Dual-magnetic circuit beads and scattering nephelometry dual channel semiautomatic coagulometers are used for the coagulational evaluation of the 5 blood contact medical devices which consist of metals and polymers. The partial thromboplastin time(PTT) and prothrombin time(PT) tests are made based on the GB/T 16886.4-2003 standard. The results indicate that the coefficient of variation in the two groups is in the identical order of magnitude. In the PTT tests, they give the similar evaluational results. With the smaller numerical values of the PT tests, the different coagulometers give the high consilience results. So, both of dual-magnetic circuit beads and scattering nephelometry coagulometers are acceptable in the medical devices' coagulational evaluations. But the interpretation and analysis of the results of the small numerical value tests, PT tests for example, should be noticed.
Blood Coagulation Tests ; instrumentation ; methods ; Magnetics ; instrumentation ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; instrumentation

AIMTo determine phenytoin sodium by a highly accurate nephelometric titration.

METHODSThe titration operating conditions were optimized and the solubility product constant of phenytoin silver precipitation was determined.

RESULTSThe result of the titration is comparable to those of control experiments.

CONCLUSIONThe proposed method has been found to be accurate, precise, specific, reproducible, and linear.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: IgG subclass deficiency has been reported in patients with bronchial asthma and is associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections. This study was done to identify prevalence of IgG subclass deficiency and to evaluate the possible difference between atopic and non-atopic asthmatics. Subjects and METHODS: We measured serum levels of IgG and IgG subclass in 35 asthmatic patients and 50 healthy controls using nephelometry. Reference values of each IgG subclass was defined as cumulative percentile between 2.5% to 97.5% of controls. RESULTS: Total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 of asthmatics were significantly lower than for those of controls(p<0.05, respectively). In atopic asthmatics, compared with non-atopic asthmatics, IgG4 level was significantly higher (p<0.05). The frequency of IgG subclass levels below the reference value was eight (22.9%) of 35 asthmatics. CONCLUSION: IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 were significantly lower in asthmatic patients. Some patients had IgG subclass levels below reference value. Further studies will be needed to evaluate their clinical significance.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Prevalence ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Tract Infections

PURPOSE: In recent years, cystatin C (CysC) was proposed as a new marker for evaluating the glomerular filtration rate due to a constant serum level. The aim of this study was to measure serum CysC values of healthy young Korean men in assessment of kidney function and compare it with other reports until now in male populations, using nephelometric immunoassay. METHODS: CysC and creatinine levels were measured by particle enhanced nephelometric immunoassay and Jaffe method, respectively, in 145 young Korean men without evidence of kidney disease. Medline was searched for CysC reference values in healthy male populations. RESULTS: CysC values showed a normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, K-S, p=0.2). The CysC reference interval for healthy young Korean men (age 19-29) was 0.58 to 0.94 mg/L (0.76+/-0.09 mg/ L, X+/-2SD, range 0.60 to 1.25 mg/L). Reference intervals for creatinine was 0.79 to 1.27 mg/dL (1.03+/-0.12 mg/dL, X+/-2SD, range 0.8 to 1.3 mg/dL) in subjects. Creatinine serum values did not show a normal distribution (K-S, p=0.001). The correlation coefficient for CysC and creatinine was only 0.308. (p=0.0001) Nephelometric CysC reference intervals we determined were consistent among different male populations. CONCLUSION: We determined reference intervals for CysC values in healthy young Korean men, and CysC reference values established by nephelometric immunoassay were consistent among different men population. This information could be useful in assessing renal function in healthy young Korean men.
Creatinine ; Cystatin C ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Male ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Reference Values

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2004: 1. Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and November, about 99% of laboratories participating average 8.4 items. EQA for anti-HBc test was newly started in 2004. 2. Commercial control, MASR Immunology Control from Medical Analysis Systems (Camarillo, CA, USA) was used to assure the quality of quantitative results of C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) tests in 2004. All the specimens for Immunoserology in EQA were delivered refrigerated for the first time, being received within 48 hours after sending. 3. EQA for detection of HBsAg mutants was tried for the first time, using the recombinant HBsAg mutant (Gly/Arg 145) kindly provided by Abbott Laboratories, USA. 4. The laboratories using immunochromatography assay (ICA) were increased, however, many laboratories using ICA reported falsely negative for the positive specimens. The sensitivity of ICA test kits as well as various factors influencing the ICA results should be evaluated. 5. Standardization of methods including calibrators for quantitative results should be required for the harmonization of results.
Allergy and Immunology ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunochromatography ; Korea* ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Rheumatoid Factor

PURPOSE: Measurement of antistreptolysin O (ASO) is often necessary to confirm a clinical diagnosis of recent streptococcal infection, especially in patients suspected of rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. Standard normal ranges for ASO should be established locally for each age group. We analyzed ASO to determine the upper limit of normal (ULN) ASO in children in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area. METHODS: ASO in normal individual concentrations were measured quantitatively by nephelometry on sera from 753 children (Male:381, Female:372). ULN were determined by separating the upper 20% from the lower 80% of the group (80 percentile). RESULTS: The mean ASO concentration calculated in a total cases was 149.9+/-7.2 IU/mL. The ASO concentration in neonates was 83.4+/-10.7 IU/mL, and lowest in the 1 year of age group, 26.7+/-6.6 IU/ mL, and increased to 318.0+/-33.2 IU/mL gradually in the 9 years of age group. Thereafter, ASO concentration decreased. The ULN for neonates was 122 IU/mL, for 0-3 years, 40 IU/mL; for 4-6 years, 113 IU/ mL; for 7-9 years, 489 IU/mL; for 10-19 years, 433 IU/mL; for 20-29 years, 122 IU/mL. CONCLUSION: The age-specific ULN for children in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area were determined. The distribution of ASO concentration according to age groups was different from previous reports. These results should be of clinical value to physicians to interprete the ASO results of their patients.
Antistreptolysin* ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Pediatrics ; Reference Values ; Rheumatic Fever ; Streptococcal Infections

The effective inactivation of microorganisms in drinking water by Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is regarded as a new low-cost water treatment method shoeing high removal rate of relatively stable infectious virus particles including poliovirus. In the present study, we examined virus inactivation by UV in various water environments. Samples were collected from finished water and surface water, and tested for turbidity. UV dose of 18, 22, 30, 36 and 40 milli-Joule (mJ)/cm2 were used by combination of 2 mW/cm2 UV intensity and time of 9, 11, 15, 18 and 20 second. Depths of water were fixed at 0.37 cm and 8 cm, and virus titers were shown by plaque forming unit (PFU). Poliovirus was inactivated to 99.0% by 18 mJ/cm2 of UV dose in the condition of 0.08 Nephelometry Turbidity Unit (NTU) and 8 cm depth of water. Poliovirus at 30 mJ/cm2 of UV dose under the same condition was inactivated to 99.7%. Furthermore, Poliovirus at 56.60 NTU and 8 cm depth of water was inactivated to 92.0% and 98.5% by 18 mJ/cm2 and 30 mJ/cm2 of UV dose, respectively. The degrees of virus inactivation were dependent upon the UV dose, the turbidit, y and the depth of water. In conclusion, introduction of UV disinfections can be considered in drinking water purification systems in case reasonable engineering support is possible.
Drinking Water ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Poliovirus ; Shoes ; Virion ; Virus Inactivation ; Water Purification ; Water*

The effective inactivation of microorganisms in drinking water by Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is regarded as a new low-cost water treatment method shoeing high removal rate of relatively stable infectious virus particles including poliovirus. In the present study, we examined virus inactivation by UV in various water environments. Samples were collected from finished water and surface water, and tested for turbidity. UV dose of 18, 22, 30, 36 and 40 milli-Joule (mJ)/cm2 were used by combination of 2 mW/cm2 UV intensity and time of 9, 11, 15, 18 and 20 second. Depths of water were fixed at 0.37 cm and 8 cm, and virus titers were shown by plaque forming unit (PFU). Poliovirus was inactivated to 99.0% by 18 mJ/cm2 of UV dose in the condition of 0.08 Nephelometry Turbidity Unit (NTU) and 8 cm depth of water. Poliovirus at 30 mJ/cm2 of UV dose under the same condition was inactivated to 99.7%. Furthermore, Poliovirus at 56.60 NTU and 8 cm depth of water was inactivated to 92.0% and 98.5% by 18 mJ/cm2 and 30 mJ/cm2 of UV dose, respectively. The degrees of virus inactivation were dependent upon the UV dose, the turbidit, y and the depth of water. In conclusion, introduction of UV disinfections can be considered in drinking water purification systems in case reasonable engineering support is possible.
Drinking Water ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Poliovirus ; Shoes ; Virion ; Virus Inactivation ; Water Purification ; Water*

BACKGROUND: Antistreptolysin O (ASO) has been widely used to diagnose Streptococcus Pyogenes infections and their sequelae, rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. Butt in some cases there is no elevation of ASO that it is necessary to add one or more tests detecting immune response to S. pyogenes.. The authors analyzed the distribution of antideoxyibonuclease (ADNase) B and antistreptolysin O (ASO) among the children of an elementary school in Seoul and calculated their upper limit of normal (ULN) value. METHODS: ADNase B concentrations were determined by nephelometry (Behring Nephelometer 100 Analyzer, Germany) on 236 sera of healthy elementary school children in Seoul. Throat cultures were taken at the same time to compare ADNase B lovels between S. pyogenes carriers and non-carriers. RESULTS: The distribution of ADNase B concentrations among school children ranged from 77 (detection limit) to 1616 IU/ml and the ULN was estimated to be 362 IU/mL. The carriers of S. pyogenes clad significantly higher ADNase B levels (mean 392 IU/ml) than carriers of non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS, 236 IU/ml) oY non-carriers of BHS (234 IU/ml). The relationship between ADNase B (Y) and ASO (X) levels was Y=0.4X+173 (r2=0.209). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of ADNase B levels showed no close correlation with that of ASO, and ADNase B test was considered to have additive value to ASO test for detecting S. pyogenes infection.
Antistreptolysin ; Child* ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Pharynx* ; Rheumatic Fever ; Seoul* ; Streptococcus pyogenes

BACKGROUND: The serologic tests for syphilis infection have been performed manually, but the procedures are time-consuming and interpretations may be subjective. Recently, automated assays were developed for rapid and efficient testing for syphilis infection. In this study, we evaluated the performances of IMMUNOTICLES Auto3 RPR and Auto3TP (A&T Corporation, Japan) using latex agglutination turbidimetry method. METHODS: Using 236 serum samples referred for syphilis at Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital, between March 2004 and April 2007, we evaluated precision, linearity, detection limit and compared with the results of manual serologic tests, RPR (RPR card test, ASAN Pharmaceutical, Korea) and TPHA (ASAN-TPHA, ASAN Pharmaceutical). RESULTS: The within-run and between day precisions of Auto3RPR and Auto3TP were from 2.1% to 4.8%. The linearity was good up to 5.0 RU for Auto3RPR and to 250 TU for Auto3TP. Agreement of Auto3RPR with RPR was 65.7% (155/236) and 32.6% of patients (77/236) were RPR positive and Auto3RPR negative. RPR titers were less than 1:8 in 99% of these discrepant samples (76/77) and 65% (50/77) were latent infection and the others were false positive (32%, 27/77). Agreement of Auto3TP with TPHA was 97.1%. CONCLUSIONS: IMMUNOTICLES Auto3RPR and Auto3TP may be useful for rapid and efficient testing for syphilis. However, discrepant results were present in patients with low titer RPR positivity and method of reporting shoud be considered in individual clinical situation. In addition, linear range was not wide and further study is needed for reporting of quantitative results.
Agglutination ; Automation ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Humans ; Latex ; Limit of Detection ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis*