Why the MDRD equation should not be used in patients with normal renal function (and normal creatinine values)?

in Clinical Nephrology (2006), 66(2), 147-148

Place de la Biologie Clinique dans l'évolution de l'insuffisance rénale et de ses complications.

Conference given outside the academic context (2006)

Plasma cystatin C for the detection of renal failure in obese patients

in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (2006), 21(S4), 214

Validation analytique de l'ImmunoCap 250 (Sweden Diagnostics)

in Annales de Biologie Clinique (2006), 64(1, Jan-Feb), 91-4

A new automate, ImmunoCap 250 has recently been released by Sweden Diagnostics for the determination of specific and total IgE. We have evaluated its analytical performances (intra- and inter-assay ... [more ▼]

A new automate, ImmunoCap 250 has recently been released by Sweden Diagnostics for the determination of specific and total IgE. We have evaluated its analytical performances (intra- and inter-assay precision, linearity, recovery and sensibility) and compared the results obtained by Unicap 100 on 149 samples positive for 12 different allergens and 30 samples containing different concentrations of total IgE. Intra- and inter-assay precision are less than 10% excepted for the specific IgE of one allergen (i3, common wasp), but still in accordance with the NCCLS guidelines. The sensibility is 0.01 kU(A)/L for specific and 0.35 kU/L for total IgE. The method is linear up to 5000 kU/L for total and at least 80 kU(A)/L for specific IgE. The recovery test showed a recovery of the International standard WHO 75/502 between 85 and 115%, with a mean of 103%. The correlation coefficient between the ImmunoCap 250 and Unicap 100 is 0.9866 and 0.9984 for specific and total IgE respectively. ImmunoCap 250 is a good solution for laboratories that perform twenty to thirty thousand determinations. [less ▲]

Analytical validation of the new plasma calibrated Accu-Chek (R) Test Strips (Roche Diagnostics)

in Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine (2006), 44(11), 1376-1378

Background: The Accu-Chek Inform glucose monitor is a point-of-care system for testing blood glucose. New test strips, calibrated to deliver glucose plasma-like values, were launched on the market in May ... [more ▼]

Background: The Accu-Chek Inform glucose monitor is a point-of-care system for testing blood glucose. New test strips, calibrated to deliver glucose plasma-like values, were launched on the market in May 2005. The aim of our study was to perform analytical validation of these new strips. Methods: We compared the new plasma strips with whole blood strips; results for the plasma strips with plasma values obtained using a clinical analyzer and with whole blood values given by the glucose electrode of a blood gas analyzer; and the influence of the type of blood (capillary or venous) on the results obtained by the glucose monitor with the plasma calibrated strips. Results: Plasma strips give on average 7% higher results than the previous whole blood strips. However, the results given by the plasma strips on capillary whole blood, even if well correlated, are not completely comparable with those given by an analyzer for venous plasma. Nevertheless, these plasma strips and the glucose electrode of a blood gas analyzer give comparable results. Conclusions: Accu-Chek Inform plasma strips are a good method for monitoring of blood glucose values in patients with diabetes. [less ▲]

Traitement des plaintes dans un système d'assurance qualité: l'expérience du laboratoire de Biologie clinique

Conference (2005, September 14)

Comparison of liaison N-tact PTH (diasorin) and N-tact PTH SPIRMA (diasorin) in hemodialyzed patients

in Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine (2005), 43(8), 890-891

Abnormal response to metabolic stress in schizophrenia: marker of vulnerability or acquired sensitization?

in Psychological Medicine (2004), 34(6), 1103-1111

Background. Previous work suggests that individuals with schizophrenia display an altered homovanillic acid (HVA) response to metabolic stress. The present study replicated and extended this paradigm ... [more ▼]

Background. Previous work suggests that individuals with schizophrenia display an altered homovanillic acid (HVA) response to metabolic stress. The present study replicated and extended this paradigm, including individuals with elevated genetic risk for schizophrenia. Method. Patients with psychosis (n = 50), non-psychotic first-degree relatives of patients with psychosis (n = 5 1) and controls without psychosis (n = 50) underwent, in randomized order, double-blind administration of placebo and the glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), which induces a mild, transient clinical state of glucoprivation. Plasma HVA and cortisol were assessed twice before the start of the 2DG/placebo infusion (baseline values), as well as four times post infusion. Data were analysed using multi-level random regression techniques. Results. During the stress condition, significant increases in plasma HVA and cortisol were found. The increase in plasma HVA level during the stress condition was significantly stronger in patients than in controls, whereas this was not the case in relatives v. controls. The increase in plasma cortisol during the stress condition was significantly less in patients than controls, but no significant difference in the increase of plasma cortisol during stress was found in the comparison between relatives and controls. Conclusions. Patients with psychosis, but not their non-psychotic first-degree relatives, show an altered neurobiological response to metabolic stress, suggesting that this dysregulation is not a genetically transmitted vulnerability, but an illness-related effect, possibly reflecting acquired sensitization of neuroendocrine systems by repeated environmental stressors or repeated stimulation with agonistic drugs. [less ▲]

Validation of the Bactec 9240

Poster (1997, May)