INTRODUCTION: The role of the laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic is not limited to just diagnosis of the disease, but also in clinical decision-making, by providing information on relevant laboratory biomarkers. Clinicians also use Ct value to guide patient management. There are limited studies available locally regarding the significance of Ct value and pertinent laboratory biomarkers in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to assess the aforementioned laboratory data, along with the clinicopathologic characteristics of affected patients, and determined if this information may be useful for robust clinical decision-makin METHODOLOGY: In this retrospective analytic study, we identified 325 out of 1,049 adult Filipino inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 and analyzed their Ct values and pertinent laboratory biomarkers such as neutrophil and lymphocyte count, platelet count, LDH, ferritin, procalcitonin, CRP, AST/SGOT, ALT/SGPT, PT/ INR, and D-dimer, and correlated them with the severity of the disease. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty (67.7%) patients had non-severe disease, while 105 (32.3%) had severe disease. Lower Ct values of ORF1ab (median = 26.4) and N (median = 24.8) genes were seen in the severe group compared to the non-severe group and were found to be significant (p<0.001). Laboratory markers (neutrophil, platelet counts, LDH, ferritin, procalcitonin, CRP, AST, PT/INR, and D-dimer) were associated with severe COVID-19. On the other hand, ALT was not associated with severe disease. CONCLUSION The laboratory biomarkers together with Ct value and overall clinical picture may provide valuable information to physicians for more robust clinical decision-making.
COVID-19 ; laboratory biomarkers ; SARS-CoV-2 ; RT-PCR

As part of the immunoserology program of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service, we organized two trials on the external quality assessment of hepatitis viral markers in 2016 and 2017. The hepatitis viral antigens and antibodies program consisted of 10 test items. We delivered two and three types of pooled sera specimens to 965 and 965 institutions for the first and second trials of external proficiency testing in 2016, respectively. The number of participating laboratories was 915 (94.8%) and 913 (95.0%) in the first and second trials in 2016, respectively. We also delivered three kinds of pooled sera specimens to 936 and 1,015 institutions for the first and second trials of external proficiency testing in 2017, respectively. The number of participating laboratories was 920 (98.3%) and 996 (98.1%) in the first and second trials in 2017, respectively. The most commonly tested items were hepatitis B surface antigen, followed by the antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B envelope antigen, antibodies to hepatitis B envelope antigen, anti-hepatitis A virus and antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen. The most frequently used methods for detecting viral markers were the chemiluminescence immunoassay and the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, but they yielded a few-false positive results due to the matrix effect. The immunochromatographic assay yielded false-negative results for anti-hepatitis A virus due to low sensitivity. Continuous improvement in the quality of viral hepatitis testing through participation in the survey seems necessary.
Antibodies ; Antigens, Viral ; Biomarkers* ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis* ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Korea* ; Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Luminescence

As the Immunoserology Subcommittee of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment, we organized two trials on the external quality assessment of viral markers and serological tests for syphilis (STS) in 2015. For this purpose, we delivered three kinds of pooled sera specimens for external proficiency testing to 1,071 and 1,074 institutions for the first and second trials, respectively. Pooled sera were checked for their homogeneity and stability using multiple methods between the day of their manufacture and three days after dispatching. The number of participating laboratories was 1,055 (98.5%) and 1,055 (98.2%) in the first and second trial, respectively. The most commonly tested items were hepatitis B surface antigen, followed by the antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen, antihuman immunodeficiency virus, anti-hepatitis C virus, STS, and anti-hepatitis B core. The most frequently used methods for detecting viral markers were the chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, which were found to generate few false positive results. In contrast, false negative results were frequently found when the immunochromatographic assay (ICA) was used; the use of ICA for detecting viral markers has been steadily increasing in recent years. Furthermore, the use of turbidoimmunoassay and CLIA, tests recently introduced for the measurement of nontreponemal and treponemal antibodies, is also increasing.
Antibodies ; Biomarkers* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis C ; HIV ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Korea* ; Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Luminescence ; Serologic Tests* ; Syphilis*

As Immunoserology Subcommittee of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service, we organized two trials on the external quality assessment of viral markers and serological tests for syphilis (STS) in 2014. For this purpose, we delivered three kinds of pooled sera specimens for external proficiency testing to 1,060 and 1,064 institutions for the first and second trials, respectively. Pooled sera were checked for their homogeneity and stability by using more than three other methods between the day of their manufacture and 3 days after despatching. The numbers of participating laboratories were 1,053 (99.3%) and 1,046 (99.3%) in the first and second trials, respectively. The most commonly tested items were hepatitis B surface antigen, followed by antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-human immunodeficiency virus, anti-hepatitis C virus, STS, and anti-hepatitis B core. The most frequently used methods for detecting viral markers were the chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, which generated few false positive results. In contrast, false negative results were frequently found through the immunochromatography assay, the use of which for detecting viral markers has been steadily increasing in recent years. Furthermore, the use of turbidoimmunoassay and CLIA, which are new tests recently introduced for the measurement of non-treponemal and treponemal antibodies, is also increasing.
Antibodies ; Biomarkers* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis C ; HIV ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Korea* ; Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Luminescence ; Serologic Tests* ; Syphilis*

We performed two trials on the external quality assessment of viral markers and serological tests for syphilis (STS) organised by the Immunoserology Subcommittee of the Korean Association of Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratories in 2013. In each trial, we delivered 3 kinds of pooled sera specimens to 1,021 institutions for external proficiency testing. Pooled sera were checked for their homogeneity and stability by using more than 3 other methods between the day of their manufacture and 3 days after despatching. The numbers of participating laboratories were 1,019 (99.8%) and 1,020 (99.8%) for the first and second trials, respectively. The most commonly tested items were hepatitis B surface antigen followed by antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-human immunodeficiency virus, anti-hepatitis C virus, STS, and anti-hepatitis B core. The most frequently used methods for detecting viral markers were the chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, which generated a few false positive results. In contrast, false negative results were frequently found through the immunochromatography assay, the use of which for detecting viral markers has been steadily increasing in recent years. The new tests, turbidoimmunoassay and CLIA, have recently been introduced for the measurement of non-treponemal and treponemal antibodies, and their use is also increasing.
Antibodies ; Biomarkers* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis C ; HIV ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography ; Korea ; Laboratory Proficiency Testing ; Luminescence ; Serologic Tests* ; Syphilis*

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in industry is increasing, bringing with it a number of adverse health effects on workers. Like other chemical carcinogens, NPs can cause cancer via oxidative DNA damage. Of all the molecules vulnerable to oxidative modification by NPs, DNA has received the greatest attention, and biomarkers of exposure and effect are nearing validation. This review concentrates on studies published between 2000 and 2012 that attempted to detect oxidative DNA damage in humans, laboratory animals, and cell lines. It is important to review these studies to improve the current understanding of the oxidative DNA damage caused by NP exposure in the workplace. In addition to examining studies on oxidative damage, this review briefly describes NPs, giving some examples of their adverse effects, and reviews occupational exposure assessments and approaches to minimizing exposure (e.g., personal protective equipment and engineering controls such as fume hoods). Current recommendations to minimize exposure are largely based on common sense, analogy to ultrafine material toxicity, and general health and safety recommendations.
Animals, Laboratory ; Biomarkers ; Carcinogens ; Cell Line ; DNA Damage* ; DNA* ; Humans ; Nanoparticles* ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine have the common purpose and can complement each other, though they belong to different medical systems. Laboratory medicine can provide the scientific bases for modernization and standardization of TCM by offering elaborate and objective laboratory data. Fully playing the role of laboratory medicine in TCM diagnosis and treatment will not only be beneficial to the rush of TCM out of China toward the world, and also be favorable to the innovating and developing of laboratory medicine in integrative medicine.
Biomarkers ; blood ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards

The correlation of serum arylesterase (PON1) activity on phenylacetate determined by an integrated method to classical biochemical indexes of liver damage was investigated for the use of PON1 activity to evaluate liver damage. PON1 reaction curve as absorbance at 270 nm for 0.20 mmol/L phenylacetate hydrolysis was analyzed by the integrated method to determine maximal PON1 reaction rate. Classical biochemical indexes of liver damage were determined routinely. The 95% confidence threshold of PON1 activity in sera from healthy individuals was 2.12 mkat/L [(4.73+/-1.31) mkat/L, n=105]. PON1 activity in clinical sera was closely correlated to serum albumin, total protein and the ratio of albumin to globulins, but was weakly correlated to both direct and total bilirubin in serum. There were no correlations of PON1 activity to gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Among 127 clinical sera with PON1 activity>2.12 mkat/L, there were 92% healthy individuals examined by albumin, 90% healthy individuals examined by total protein, 88% healthy individuals examined by total bilirubin, 86% healthy individuals examined by direct bilirubin and 64% healthy individuals examined by the ratio of albumin to globulins, respectively. In each group of healthy individuals judged by classical biochemical indexes of close correlation to PON1 activity, percentage of healthy individuals examined by PON1 activity was always >80%. These results suggested PON1 activity on phenylacetate estimated by the integrated method was also suitable for the evaluation of liver damage.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Biomarkers ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases ; blood ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; enzymology ; Liver Function Tests ; Phenylacetates

Biomarkers ; blood ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Glycoproteins ; blood ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the exposure status of the hazardous substances from incinerators, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), were studied, and the relationship between the exposure of these hazardous substances and their heath effects on the workers and residents near municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators and an industrial incinerator investigated. METHODS: Between July 2001 and June 2002, 13 workers at two MSW incinerators, 16 residents from the area around the two MSW incinerators, 6 residents from the control area, and further 10 residents near an industrial incinerator, estimated to emit higher levels of hazardous substances, were interviewed. Information, including sociodemographic information, personal habits, and work history, detailed gynecologic and other medical history were collected through interviews. Blood samples were also collected from 45 subjects, and analyzed for PCDD/DFs, by high resolution gas chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry, using the US EPA 1613 method. In addition to the questionnaire survey, urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured as oxidative injury biomarkers. The urinary concentrations of 8-OH-dG were determined by in vitro ELISA, and the MDA by HPLC, using an adduct with thiobarbituric acid. RESULTS: The PCDD/DFs concentrations in the residents near the industrial incinerator were higher than those in the controls, workers and residents near the MSW incinerators. The average TEQ (Toxic Equivalencies) concentrations of the PCDD/DFs in residents near the industrial incinerator were 53.4pg I-TEQs/g lipid. The estimated daily intakes were within the tolerable daily intake range (1-4 pg I-TEQ/Kg bw/day) suggested by WHO (1997) in only 30% to the people near the industrial incinerator. Animal studies have already shown that even a low body burden of PCDD/DFs, such as 10ng TEQ/kg bw, can cause oxidative damage in laboratory animals. Our study also showed that the same body burden of PCDD/DFs can cause oxidative damage to humans. CONCLUSIONS: The exposures to PCDD/DFs and the oxidative stress of residents near the industrial incinerator, were higher than those in the controls, workers and residents near the MSW incinerators. Proper protection strategies against these hazardous chemicals are needed. Because a lower body burden of PCDD/Fs, such as 10ng TEQ/kg bw, can cause oxidative damage, the tolerable daily intake range should be restrictedly limited to 1pg I-TEQ/kg bw/day.
Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Biomarkers ; Body Burden ; Chromatography, Gas ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Korea* ; Malondialdehyde ; Mass Spectrometry ; Methods ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Oxidative Stress ; Solid Waste