serology
CommentaryLaboratory Diagnosis of COVID-19: Current Issues and ChallengesThe COVID-19 outbreak has had a major impact on clinical microbiology laboratories in the past several months. This commentary covers current issues and challenges for the laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the preanalytical stage, collecting the proper respiratory tract specimen at the right time from the right anatomic site is essential for a prompt and...
Clinical Veterinary MicrobiologyDetection of Bovine Antibodies against a Conserved Capsid Epitope as the Basis of a Novel Universal Serological Test for Foot-and-Mouth DiseaseDiagnostic tests for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) include the detection of antibodies against either the viral nonstructural proteins or the capsid. The detection of antibodies against the structural proteins (SP) of the capsid can be used to monitor seroconversion in both infected and vaccinated animals. However, SP tests need to be tailored to the individual FMD virus (FMDV) serotype and their sensitivity may be affected by antigenic...
ImmunoassaysThe Lyme Disease Biobank: Characterization of 550 Patient and Control Samples from the East Coast and Upper Midwest of the United StatesLyme disease (LD) is an increasing public health problem. Current laboratory testing is insensitive in early infection, the stage at which appropriate treatment is most effective in preventing disease sequelae. The Lyme Disease Biobank (LDB) collects samples from individuals with symptoms consistent with early LD presenting with or without erythema migrans (EM) or an annular, expanding skin lesion and uninfected individuals from areas...
Clinical Veterinary MicrobiologyValidation of Bartonella henselae Western Immunoblotting for Serodiagnosis of Bartonelloses in DogsBartonella spp. are etiological agents of life-threatening zoonotic diseases in dogs worldwide. Due to the poor sensitivity of immunofluorescent-antibody assays (IFAs), a reliable serodiagnostic test for canine bartonelloses is of clinical importance. The utility of Western blotting (WB) for the serodiagnosis of canine bartonelloses has not been critically investigated. The objective of this study was to characterize WB...
ImmunoassaysPerformance Characteristics of a Multiplex Flow Immunoassay for Detection of IgG-Class Antibodies to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella-Zoster Viruses in Presumptively Immune Health Care WorkersImmunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster viruses (VZV; MMRV) is a common condition of employment for health care workers (HCWs) to ensure compliance with national standards and state laws. When documentation of complete vaccination or laboratory-confirmed infection is not available, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) criteria are used to guide vaccination or anti-MMRV IgG testing. We assessed the...
ImmunoassaysA Multiplexed Serologic Test for Diagnosis of Lyme Disease for Point-of-Care UseSingle multiplexed assays could replace the standard 2-tiered (STT) algorithm recommended for the laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease if they perform with a specificity and a sensitivity superior or equal to those of the STT algorithm.
ParasitologyChagas Disease Serological Test Performance in U.S. Blood Donor SpecimensChagas disease affects an estimated 300,000 individuals in the United States. Diagnosis in the chronic phase requires positive results from two different IgG serological tests. Three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) (Hemagen, Ortho, and Wiener) and one rapid test (InBios) are FDA cleared, but comparative data in U.S. populations are sparse. We evaluated 500 seropositive and 300 seronegative blood donor plasma samples.
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VirologyMultilaboratory Assessment of Epstein-Barr Virus Serologic Assays: the Case for StandardizationIgA antibodies targeting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have been proposed for screening for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, methods differ, and the antigens used in these assays differ considerably between laboratories. To enable formal comparisons across a range of established EBV serology assays, we created a panel of 66 pooled serum samples and 66 pooled plasma samples generated from individuals with a broad range of IgA antibody...
Letter to the EditorKinetics of Anti-Zika Virus Antibodies after Acute Infection in Pregnant Women
BacteriologyIntroduction to Measurement of Avidity of Anti-Coxiella burnetii IgG in Diagnosis of Q FeverDue to the atypical serological profile of some patients with primary Q fever infection who do not develop IgM against Coxiella burnetii, we developed an avidity test to distinguish recent or past infections. We tested 39 serum samples by immunofluorescence with conventional assay and after urea treatment from 26 patients at different stages of the disease.
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