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Biomedical subjects

J Barbara

Publications and source records attributed to J Barbara.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Experiences with genetic screening for established and new agents.

In England the introduction of PCR for HCV RNA in minipools has been a nationally coordinated project. The current programme is designed to ensure that all frozen components will have been tested for HCV RNA on pools of 96 samples before their release. To meet EEC requirements, the original planning was aimed at the PCR testing of minipools of 480 samples before making final pools of plasma for fractionation. However, with the sourcing of plasma for fractionation from the USA as a precaution against possible risk from new variant CJD, the project was modified to allow release of HCV PCR tested components.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

Surrogate tests.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1999

Large-scale HCV RNA screening in first-time blood donors: the first step towards genomic screening of blood donations. HCV RNA Screening Study Group.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individual genomic screening for viruses in blood donations is becoming increasingly pressing as an alternative to pool testing to improve the safety of the blood supply. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the feasibility and, possibly, efficacy of genomic screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the blood service setting, a representative population of first-time blood donors was screened individually with a semi-automated genomic amplification assay for HCV RNA. First-time blood donors in two blood centres in the United Kingdom were screened in parallel for anti-HCV and HCV RNA by RT-PCR. RESULTS: 8, 417 serum samples were screened. A 99.95% specificity was observed and one anti-HCV-positive, HCV-RNA-positive donation was found. No seronegative HCV-RNA-positive donations were detected. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with the low prevalence of HCV infection in blood donors from the London area and demonstrate the high level of performance of the individual genomic screening method used in this study. When fully automated, such a method would be a highly suitable candidate for routine, automated genomic screening of HCV and, subsequently, of other pathogenic blood-borne viruses.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1996

[Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to sexually transmitted diseases].

In an ongoing study we evaluated 71 males and 32 females attending our sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic. Intraurethral or endocervical swab specimens were cultured for Neisseria gonorrhea (NG), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Mycoplasma homines (MH), Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), using an ELISA technique and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HIV antigen, hepatitis B (HBV) and Treponema pallidum (TP) seropositivity were tested by ELISA. Mean age was 33.4 and range 15-72 years. 83 patients (81%) used condoms only rarely, 35 (35%) had multiple sexual partners and 83 (81%) were treated empirically prior to evaluation. Dysuria and urethral discharge were found in 47 (45.6%), of whom 34 (33%) were males; the majority of females were asymptomatic. A specific etiology for STD was found in 53 patients (51.4%) and 1/3 had more than 1 pathogen. CT, UU, MH, HSV, NG and TV were found in 27, 24, 5, 3, 2 and 1, respectively. 8 patients were seropositive for HBV and 1 for TP; all were seronegative for HIV. CT was the most prevalent pathogen found. All patients with STD symptoms should be screened for all sexually transmitted pathogens, since many of them have more than 1 pathogen. STD clinics in Israel should be developed in conjunction with microbiology laboratories for better management of STD in the community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

U.K. multicentre study on blood donors for surrogate markers of non-A non-B hepatitis. Part I: Alanine transferase and anti-HBc testing.

Blood samples from 9,215 blood donors in three U.K. centres (North London, Bristol and Manchester) were tested for their alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and the presence of anti-HBc and anti-HCV. This paper presents the results of the ALT and anti-HBc tests. The prevalence of ALT > 45 IU/l was 3.1% overall (North London 3.06%, Bristol 4.56% and Manchester 1.97%). Manchester results were skewed by the methodology used for ALT measurement, highlighting the need for standard test methods. Anti-HBc was detected using the Wellcome enzyme-immunosorbent assay (EIA) and confirmatory testing was performed using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the Corecell haemagglutination assay. Repeat reactive rates were 0.9, 0.79 and 0.94% for North London, Bristol and Manchester, respectively, with an overall rate of 0.9%. The confirmed positive rate was 0.73, 0.53 and 0.65% for the three centres with an overall rate of 0.63%. Donors with an ALT > 45 IU/l, or with confirmed anti-HBc, were interviewed with a medical questionnaire for risk factors. The major contributing factors in donors with a raised ALT were alcohol consumption and obesity.

Adolescent↗