Search results for "Specimen collection"

Progress on bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulation.

2019

Paola Movalli et al.

Field evaluation of a rapid antigen test (Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device) for COVID-19 diagnosis in primary healthcare centres.

2021

Abstract Objectives To our knowledge no previous study has assessed the performance of a rapid antigen diagnostic immunoassay (RAD) conducted at the point of care (POC). We evaluated the Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device for diagnosis of coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) in symptomatic patients (n = 412) attending primary healthcare centres. Methods RAD was performed immediately after sampling following the manufacturer's instructions (reading at 15 min). RT-PCRs were carried out within 24 h of specimen collection. Samples displaying discordant results were processed for culture in Vero E6 cells. Presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in cell cultures…

Multicentric study of the effect of pre-analytical variables in the quality of plasma samples stored in biobanks using different complementary proteo…

2016

12 páginas, 7 figuras.-- Jesús Mateos ... et al.

Inter-individual variation of the urinary steroid profiles in Swedish and Norwegian athletes.

2020

The steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) aims to detect doping with endogenous steroids, e.g. testosterone (T), by longitudinally monitoring several biomarkers. These biomarkers are ratios combined into urinary concentrations of testosterone and metabolically related steroids. However, it is evident after 5 years of monitoring steroid passports that there are large variations in the steroid ratios complicating its interpretation. In this study, we used over 11000 urinary steroid profiles from Swedish and Norwegian athletes to determine both the inter- and intra-individual variations of all steroids and ratios in the steroidal passport. Furthermore, we investigated if th…

Methodological considerations to determine the effect of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.

2015

Objectives: Physical exercise up-regulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain and blood. However, there is yet no consensus about the adequate blood processing conditions to standardize its assessment. We aimed to find a reliable blood sample processing method to determine changes in BDNF due to exercise. Design and methods: Twelve healthy university students performed an incremental cycling test to exhaustion. At baseline, immediately after exercise, and 30 and 60 min of recovery, venous blood was drawn and processed under different conditions, i.e. whole blood, serum coagulated for 10 min and 24 h, total plasma, and platelet-free plasma. BDNF concentration was measured …

Circulating miR-200–family micro-RNAs have altered plasma levels in patients with endometriosis and vary with blood collection time

2015

Objective To determine whether circulating micro-RNA (miR) 200a, miR-200b, and miR-141 have altered levels in patients with endometriosis compared with control individuals. Design Experimental laboratory study. Setting University. Patient(s) Patients with endometriosis (n = 61), laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis-free women (n = 35), and self-reported healthy women (n = 30) were included in the study. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Plasma miRNA levels in endometriosis patients and control subjects. Result(s) We found that the levels of studied miRNAs varied with blood collection time, being lower in the morning than in the evening. When blood collection time was taken i…

Enhancement of immunohistochemical staining

1982

The present paper describes two simple procedures which enhance immunohistochemical staining. One is to cover the sections with a plastic film to keep the serum uniformly distributed and minimize its evaporation. Secondly, rocking of the slides has been introduced, causing the serum to flow back and forth under the plastic film. Using this system, it has been possible to test for the effect of mixing on an immunohistochemical reaction (the demonstration of calcitonin in thyroid C cells). It has been found that mixing definitely enhances the reaction during the first 8 h. No effect of serum volume was observed.

Different types of storage devices for blood transportation in the anti-doping field

2011

Norm values for eosinophil cationic protein in nasal secretions: influence of specimen collection

1999

Background Eosinophil granulocytes play an important role in allergic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a specific eosinophil granule protein released upon activation of these cells. ECP concentration in nasal secretions has been demonstrated to be a good marker for the activity of eosinophilic nasal mucosal inflammation. The clinical use of such a marker requires defined values which are regarded as pathological or within normal range. In analyses of nasal secretion samples, the sampling method has an important influence on the data obtained. Objective We investigated ECP levels in nasal secretions (NS) of healthy volunteers obtained by seven different …

Functional C1-inhibitor diagnostics in hereditary angioedema: Assay evaluation and recommendations

2008

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by recurrent episodes of potentially life-threatening angioedema. The most widespread underlying genetic deficiency is a heterozygous deficiency of the serine protease inhibitor Cl esterase inhibitor (C1-Inh). In addition to low C4 levels, the most important laboratory parameter for correct diagnosis of HAE or angioedema due to acquired C1-Inh deficiency is reduced C1-Inh function (fC1-Inh). No direct recommendations about the assays for fC1-Inh or sample handling conditions are available, although this would prove especially useful when a laboratory first starts to offer assays on fC1-Inh for HAE diagnosis. In the p…