dried-blood-spots-preparing-processing-for-use-immunoassays-molecular

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques

The idea of collecting blood on a paper card and subsequently using the dried blood spots (DBS) for diagnostic purposes originated a century ago. Since ...

University of Duisburg-Essen

To examine the tissue samples of 2 corneal recipients from a rabies-infected donor for the presence of rabies to explain their survival.

Survival after transplantation of corneas from a rabies-infected donor.

During recent years, a controversial discussion has emerged in the medical community on the real number and possible public health implications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmissions from infected medical staff to susceptible patients. We report here on molecular virological and epidemiological analyses involving 229 patients who underwent exposure-prone operations by an HCV-infected orthopedic surgeon. Of the 229 individuals affected, 207 could be tested. Three were positive for HCV antibodies. Molecular and epidemiological investigation revealed that two of them were not infected by the surgeon. The third patient, a 50-year-old man, underwent complicated total hip arthroplasty with trochanteric osteotomy. He harbored an HCV 2b isolate that in phylogenetic analysis of the hypervariable region 1 (HVR 1) was closely related to the HCV strain recovered from the infected surgeon, indicating that HCV-provider-to-patient transmission occurred intraoperatively. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of HCV transmission by an orthopedic surgeon. The recorded transmission rate of 0.48% (95% confidence interval: 0.09-2.68%) was within the same range reported previously for the spread of hepatitis B virus during orthopedic procedures. Since the result of our investigation sustains the notion that patients may contract HCV from infected health-care workers during exposure-prone procedures, a series of further retrospective exercises is needed to assess more precisely the risk of HCV provider-to-patient transmission and to delineate from these studies recommendations for the guidance and management of HCV-infected medical personnel.

Phylogenetic analysis indicates transmission of hepatitis C virus from an infected orthopedic surgeon to a patient.

Currently, it is not known how often hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted from infected health care workers to patients during medical care. In the present investigation, we tried to determine the rate of provider-to-patient transmission of HCV among former patients of an HCV-positive gynecologist after it was proven that he infected one of his patients with HCV during a cesarean section.

Risk of hepatitis C virus transmission from an infected gynecologist to patients: results of a 7-year retrospective investigation.

&#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2; (HCV) &#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x578B;&#x90FD;&#x4E0E;&#x6D41;&#x884C;&#x75C5;&#x5B66;&#x95EE;&#x9898;&#x3001; &#x75AB;&#x82D7;&#x7814;&#x5236;&#x548C;&#x4E34;&#x5E8A;&#x7BA1;&#x7406;&#x7684;&#x6162;&#x6027;&#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2;&#x611F;&#x67D3;&#x6709;&#x5173;&#x3002;&#x8FD9;&#x9879;&#x7814;&#x7A76;&#x7684;&#x76EE;&#x7684;&#x662F;&#x786E;&#x5B9A;&#x5357;&#x65B9;&#x5308;&#x7259;&#x5229;&#x548C;&#x5965;&#x5730;&#x5229;&#x4E1C;&#x5357; C.&#x7ED3;&#x679C;&#x5DF2;&#x5F97;&#x5230;&#x5F88;&#x5927;&#x7A0B;&#x5EA6;&#x4E0A;&#x81EA;&#x52A8; TruGene &#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2; 5&#39; &#x6162;&#x6027;&#x4E59;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x7684;&#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2;&#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x578B;&#x6570;&#x63A7;&#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x5206;&#x578B;&#x8BD5;&#x5242;&#x76D2; &#xFF08;&#x53EF;&#x89C1;&#x9057;&#x4F20;&#x5B66;&#xFF0C;&#x591A;&#x4F26;&#x591A;&#xFF0C;&#x5B89;&#x5927;&#x7565;&#x7701;&#xFF09; &#x548C;&#x7CFB;&#x7EDF;&#x53D1;&#x80B2;&#x5206;&#x6790;&#x7684;&#x3002;&#x6240;&#x6709; 20 &#x5308;&#x7259;&#x5229;&#x75C5;&#x4EBA;&#x548C; 15 &#x4E2A; 20 &#x5965;&#x5730;&#x5229;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x611F;&#x67D3;&#x4E86;&#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x578B; 1&#x3002;&#x5176;&#x4F59;&#x7684;&#x5965;&#x5730;&#x5229;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x611F;&#x67D3;&#x4E86;&#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x578B; 2 &#x6216; 3&#x3002;&#x4E0E;&#x5546;&#x4E1A;&#x4E0A;&#x53EF;&#x7528;&#x7684;&#x68C0;&#x6D4B;&#x4E2D;&#xFF0C;&#x662F;&#x4E0D;&#x53EF;&#x80FD;&#x786E;&#x5B9A;&#x4E2D;&#x603B;&#x5171;&#x6709;&#x4E09;&#x4E2A;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x7684;&#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2;&#x5B50;&#x7C7B;&#x578B;&#x3002;TruGene &#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2; 5&#39; &#x6570;&#x63A7;&#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x5206;&#x578B;&#x6CD5;&#x6D4B;&#x5B9A;&#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2;&#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x578B;&#x7684;&#x8BC1;&#x660E;&#x662F;&#x6709;&#x7528;&#x7684;&#x9AD8;&#x541E;&#x5410;&#x91CF;&#x7684;&#x5E38;&#x89C4;&#x8BCA;&#x65AD;&#x5B9E;&#x9A8C;&#x5BA4;&#x3002;

&#x5728;&#x5308;&#x7259;&#x5229;&#x548C;&#x5965;&#x5730;&#x5229;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x6162;&#x6027;&#x809D;&#x708E; C.&#x4E19;&#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x75C5;&#x6BD2;&#x57FA;&#x56E0;&#x578B;

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes are relevant to epidemiological questions, vaccine development, and clinical management of chronic HCV infection. The aim of this study was to determine HCV genotypes of South Hungarian and Southeast Austrian patients with chronic hepatitis C. Results were obtained by the largely automated TruGene HCV 5'NC Genotyping Kit (Visible Genetics, Toronto, Ontario) and by phylogenetic analysis. All of the 20 Hungarian patients and 15 out of 20 Austrian patients were infected with genotype 1. The remaining Austrian patients were infected with genotypes 3 or 2. With the commercially available assay, it was not possible to determine the HCV subtype in a total of three patients. The TruGene HCV 5'NC Genotyping assay for the determination of HCV genotypes proved to be useful for a high-throughput routine diagnostic laboratory.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Hungarian and Austrian patients with chronic hepatitis C.

G&eacute;notypes de virus de l&#39;h&eacute;patite C (VHC) sont pertinents aux questions &eacute;pid&eacute;miologiques, d&eacute;veloppement de vaccins et la prise en charge clinique de l&#39;infection chronique par le VHC. Le but de cette &eacute;tude &eacute;tait de d&eacute;terminer les g&eacute;notypes du VHC de hongrois du Sud et du sud-est autrichien des patients atteints d&#39;h&eacute;patite chronique C. obtenus par le TruGene en grande partie automatis&eacute; VHC 5&#39;NC Kit de g&eacute;notypage (Visible Genetics, Toronto, Ontario) et par analyse phylog&eacute;n&eacute;tique. Tous les patients hongrois 20 et 15 sur 20 patients autrichiens &eacute;taient infect&eacute;s par le g&eacute;notype 1. Les autres patients autrichiens &eacute;taient infect&eacute;s par les g&eacute;notypes 3 ou 2. Avec le test disponible dans le commerce, il n&#39;&eacute;tait pas possible de d&eacute;terminer le sous-type VHC chez les trois patients au total. Le TruGene VHC 5&#39; dosage NC g&eacute;notypage pour la d&eacute;termination des g&eacute;notypes du VHC s&#39;est av&eacute;r&eacute;e utile pour un laboratoire de diagnostic syst&eacute;matique de haut d&eacute;bit.

G&eacute;notypes de virus de l&#39;h&eacute;patite C chez les hongrois et autrichien atteints d&#39;h&eacute;patite chronique c.

Hepatitis C-Virus-Genotypen in ungarischen und &#xF6;sterreichischen Patienten mit chronischer Hepatitis C.

Genotipi di epatite C virus (HCV) sono rilevanti per la gestione clinica dell&#39;infezione da HCV cronica domande epidemiologiche e lo sviluppo del vaccino. Lo scopo di questo studio era di determinare genotipi HCV ungherese sud e sud-est austriaco pazienti con epatite cronica C. risultati sono stati ottenuti in gran parte automatizzato TruGene HCV 5&#39;NC Genotyping Kit (visibile Genetics, Toronto, Ontario) e di analisi filogenetica. Tutti i 20 pazienti ungheresi e austriaco 15 di 20 pazienti sono stati infettati con genotipo 1. I restanti pazienti austriaci sono stati infettati con genotipi 3 o 2. Con il dosaggio disponibile in commercio, non era possibile determinare il sottotipo HCV in un totale di tre pazienti. TruGene HCV 5&#39; test di genotipizzazione NC per la determinazione dei genotipi HCV ha dimostrato di essere utile per un laboratorio di diagnostico ordinaria high-throughput.

Genotipi virus dell&#39;epatite C in ungherese e austriaco pazienti con epatite cronica c.

C &#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x30A6;&#x30A4;&#x30EB;&#x30B9; &#xFF08;HCV&#xFF09; &#x306E;&#x907A;&#x4F1D;&#x5B50;&#x578B;&#x306F;&#x75AB;&#x5B66;&#x7684;&#x8CEA;&#x554F;&#x3001;&#x30EF;&#x30AF;&#x30C1;&#x30F3;&#x958B;&#x767A;&#x3001;&#x304A;&#x3088;&#x3073;&#x6162;&#x6027; HCV &#x611F;&#x67D3;&#x75C7;&#x306E;&#x81E8;&#x5E8A;&#x7BA1;&#x7406;&#x306B;&#x95A2;&#x9023;&#x3057;&#x3066;&#x3044;&#x307E;&#x3059;&#x3002;&#x672C;&#x7814;&#x7A76;&#x306E;&#x76EE;&#x7684;&#x306F;&#x3001;&#x5357;&#x30CF;&#x30F3;&#x30AC;&#x30EA;&#x30FC;&#x3068;&#x30AA;&#x30FC;&#x30B9;&#x30C8;&#x30EA;&#x30A2;&#x6771;&#x5357; C. &#x7D50;&#x679C;&#x304C;&#x307B;&#x3068;&#x3093;&#x3069;&#x81EA;&#x52D5;&#x5316;&#x3055;&#x308C;&#x305F; TruGene HCV 5 &#x306B;&#x3088;&#x3063;&#x3066;&#x5F97;&#x3089;&#x308C;&#x305F;&#x6162;&#x6027;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x306E; HCV &#x907A;&#x4F1D;&#x5B50;&#x578B;&#x3092;&#x6C7A;&#x5B9A;&#x3059;&#x308B;&#x305F;&#x3081;&#x3060;&#x3063;&#x305F; &#39; NC &#x30B8;&#x30A7;&#x30CE;&#x30BF;&#x30A4;&#x30D4;&#x30F3;&#x30B0; &#x30AD;&#x30C3;&#x30C8; &#xFF08;&#x53EF;&#x8996;&#x907A;&#x4F1D;&#x5B66;&#x3001;&#x30C8;&#x30ED;&#x30F3;&#x30C8;&#x3001;&#x30AA;&#x30F3;&#x30BF;&#x30EA;&#x30AA;&#x5DDE;&#xFF09; &#x3068;&#x7CFB;&#x7D71;&#x89E3;&#x6790;&#x306B;&#x3088;&#x308B;&#x3002;&#x3059;&#x3079;&#x3066;&#x306E; 20 &#x306E;&#x30CF;&#x30F3;&#x30AC;&#x30EA;&#x30FC;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x304A;&#x3088;&#x3073; 15 &#x306E;&#x3046;&#x3061; 20 &#x30AA;&#x30FC;&#x30B9;&#x30C8;&#x30EA;&#x30A2;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x306F;&#x907A;&#x4F1D;&#x5B50;&#x578B; 1 &#x611F;&#x67D3;&#x3057;&#x3066;&#x3044;&#x305F;&#x3002;&#x6B8B;&#x308A;&#x306E;&#x30AA;&#x30FC;&#x30B9;&#x30C8;&#x30EA;&#x30A2;&#x306E;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x306F;&#x3001;3 &#x307E;&#x305F;&#x306F; 2 &#x907A;&#x4F1D;&#x5B50;&#x578B;&#x3068;&#x611F;&#x67D3;&#x3057;&#x3066;&#x3044;&#x305F;&#x3002;&#x5E02;&#x8CA9;&#x306E;&#x30A2;&#x30C3;&#x30BB;&#x30A4;&#x3067;&#x306F;&#x3001;3 &#x4EBA;&#x306E;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x306E;&#x5408;&#x8A08;&#x3067; c &#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x30A6;&#x30A4;&#x30EB;&#x30B9;&#x306E;&#x30B5;&#x30D6;&#x30BF;&#x30A4;&#x30D7;&#x3092;&#x6C7A;&#x5B9A;&#x3059;&#x308B;&#x3053;&#x3068;&#x304C;&#x53EF;&#x80FD;&#x3067;&#x3057;&#x305F;&#x3002;TruGene c &#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x306F; 5&#39; c &#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x30A6;&#x30A4;&#x30EB;&#x30B9;&#x907A;&#x4F1D;&#x5B50;&#x578B;&#x306E;&#x5B9A;&#x91CF;&#x306E;&#x305F;&#x3081;&#x306E; NC &#x30B8;&#x30A7;&#x30CE;&#x30BF;&#x30A4;&#x30D4;&#x30F3;&#x30B0; &#x30A2;&#x30C3;&#x30BB;&#x30A4;&#x9AD8;&#x30B9;&#x30EB;&#x30FC;&#x30D7;&#x30C3;&#x30C8; &#x30EB;&#x30FC;&#x30C1;&#x30F3;&#x691C;&#x67FB;&#x306F;&#x6709;&#x7528;&#x3067;&#x3042;&#x308B;&#x3068;&#x8A3C;&#x660E;&#x3057;&#x307E;&#x3057;&#x305F;&#x3002;

&#x30CF;&#x30F3;&#x30AC;&#x30EA;&#x30FC;&#x3068;&#x30AA;&#x30FC;&#x30B9;&#x30C8;&#x30EA;&#x30A2; c &#x578B;&#x6162;&#x6027;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x60A3;&#x8005;&#x306B;&#x304A;&#x3051;&#x308B; C &#x578B;&#x809D;&#x708E;&#x30A6;&#x30A4;&#x30EB;&#x30B9;&#x907A;&#x4F1D;&#x5B50;&#x578B;

C &#xD615; &#xAC04;&#xC5FC; &#xBC14;&#xC774;&#xB7EC;&#xC2A4; (HCV) genotypes &#xC5ED;&#xD559; &#xC9C8;&#xBB38;, &#xBC31;&#xC2E0; &#xAC1C;&#xBC1C; &#xBC0F; &#xB9CC;&#xC131; HCV &#xAC10;&#xC5FC;&#xC758; &#xC784;&#xC0C1; &#xAD00;&#xB9AC;&#xC640; &#xAD00;&#xB828;&#xC774; &#xC788;&#xC2B5;&#xB2C8;&#xB2E4;. &#xC774; &#xC5F0;&#xAD6C;&#xC758; &#xBAA9;&#xC801;&#xC740; C. &#xACB0;&#xACFC; &#xB300;&#xBD80;&#xBD84; &#xC790;&#xB3D9;&#xD654; &#xB41C; TruGene HCV 5&#39;&#xC5D0; &#xC758;&#xD574; &#xAC00;&#xC838;&#xC628; &#xB9CC;&#xC131; &#xD615; &#xAC04;&#xC5FC; &#xB0A8;&#xCABD; &#xD5DD;&#xAC00;&#xB9AC;&#xC640; &#xC624;&#xC2A4;&#xD2B8;&#xB9AC;&#xC544; &#xB3D9;&#xB0A8; &#xD658;&#xC790;&#xC758; HCV genotypes&#xC744; &#xACB0;&#xC815; &#xD558;&#xB294; NC &#xC720;&#xC804;&#xD615; &#xD0A4;&#xD2B8; (&#xBCF4;&#xC774;&#xB294; &#xC720;&#xC804;&#xD559;, &#xD1A0;&#xB860;&#xD1A0;, &#xC628;&#xD0C0;&#xB9AC;&#xC624;) phylogenetic &#xBD84;&#xC11D; &#xD558; &#xC5EC;. &#xBAA8;&#xB4E0; 20 &#xD5DD;&#xAC00;&#xB9AC;&#xC5B4; &#xD658;&#xC790; 15 20 &#xC624;&#xC2A4;&#xD2B8;&#xB9AC;&#xC544; &#xD658;&#xC790; &#xC720;&#xC804;&#xC790; 1 &#xD615; &#xAC10;&#xC5FC; &#xB418;&#xC5C8;&#xC2B5;&#xB2C8;&#xB2E4;. &#xB098;&#xBA38;&#xC9C0; &#xC624;&#xC2A4;&#xD2B8;&#xB9AC;&#xC544; &#xD658;&#xC790; genotypes 3 &#xB610;&#xB294; 2 &#xAC10;&#xC5FC; &#xB418;&#xC5C8;&#xC2B5;&#xB2C8;&#xB2E4;. &#xC0C1;&#xC5C5;&#xC801;&#xC73C;&#xB85C; &#xC774;&#xC6A9; &#xAC00;&#xB2A5;&#xD55C; &#xBD84;&#xC11D; &#xACB0;&#xACFC; &#xD568;&#xAED8; &#xCD1D; 3 &#xBA85;&#xC758; &#xD658;&#xC790;&#xC5D0;&#xC11C;&#xC5D0;&#xC11C; HCV &#xD558;&#xC704; &#xD655;&#xC778; &#xBD88;&#xAC00;&#xB2A5; &#xD588;&#xB2E4;. HCV TruGene 5&#39; HCV genotypes &#xACB0;&#xC815;&#xC5D0; &#xB300; &#xD55C; NC &#xC720;&#xC804;&#xD615; &#xBD84;&#xC11D; &#xACB0;&#xACFC; &#xB192;&#xC740; &#xCC98;&#xB9AC;&#xB7C9; &#xC77C;&#xC0C1;&#xC801;&#xC778; &#xC9C4;&#xB2E8; &#xC2E4;&#xD5D8;&#xC2E4;&#xC5D0; &#xB300; &#xD55C; &#xC720;&#xC6A9;&#xD55C; &#xAC83;&#xC73C;&#xB85C; &#xD310;&#xBA85;.

C &#xD615; &#xAC04;&#xC5FC; &#xBC14;&#xC774;&#xB7EC;&#xC2A4; genotypes &#xD5DD;&#xAC00;&#xB9AC;&#xC640; &#xC624;&#xC2A4;&#xD2B8;&#xB9AC;&#xC544; &#xD658;&#xC790;&#xC758; &#xB9CC;&#xC131; c &#xD615; &#xAC04;&#xC5FC;.

Genotipos de hepatitis C virus (HCV) son relevantes para preguntas epidemiol&oacute;gicas, desarrollo de vacunas y manejo cl&iacute;nico de la infecci&oacute;n cr&oacute;nica por el VHC. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los genotipos del VHC de H&uacute;ngaro del sur y sureste austr&iacute;aco pacientes con hepatitis cr&oacute;nica C. resultados fueron obtenidos por el TruGene en gran parte automatizado HCV 5&#39;NC Genotyping Kit (gen&eacute;tica Visible, Toronto, Ontario) y por el an&aacute;lisis filogen&eacute;tico. Todos los 20 pacientes h&uacute;ngaros y 15 de 20 pacientes austr&iacute;aco fueron infectados con el genotipo 1. Los restantes pacientes austr&iacute;acos fueron infectados con genotipos 3 o 2. Con el ensayo disponible en el mercado, no fue posible determinar el subtipo de VHC en un total de tres pacientes. El TruGene VHC 5&#39; ensayo de Genotipado de NC para la determinaci&oacute;n de los genotipos del VHC demostr&oacute; para ser &uacute;til para un laboratorio diagn&oacute;stico rutinario de alto rendimiento.

Genotipos del virus de la hepatitis C en H&uacute;ngaro y austr&iacute;aco pacientes con hepatitis c cr&oacute;nica.

Carl Schmidt is one of the founders of modern biochemistry. He wrote numerous scientific publications, and left future generations several important documents that included two extensive hand-written travel reports from 1857 and 1864. In these, Schmidt paints a lively and impressive picture of industry in Victorian Britain from a personal perspective, showing this key period of European economic history in a unique light. Thus, it is rewarding to follow Schmidt on his travels through Britain, which he regarded as the workshop of the world and a shining but unattainable example for the industrial development of his home country.

Carl Schmidt -- a chemical tourist in Victorian Britain.

Review of human rabies cases in the UK and in Germany.

To determine the effects of the calcineurin inhibitors, cyclosporine and tacrolimus, on hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and activity of recurrent hepatitis C in patients post liver transplantation.

Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus in patients with HCV infection after liver transplantation: effects on virus replication and recurrent hepatitis.

Every year, millions of people travel to countries where rabies is enzootic. However, the quality of rabies-specific information provided by travel health advisors and the extent of their knowledge about pre- and postexposure prophylaxis have not been examined on a large-scale basis up to now.

Awareness of rabies risks and knowledge about preventive measures among experienced German travel health advisors.

HCV genotype 5: epidemiology and spread of an uncommon genotype.

In the past, immunogenicity of hepatitis A and B vaccines needed to be questioned in persons of advanced age, especially in those of 40 years and older. We performed a comparative multicenter prospective and retrospective study with the combined hepatitis A and B vaccine Twinrix to identify factors influencing the results of the vaccination in a population of all age groups. Out of 489 subjects enrolled, 241 were vaccinated in a prospective study (group 1) and 248 subjects in a retrospective study (group 2) in 17 German centers with median age of 40.1 (14-79) years. Following three applications of the combined hepatitis A/B vaccine we found 96.2% with protective antibodies against HAV and 88.7% were protected against HBV. With increasing age the subjects developed decreasing anti-HBs antibody levels whereas the seroprotection rate was significantly reduced by age (p < 0.05) in the retrospective study group only. Subjects with arterial hypertension and thyroid disease showed significantly decreased protection rates. The timing of the HBV antibody control seems to be important especially in low-responders because protective antibodies may drop below the detection limit within some month. The combined hepatitis A and B vaccine Twinrix proved to be highly effective against HBV, although antibody concentrations and seroprotection rates decreased with increasing age.

Comparative evaluation of the immunogenicity of combined hepatitis A and B vaccine by a prospective and retrospective trial.

In order to assess the human medical significance of the rabies zoonosis in Germany, the data of the relevant surveillance and of the registration systems as well as prescriptions submitted to the statutory health insurance (SHI) were assessed. In all, 2441 of the 81 280 total examinations for rabies conducted on animals were performed subsequent to contact with humans. In this context 54% of exposures were attributed to wild animals and 46%, to domestic animals. In 2006 and 2007 there were still 0.42 and 0.34 veterinary medical analyses per 100 000 inhabitants, respectively, subsequent to human contact. After the proclamation that Germany was free of terrestrial rabies, these indices dropped to 0.2 in 2009 and 2010. During the survey period, 21 700 doses of rabies vaccine were issued annually for SHI prescriptions on average; they would have been adequate for approximately 7230 complete courses of rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis or 4340 complete post-exposure treatments. For which of these two principal indications the vaccines were actually used cannot be determined from the SHI prescriptions. Taken together, the officially available data from rabies surveillance or registration systems even in combination with a nearly complete record of SHI prescription numbers did not allow an even nearly adequate reconstruction of the human medical significance of the rabies zoonosis in Germany. If one desired to achieve this, one would have to use, for example, an approach that is known from other European countries such as France, Finland, or The Netherlands.

Assessment of the human medical significance of the rabies zoonosis in Germany--analysis of available data and desiderata.

Nowadays, dried blood spots (DBS) are primarily used to obtain diagnostic access to risk collectives such as intravenous drug users, who are prone to infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Before DBS analyses can be used in this diagnostic context, however, a comprehensive evaluation of its performance characteristics must be conducted. To the best of our knowledge, the current study presents for the first time such essential data for the Abbott ARCHITECT system, which is currently the worldwide leading platform in this field of infection diagnostics.

Detection of infections with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus by analyses of dried blood spots--performance characteristics of the ARCHITECT system and two commercial assays for nucleic acid amplification.

[In Process Citation].

People who inject drugs are at high risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. HTLV was reported by neighboring countries to be prevalent in this population, but the situation for Germany is unclear. To generate seroprevalence and related behavioural data and to enhance prevention efforts against these infections for drug users in Germany, a multicentre sero- and behavioural survey was initiated. People who inject drugs are not well reached by services for testing and counselling for blood-borne infections in Germany. An interventional part of the study is intended to prove feasibility and acceptance of testing and counselling in low-threshold drop-in settings.

R. Stefan Ross

Institute of Virology,
National Reference Centre for Hepatitis C,
Essen University Hospital,
Institute of Virology, National Reference Centre for Hepatitis C, Essen University Hospital

University of Duisburg-Essen

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques

R. Stefan Ross

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Institute of Virology,National Reference Centre for Hepatitis C,Essen University Hospital,Institute of Virology, National Reference Centre for Hepatitis C, Essen University Hospital

University of Duisburg-Essen

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques

Institute of Virology,
National Reference Centre for Hepatitis C,
Essen University Hospital,
Institute of Virology, National Reference Centre for Hepatitis C, Essen University Hospital