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Else-Marie Bladbjerg

Publications and source records attributed to Else-Marie Bladbjerg.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Internal quality control of PCR-based genotyping methods: practical experiences.

Internal quality control programmes for genetic analyses are needed. We have focused on quality control aspects of selected polymorphism analyses used in thrombosis research. DNA was isolated from EDTA-blood (n = 500) and analysed for 18 polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), i.e. restriction fragment length polymorphisms, allele specific amplification, or amplification of insertion/deletion fragments. We evaluated the following aspects in the analytical procedures: sample handling and DNA-isolation (pre-analytical factors), DNA-amplification, digestion with restriction enzymes, electrophoresis (analytical factors), result reading and entry into a database (post-analytical factors). Furthermore, we evaluated a procedure for result confirmation. Isolated DNA was of good quality (42 micrograms/ml blood, A260/A280 ratio > 1.75, negative DNAsis tests). Occasionally, results were reanalysed because of positive reagent blanks (< 1%) or because of problems with the controls (< 5%). On confirmation, we observed four genotyping discrepancies. Control of data handling revealed 0.1% reading mistakes and 0.5% entry mistakes. Based on our experiences, we propose an internal quality control programme for widely used PCR-based haemostasis polymorphism analyses.

Genotype↗

Usefulness of human coagulation and fibrinolysis assays in domestic pigs.

Pigs are often used as animal models in research on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. The usefulness of the assays applied within this field, and the knowledge of reference intervals are therefore essential and of utmost importance. In the study reported here, we investigated the applicability of commercial human coagulation and fibrinolysis assays for use with porcine plasma. In total, 22 functional and immunologic assays were applied to plasma obtained from domestic pigs, and the following blood coagulation and fibrinolysis variables were measured: prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, tissue factor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, factor VII, protein C, protein S, prothrombin fragment 1+2, antithrombin, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, fibrinogen, soluble fibrin, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasmin inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and D-dimer. We found that 11 of 12 functional assays, but only 3 of 10 immunoassays, were applicable to porcine plasma, and we determined the normal range of these variables. We conclude that human functional assays are useful in porcine plasma, whereas only a few immunologic assays can be used. However, precautions must be taken in interpretation of the results and in extrapolation toward human results because possible differences between porcine and human values can be due to species variations and/or methodologic errors.

Animals↗

Internal quality control of PCR-based genotyping methods in research studies and patient diagnostics.

Genetic analyses are increasingly integrated in the clinical laboratory, and internal quality control programmes are needed. We have focused on quality control aspects of selected polymorphism analyses used in thrombosis research. DNA was isolated from EDTA-blood (n = 500) by ammonium acetate precipitation and analysed for 18 polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), i. e. restriction fragment length polymorphisms, allele specific amplification, or amplification of insertion/deletion fragments. We evaluated the following aspects in the analytical procedures: sample handling and DNA-isolation (pre-analytical factors), DNA-amplification, digestion with restriction enzymes, electrophoresis (analytical factors), result reading and entry into a database (post-analytical factors). Furthermore, we evaluated a procedure for result confirmation. Isolated DNA was of good quality (42 microg/ml blood, A260/A280 ratio >1.75, negative DNAsis tests), and the reagent blank was contaminated in <1% of the results. Occasionally, results were re-analysed because of positive reagent blanks (< 1%) or because of problems with the controls (<5%). On confirmation, we observed 4 genotyping discrepancies. Control of data handling revealed 0.1% reading mistakes and 0.5% entry mistakes. Based on our experiences we propose an internal quality control programme for widely used PCR-based haemostasis polymorphism analyses.

Alleles↗