[Solidscreen II Enzyme: a complete test method using Solidscreen II]. / Solidscreen-II-Enzym: Eine ergänzende Testmethode mit Solidscreen II.

An extended application of the solid-phase antiglobulin test Solidscreen II consists in the use of enzyme-treated test cells. Beside the increased sensitivity in the detection of weak Rh antibodies, 'real enzyme-reactive antibodies' can be detected. A total of 818 serum samples and 404 EDTA plasma samples were tested for red cell antibodies. In addition to Solidscreen II, 12 antibodies (0.98%) were detected and identified.

[Solid phase techniques in blood group serology]. / Solid-Phase-Techniken in der Blutgruppenserologie.

As alternatives to hemagglutination, solid-phase red blood cell adherence assays are of increasing importance. The adaptation of the new techniques to microplates offers several advantages over hemagglutination. Using microplates the assays may be processed semiautomatically, and the results can be read spectrophotometrically and interpreted by a personal computer. In this paper, different red blood cell adherence assays for AB0 grouping, Rh typing, Rh phenotyping, antibody screening and identification, as well as crossmatching will be described.

[Kinetic measurement of GPT with the microtiter plate]. / Kinetische Messung der GPT in der Mikrotiterplatte.

Experiences with a kinetic method for measurement of SGPT in microtiter plate using an automatic sample processing device and Medusa software (Biotest) were evaluated. The correlation coefficient in parallel assessment of samples in a clinical routine laboratory was found to be 0.935 (p < 0.0001). The correlation coefficient comparing the internal standard dilution with actual recordings was found to be 0.999 (p < 0.0001). Automated screening of SGPT in microtiter plates seems thus to be reliable as well as feasible in blood bank routine.

Solid-phase antiglobulin test for screening and identification of red cell antibodies.

A newly developed automatically readable solid-phase antiglobulin test is described. The solid-phase test in comparison with conventional antiglobulin techniques for screening and identification of red cell antibodies showed agreement in 2346 (98.7%) of samples tested. The increased sensitivity of the solid-phase antiglobulin test is demonstrated by examination of serial twofold dilutions of antibodies.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies reacting with M blood group-related antigens.

Four mouse monoclonal antibodies were produced with specificities related to human blood group M antigen. The antibodies react in direct hemagglutination systems, and their specificities were investigated by their reactions with variant and enzyme-modified red cells. The effects of temperature and pH on their hemagglutination reactions also were investigated, and all four were murine IgG antibodies. Physicochemical and serologic investigations showed them to be four distinct antibodies, and each one could be used for M blood grouping under appropriate conditions.

Reactivity of monoclonal antibodies directed against blood group antigens M and N.

In order to get more standardized reagents for blood group typing and to get more information on the chemical nature of blood group antigens we have immunized Balb/c mice with whole red blood cells and with sialoglycoprotein fraction from group OMMss cells. As fusion partners mouse myeloma cell lines P3-NS1/1-Ag 4-1 and X63-Ag8.653 were used. Several monoclonal antibodies were obtained, which showed specificity for the M/N antigens. Because of the relationship between M and N antigens this system is a very good example for studying the influence of different parameters on the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies. Each monoclonal antibody behaves like an individuum and for each antibody the dependence of the agglutination reaction of temperature, pH, buffer for dilution and medium, in which the reaction takes place, has to be investigated. Otherwise the results are not comparable and unspecific reactions might occur. By standardizing these parameters specific reactions were obtained and the antibodies might be used as routine reagents.

Hepatitis B vaccine: safety study in anti-HBs seropositive human volunteers.

HBsAg, which has been purified from HBsAg and HBeAg positive plasma, was repeatedly applied to human volunteers, who were seropositive for anti-HBs. The intramuscular or subcutaneous injections caused a clear booster effect on anti-HBs concentrations in serum. The injections were well tolerated. Only minor local side effects occurred. Vaccination left serum transaminase activities unaffected. None of the volunteers developed serologic or clinical signs related to viral hepatitis.

Hepatitis B vaccine: safety study in anti-HBs seronegative human volunteers.

A hepatitis B vaccine which has been prepared from HBsAg and HBeAg positive human plasma and which consists of purified HBsAg in an alum suspension was investigated for safety and immunogenicity in a clinical trial. Twenty-three anti-HBs seronegative volunteers received three injections each of 40 micrograms HBsAg intramuscularly. No rise in serum transaminase activities occurred during the follow-up period, and none of the volunteers developed clinical signs related to viral hepatitis. Only minor side reactions like burning or reddening at the site of injection were reported by the volunteers. 100% seroconversion occurred within 150 days after first vaccination. The subsequent two vaccinations caused a strong booster effect.

Synthesis of orally active cardiosteroid derivatives.

Starting from hellebrigenin, orally cardiotonic active acylcardiosteroid derivatives have been synthesized. D 12316 (acrihellin), the hellebrigenin-3 beta-dimethylacrylate, has been chosen for clinical evaluation.

[Securing the ABO-identity by serafol before blood transfusions (author's transl)]. / ABO-Identitätssicherung mit Serafol vor Bluttransfusionen.

With the Serafol bedside card the ABO identity can be checked before transfusion in a very quick and simple way. The new bedside card is made from polyester film with a special surface coating indifferent to sera, which absorbs the anti sera to well when it begins to dry, that it contains no intermediatory labile additives. The antisera are applied in four circular areas which are spatially separated from each other and dyed in order to avoid additional labelling mistakes. It is not necessary to dissolve the test sera in water. A drop of the patient's blood and the conserved blood respectively are mixed with the antisera and the result can be read within a minute.

[Destroying of antigenicity and influencing the immunochemical reactivity of hepatitis B virus antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg and HBeAg) through disinfectants--a proposed method for testing (author's transl)]. / Zerstörung der Antigenität und Beeinflussung der immunochemischen Reaktivität von Antigenen des Hepatitis-B-Virus (HBsAg, HBcAg und HBeAg) durch Desinfektionsmittel--ein Prüfungsmodell.

So far, hepatitis B virus cannot be grown in tissue cultures. Consequently, the inactivating effect of disinfectants upon the infectivity of hepatitis B virus could only be insufficiently investigated. Investigations using the only suitable test animal, the chimpanzee, are associated with substantial efforts and high cost and are also limited in their extent. A relatively simple and probably reliable method as test model for disinfectants used in hepatitis B prophylaxis is outlined: the destruction of the antigenicity and the decrease in the immunochemical reactivity of hepatitis B virus antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg and HBeAg). Effects of one alcoholic antiseptic and two peracetic acid containing disinfectants are investigated.

A clinical study of the tolerance and safety of a beta-propiolactone-treated immunoglobulin.

In an open clinical study, 31 healthy volunteers were each given three i.v. infusions of 50 ml of a immunoglobulin preparation (Intraglobin) from three different production batches. During a 35-week observation period every three weeks blood specimens were drawn from the participants and analysed for serological (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe) and clinico-chemical parameters of hepatitis (SGOT, SGPT, gamma-GT and bilirubin levels). In no case evidence of the development of hepatitis arose, nor did the participants suffer from any side-effects during or after the infusions. Ten out of the 31 subjects then received another 150 ml infusion followed by an intradermal application of the new immunoglobulin in a 1:10 dilution four weeks later. No signs of immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions could be observed in the volunteers.

[Standardization of hepatitis B immunoglobulins (author's transl)]. / Zur Standardisierung von Hepatitis B-Immunglobulinen.

Titer determinations of hepatitis B immunoglobulins, as performed for example with radioimmunoassays or with haemagglutination tests, always show wide deviations; if a reference preparation, on which the test results can be based, is not run simultaneously with the test, the results are not comparable. A simple and easily reproducible radioimmunological method is described: the regression line is calculated for the titer series of a reference preparation, whose end titer is established; the anti-HBs content of the preparations under test can then be compared.

[Serologic hepatitis B markers in porphyria cutanea tarda (author's transl)]. / Serologische Hepatitis-B-Marker bei Porphyria cutanea tarda.

Using several seromarkers for hepatitis B virus the frequency of previous hepatitis B in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) as a possible manifestation factor was determined. As chronic hepatitis is frequently associated with an increase of factor VIII-associated antigen, this was included in the investigation. Results make it likely that 28 out of 60 investigated patients (47%) have had hepatitis. In 30% an increase of factor VIII-associated antigen was found. It can be assumed that hepatitis B virus infection as a manifestation factor may be of considerable importance in porphyria cutanea tarda when genetic disposition (uroporphyrinogen-decarboxylase deficiency) is present.

[Occurrence of HBs-antigen and anti-HBs in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (author's transl)]. / Hüfigkeit von HBs-Antigen und Anti-HBs bei porphyria cutanea tarda.

Serum 63 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) was examined for the presence of HBs-antigen and anti-HBs by the CombRIA-Au method. HBs-antigen was not detected in any of the examined blood samples. In contrast to these findings in 12 of the 63 PCT-patients (= 28 per cent), anti HBs was detected in the serum. The results showed that a high percentage of our PCT patients had been afflicted with an inapparent hepatitis B and were producing HBs-antibodies.