comunes para ensayos estandares sobre la performance de métodos inmunométricos ultrasensibles para TSH / Effect of commor matrix for standart assay on the performance of method inmunometric ultrasensible for TSH

Este documento describe los resultados de un estudio en colaboración organizado por un grupo de trabajo conjunto de la IFCC y la OMS (WHO) y que comprende nueve fabricantes de equipos para ensayos inmunométricos de TSH.El estudio fue diseñado para determinar si un calibrador con una matriz común da mejor concordancia entre los laboratorios para la calibración de muestras de suero, que varios equipos calibradores y para evaluar varios materiales y determinar la posibilidad de ser usadosa como matrices comunes. Los equipos calibradores que constan de IRP para TSH realizados en dos matrices comunes, 1)suero de pacientes con tirotoxicosis no tratadas o 2) suero de personas tratadas con dosis supresoras de trydotironina, dieron resultado similares para la variación interlaboratorio de estimaciones de concentracin de TSH para un rango de muestras de suero. Las curvas dosis-respuesta para los dos calibrantesa en matrices "comunes" fueron similares entre sí y con las de equipos calibrantes. Sin embargo, la ocurrencia de efectos séricos no específicos se muestra en la comparación de estos calibrantes con los resultados para calibrantes hechos con una tercera matriz común, suero tratado con lecitina de germen de trigo. Las curvas dosis respuesta para ese calibrante fueron distintas de las de los otros y la variación entre laboratorios para las estimaciones en términos de este último calibrante mostró un aumento sustancial. Además, aunque las variaciones entre laboratorios para las estimaciones de la concentración de TSH, en términos de cada uno de estos calibrantes (excepto aquellos hechos en suero tratado con lecitina de germen de trigo), fueron similares para cualquier muestra de cinco pacientes hipertiroideos, las variaciones no fueron uniformes entre muestras,aun para muestras con concentraciones medias de TSH similares. Estos resultadosa sugieren que un factor importante en la variación entre laboratorios, especialmente en la región cercana a la "dosis cero", está relacionado con la muestra, y es causado por muestras particulares que interactúan en distinta forma con diferentes sistemas de ensayo. En general,parece que para los bien controlados equipos de ensayos inmunométricos "ultra sensibles" de TSH, incluídos en este estudio, la concordancia entre laboratorios de las estimaciones de la concentración de TYSH en muestras de suero,no es probable que sea mejorada por el uso de una matriz común para estos estándares

Efecto de matrices comunes para ensayos estandares sobre la performance de métodos inmunométricos ultrasensibles para TSH / Effect of commor matrix for standart assay on the performance of method inmunometric ultrasensible for TSH

Este documento describe los resultados de un estudio en colaboración organizado por un grupo de trabajo conjunto de la IFCC y la OMS (WHO) y que comprende nueve fabricantes de equipos para ensayos inmunométricos de TSH.El estudio fue diseñado para determinar si un calibrador con una matriz común da mejor concordancia entre los laboratorios para la calibración de muestras de suero, que varios equipos calibradores y para evaluar varios materiales y determinar la posibilidad de ser usadosa como matrices comunes. Los equipos calibradores que constan de IRP para TSH realizados en dos matrices comunes, 1)suero de pacientes con tirotoxicosis no tratadas o 2) suero de personas tratadas con dosis supresoras de trydotironina, dieron resultado similares para la variación interlaboratorio de estimaciones de concentracin de TSH para un rango de muestras de suero. Las curvas dosis-respuesta para los dos calibrantesa en matrices "comunes" fueron similares entre sí y con las de equipos calibrantes. Sin embargo, la ocurrencia de efectos séricos no específicos se muestra en la comparación de estos calibrantes con los resultados para calibrantes hechos con una tercera matriz común, suero tratado con lecitina de germen de trigo. Las curvas dosis respuesta para ese calibrante fueron distintas de las de los otros y la variación entre laboratorios para las estimaciones en términos de este último calibrante mostró un aumento sustancial. Además, aunque las variaciones entre laboratorios para las estimaciones de la concentración de TSH, en términos de cada uno de estos calibrantes (excepto aquellos hechos en suero tratado con lecitina de germen de trigo), fueron similares para cualquier muestra de cinco pacientes hipertiroideos, las variaciones no fueron uniformes entre muestras,aun para muestras con concentraciones medias de TSH similares. Estos resultadosa sugieren que un factor importante en la variación entre laboratorios, especialmente en la región cercana a la "dosis cero", está relacionado con la muestra, y es causado por muestras particulares que interactúan en distinta forma con diferentes sistemas de ensayo. En general,parece que para los bien controlados equipos de ensayos inmunométricos "ultra sensibles" de TSH, incluídos en este estudio, la concordancia entre laboratorios de las estimaciones de la concentración de TYSH en muestras de suero,no es probable que sea mejorada por el uso de una matriz común para estos estándares

Interlaboratory study of the IFCC method for alanine aminotransferase performed with use of a partly purified reference material.

We present the results of a study on performance of a reference material for alanine aminotransferase (ALT, EC 2.6.1.2) and the corresponding IFCC-approved method in an interlaboratory trial involving 13 laboratories. The ALT material was partly purified from pig heart (specific activity, 150 kU/g) and was essentially free of six potentially contaminating enzyme activities, including aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1). The partly purified ALT was lyophilized in a triethanolamine-buffered matrix, pH 6.4, containing bovine serum albumin and saccharose. Under these conditions, the predicted yearly loss of activity was 0.02% at 4 degrees C and < 0.01% at -20 degrees C. The final blank-corrected results of the accepted set of data gave a mean (SD) of 128.5 (5.1) U/L. The among-laboratory SD was 4.6 U/L and the within-laboratory SD was 2.0 U/L. The certified ALT catalytic concentration in the reconstituted material was 129 U/L with a 0.95 confidence interval of +/- 4 U/L.

The effects of common matrices for assay standards on performance of 'ultra sensitive' immunometric assays for TSH. Report of a joint WHO/IFCC collaborative study.

This report describes the results of a collaborative study organized by a joint working group of IFCC and WHO and involving nine manufacturers of TSH immunometric assay kits. The study was designed to determine whether a calibrator with a common matrix gives better between-laboratory agreement for calibration of serum samples than the various kit calibrators, and to assess various materials for their suitability for use as common matrices. Kit calibrators or calibrators consisting of the IRP for TSH made up in two common matrices, (1) serum from patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis or (2) serum taken from subjects treated with suppressive doses of triiodothyronine, gave similar results for the between-laboratory variation of estimates of TSH concentration for a range of serum samples. Dose-response curves for the two calibrators in 'common' matrices were similar to one another and to those for the kit calibrator. However, the occurrence of non-specific serum effects is shown by the comparison of results for these calibrators with results for calibrators made up in a third common matrix, serum treated with wheat germ lectin. Dose-response curves for this calibrator were dissimilar to those for the other calibrators and between-laboratory variation for estimates in terms of this latter calibrator showed a substantial increase. Moreover, although the between-laboratory variances for estimates of the TSH concentration in terms of each of these calibrators (except those made up in serum treated with in the wheat germ lectin) were similar for any one sample from five hyperthyroid patients, the variances were not consistent between samples, even for samples with similar mean TSH concentrations. These results suggest that a major factor in the between-laboratory variation, especially in the region near 'zero dose', is sample-related, and is caused by particular samples interacting differently with different assay systems. In general, it would appear that for the well controlled 'ultra-sensitive' TSH immunometric assay kits, included in this study, between-laboratory agreement of estimates of the TSH concentration in serum samples is not likely to be substantially improved by use of a common matrix for the standards.

The effects of common matrices for assay standards on performance of 'ultra sensitive' immunometric assays for TSH: Report of a joint WHO/IFCC collaborative study.

This report describes the results of a collaborative study organized by a joint working group of the IFCC and WHO and involving nine manufacturers of TSH immunometric assay kits. The study was designed to determine whether a calibrator with a common matrix gives better between-laboratory agreement for calibration of serum samples than the various kit calibrators, and to assess various materials for their suitability for use as common matrices. Kit calibrators, or calibrators consisting of the IRP for TSH made up in two common matrices: (a) serum from patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis or (b) serum taken from subjects treated with suppressive doses of triiodothyronine, gave similar results for the between-laboratory variation of estimates of TSH concentration for a range of serum samples. Dose-response curves for the two calibrators in 'common' matrices were similar to one another and to those for the kit calibrator. However, the occurrence of non-specific serum effects is shown by the comparison of results for these calibrators with results for calibrators made up in a third common matrix: serum treated with wheat germ lectin. Dose response curves for this calibrator were dissimilar to those for the other calibrators and between-laboratory variation for estimates in terms of this latter calibrator showed a substantial increase. Moreover, although the between-laboratory variances for estimates of the TSH concentration in terms of each of these calibrators (except those made up in serum treated with the wheat germ lectin) were similar for any one sample from five hyperthyroid patients, the variances were not consistent between samples, even for samples with similar mean TSH concentrations. These results suggest that a major factor in the between-laboratory variation, especially in the region near 'zero dose', is sample-related, and is caused by particular samples interacting differently with different assay systems.In general, it would appear that for the well-controlled 'ultrasensitive' TSH immunometric assay kits, included in this study, between-laboratory agreement of estimates of the TSH concentration in serum samples is not likely to be substantially improved by use of a common matrix for the standards.

The effects of common matrices for assay standards on performance of "ultra sensitive" immunometric assays for TSH. Report of a joint WHO/IFCC collaborative study.

This report describes the results of a collaborative study organized by a joint working group of IFCC and WHO and involving nine manufacturers of TSH immunometric assay kits. The study was designed to determine whether a calibrator with a common matrix gives better between-laboratory agreement for calibration of serum samples than the various kit calibrators, and to assess various materials for their suitability for use as common matrices. Kit calibrators or calibrators consisting of the IRP for TSH made up in two common matrices, 1) serum from patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis or 2) serum taken from subjects treated with suppressive doses of triiodothyronine, gave similar results for the between-laboratory variation of estimates of TSH concentration for a range of serum samples. Dose-response curves for the two calibrators in 'common' matrices were similar to one another and to those fort the kit calibrator. However, the occurrence of non-specific serum effects is shown by the comparison of results for these calibrators with results for calibrators made up in a third common matrix, serum treated with wheat germ lectin. Dose response curves for this calibrator were dissimilar to those for the other calibrators and between-laboratory variation for estimates in terms of this latter calibrator showed a substantial increase. Moreover, although the between-laboratory variances for estimates of the TSH concentration in terms of each of these calibrators (except those made up in serum treated with in the wheat germ lectin) were similar for any one sample from five hyperthyroid patients, the variances were not consistent between samples, even for samples with similar mean TSH concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The importance of a blind control in the establishment of assigned values in control sera. The establishment of assigned values in control sera, I.

We describe a study by which the establishment of assigned values of a control serum was simulated. The study covered two controls: The internal known control and a blind control. Seven constituents were analyzed in 10 or 11 laboratories, respectively, yielding a total of 72 sets of analytical values. Each set covered double determinations within approximately 18 series for each sample. The course of a blind control correlates better with the unknown sample for which assigned values are to be determined than does a known control. Out of 72 sets 5 sets were found incorrect. Out of these, 2 sets could be recognized exclusively by means of the blind control, and 2 others primarily by means of the known control; one of these could be detected by means of the double determinations. Consequently, a blind control has a greater control efficiency than double determinations.