Clinical biochemistry
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Clinical biochemistry · Sep 2009
Macrophage-inhibitory cytokine-1 (mic-1) in differential diagnosis of dyspnea--a pilot study.
Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) has recently been associated with markers of heart function. ⋯ MIC-1 is a new diagnostic marker in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea.
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Clinical biochemistry · Aug 2009
An episode of increased hemolysis due to a defective pneumatic air tube delivery system.
To study an episode of excessive sample hemolysis associated with a recently installed pneumatic tube system from the Accident and Emergency Department. ⋯ Laboratories should be aware that defects may arise in tube systems that may result in rapid sample deceleration and excessive hemolysis.
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Clinical biochemistry · Jul 2009
Serum procalcitonin at the time of admission to the ICU as a predictor of short-term mortality.
This purpose of this study was to determine if serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentration at the time of admission to the ICU is a predictor of all-cause short-term mortality. ⋯ A PCT-Q value > or = 10 ng/mL obtained at the time of admission to the ICU is a strong predictor of short-term mortality.
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Clinical biochemistry · May 2009
Evaluation of the XE-5000 for the automated analysis of blood cells in cerebrospinal fluid.
Counting of cells in cerebrospinal fluid is an important clinical laboratory test and elevated white blood cell counts in cerebrospinal fluid are frequently seen in CNS disorders. Quantification of red blood cell concentrations in CSF may help to interpret certain diagnostic constellations and may result from subarachnoid haemorrhage, surgical procedures or contamination due to traumatic puncture. Table top analyser XE-5000 (Sysmex, Norderstedt, Germany) offers, beside its use as a haematology analyser, a protocol for the quantification of red and white blood cells in body fluids such as CSF including the differentiation between polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells. A detection limit of 1 cell/mm(3) would render this device suitable for automated CSF analysis. ⋯ In summary despite its high imprecision at low white blood cell counts (<20 particles/mm(3)) most patients were classified correctly and therefore XE-5000 is suitable for automated quantification of white blood cells in cerebrospinal fluid in a defined diagnostic setting. This could significantly improve automation in the relatively time- and manual work-intensive field of cerebrospinal fluid diagnostics. However, careful review of plausibility of the results continues to be compulsory.
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The USA uniquely does not use quantitative urine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) tests despite being invaluable in pregnancy testing and in monitoring cancer patients. We look at current hCG tests and their detection of the degraded forms of hCG predominant in urine. We examine levels of urinary hCG, its usefulness in pregnancy testing, and advantages of urine testing in false positive hCG cases and cancer cases. ⋯ The need for a quantitative urine hCG assay is undeniable and we invite manufacturers to produce a quantitative urine hCG test.