Biomedical subjects

C T Fang

Publications and source records attributed to C T Fang.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1980

Hepatitis-associated markers in the American Red Cross volunteer blood donor population. ii. Distribution of level of HBsAg reactivity by radioimmunoassay and occurrence of nonspecific reactivity.

During the year 1978 this laboratory evaluated the specificity of all samples found reactive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by 44 of 57 regions of the American Red Cross Blood Services. Radioimmunoassay detected a total of 1.921 HBsAg-reactive sampled among more than three million donor units tested. A vast majority (96%) of the samples had high level of HBsAg (greater than or equal to 20 ng/ml). Only about 50% of the samples with low level of HBsAg (less than 20 ng/ml) were reactive in reversed passive hemagglutination. There were 13 samples that were repeatable for HBsAg but were considered nonspecific as they were nonneutralizable in radioimmunoassay, 2 donors who showed nonspecific reactivity were further tested and it was found that the reactivity in radioimmunoassay persisted for more than 9 months, and this reactivity was also detectable by a second commercial kit for HBsAg. Antibodies to core and surface antigen were not found in any of the nine samples that were tested. The explanation of this nonspecific reactivity is unclear, but the data suggest that the nonspecific factor(s) may be an inherent property of the sample rather than a deficiency of the test reagents.

Antibody Specificity↗

PubMed1978

A highly sensitive radioimmunoassay technique for subtyping the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.

A highly sensitive technique for determining the subtype specificity of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) is described. Immunoadsorbent consisting of controlled pore glass coated with subtype specific HBsAg was used to remove homologous antibody from the test samples before testing them for residual antibody by a commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA). A total of 73 anti-HBs-positive samples from asymptomatic blood donors were tested. In nearly 80% of these samples the subtype reactivity could be determined by this technique. Only 67% could be typed by conventional liquid phase absorption RIA and 22% by passive hemagglutination inhibition techniques. Among the samples with low anti-HBs titer, ad and ay subtypes were found with equal frequency; however, with the increase in anti-HBs titer, considerably higher proportion of ad specificity was detected.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1978

Relationship of subtypes of hepatitis B surface antigen with e antigen and its corresponding antibody.

A total of 3,212 samples of blood from asymptomatic volunteer donors positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by radioimmunoassay and 860 samples negative for HBsAg were tested for the presence of hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg) and its corresponding antibody (anti-HBe) using a rheophoresis technique. Neither HBeAg nor anti-HBe was detected in any sample negative for HBsAg. Of the HBsAg-positive samples, 237 (7.4%) contained HBeAg and 749 (23.3%) had anti-HBe. HBeAg was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.0005) more likely to be in samples with high titers of HBsAg. Anti-HBe had an equal chance of occurring in samples with low or high titers of HBsAg. Both HBeAg and anti-HBe were found in samples with HBsAg subtypes ad or ay. However, a significant association (P less than or equal to 0.0005) between HBsAg/ay and HBeAg as well as an association between anti-HBe and HBsAg/ad was found.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1976

Purification of hepatitis B surface antigen using polyethylene gylcol, pepsin and Tween 80.

A simple, inexpensive procedure for the isolation and purification of HB8Ag from plasma is described. The technique included precipitation of HBsAg with PEG and elimination of normal plasma proteins by digestion with pepsin. Tween 80 was used to remove contaminating lipoprotein(s). This technique resulted in about a 200-fold gain in the specific activity of HBsAg and yielded about 20-40% recovery. Rabbits immunized with the purified antigen produced type-specific antibodies to HBsAg without detectable reactivity to normal human plasma antigens.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A simple technique for enhancing the sensitivity of a commercial solid-phase radioimmunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

A simple procedural modification of a commercial solid-phase radioimmunoassay technique resulted in increased sensitivity for detecting HBsAg. The main feature of the modification consisted of agitation of the sample and solid-phase antibody during the first incubation. This was achieved by dispensing the bead and sample into a vial and rotating the vial gently during the incubation period. The modified technique resulted in the detection of HBsAg in the range of 1.0 to 1.2 ng/ml (ay subtype) and 0.16 to 0.38 ng/ml (ad subtype). Samples that were reactive by the rotation technique could be shown to be specific by using an immunological neutralization test. Plasma as well as serum could be tested by the rotation technique and gave comparable results when samples were incubated at 45 C or at room temperature. Three (1.3%) of 227 donor samples containing anti-HBc as the sole hepatitis B marker were specifically reactive for HBsAg by the modified procedure, although no sample was reactive by the standard technique.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigens↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Specificity of an assay for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen.

Eight percent of blood donors were found to have antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen when tested by radioimmunoassay using commercial test kits. Four percent of positive reactions proved nonspecific when tested by the neutralization test using pooled surface antigen. The risks in relying solely on the reactivity in commercial-kit suggested that the specificity of the assay must be confirmed.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enzyme-linked immunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen. An evaluation of commercial test kits.

A commercial, licensed test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) based upon an enzyme-linked immunoassay principle was evaluated. The sensitivity, when tested under field conditions, was 0.65 and 0.9 ng/ml for ad and ay subtypes of HBsAg, respectively. Only 0.03 percent of 61,798 units of blood screened were reactive and specific for HBsAg while an additional 0.01% gave nonspecific (nonneutralizable) reactivity.

Blood Donors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relative specificity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for antibodies to human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type III, and their relationship to Western blotting.

A population of 73 donor samples was assembled on the basis of reactive results in routine screening with three different licensed human T-lymphotrophic virus type III (HTLV-III) antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures. The samples were retested by a number of licensed and developmental tests and by Western blot analysis. Our data indicate that nonspecific results are generated by ELISA tests and that many of these reactions appear to be directed against the cell substrate used to grow the virus. These findings suggest that combinations of currently licensed ELISA tests, based upon HTLV-III grown in H-9 cells, cannot be used to confirm the specificity of reactive samples.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1).

Sera from 39,898 blood donors were tested for HTLV-1 antibodies using two enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Sera testing initially reactive (IR) were retested in duplicate by both EIAs. Sera testing repeatedly reactive (RR) were further tested by two Western blots (WB) and by two radioimmunoprecipitation assays (RIPA). There were 176 (0.44%) EIA IR and 68 (0.17%) RR results. On WBs, 10 of the 68 EIA RR sera demonstrated reactivity to HTLV-1 gag gene-encoded core protein p24, with or without reactivity to other core proteins (p19, p28, p53/55). These ten sera were the only ones demonstrating reactivity on RIPAs to other HTLV-1 gene products - env gene-encoded glycoproteins gp46, gp61/68, or tat gene-encoded HTLV-1 transcriptional activator p40x. These ten sera were interpreted as positive for HTLV-1 antibodies. Of the remaining 58 EIA RR sera, 21 were negative by WBs and RIPAs, 37 sera demonstrated reactivity to various combinations of p19, p28, and p53/55, but not to p24 on WBs. These 37 sera were interpreted as "indeterminate", because they were negative by RIPAs. We conclude that: 1) EIA testing and WB/RIPA verification identified 10 (0.025%) HTLV-1 infected individuals among 39,898 low-risk blood donors; 2) anti-p24 may be a more sensitive and specific indicator of HTLV-1 infection than antibodies to p19, p28, or p53/55; and 3) presently, both WB and RIPA are needed to verify HTLV-1 EIA reactivity.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

American Red Cross experience with routine testing for hepatitis B core antibody.

The implementation of routine testing of blood donations for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) has allowed the characterization of the performance of the test in a large number of samples from apparently healthy individuals. This study reports the experience of the American Red Cross in testing 2.3 million donors for anti-HBc. The test protocol reproducibly identified a distinct population of donors. The anti-HBc-positive rate varied by region of the continental United States and by the time of year. In a case-control study, 85 percent of subsequent donations from anti-HBc-positive donors were anti-HBc positive. The predictions made in an earlier pilot study regarding the performance and impact of the test were borne out.

Blood Donors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Safety and efficacy of cefpirome in comparison with ceftazidime in Chinese patients with sepsis due to bacterial infections.

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of cefpirome (CPM), a fourth-generation cephalosporin, has not yet been studied in an Asian population. METHODS: Sixty-nine adult Chinese patients with sepsis due to bacterial infections were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to receive CPM (2 g i.v. every 12 h) or ceftazidime (2 g i.v. every 8 h). RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in terms of demographic, clinical and microbiological features. The causative pathogen was Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae in the majority of microbiologically documented cases. The rates of clinical response (94 vs. 94%) and bacteriological response (65 vs. 68%) were similar in both groups. Similar adverse events, including rashes, gastrointestinal upset and asymptomatic elevation of hepatic enzymes, occurred in a minority of patients in both groups. All events were self-limited after discontinuation of the drugs. CONCLUSION: CPM is as safe and effective as ceftazidime in the treatment of sepsis due to bacterial infections in Chinese patients.

Adult↗