Spectrophotometric analysis of amniotic fluid in Rh immunised pregnancies.

A total of 307 amniotic fluid analysis done in 344 Rh negative immunised mothers showed that 46, 83 and 178 delta OD values at 450 millimicrons fell in the upper, middle and lower zones of Liley's charts respectively. The correlation of spectrophotometric analysis with the condition of the baby at birth was about 95 per cent in the upper and lower zones. In the middle zone, however, it was about 75 per cent only. Also, in 7 women in whom the OD at 450 millimicrons fell in the middle zone, the babies were found to be Rh negative; in another baby, the OD difference fell in upper zone. In spite of these limitations amniotic fluid examination seems to be an important single guide to severity, being superior to other parameters like previous obstetric history, antibody titre alone and Liley's charts, which are still widely used.

AIDS and transfusion practice.

PIP: AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in many regions of the world and is rapidly spreading. Among other modes of transmission, HIV may be transmitted through the transfusion of blood and blood products. The potential for such transmission warrants and has sparked the screening of donor blood and blood products for antibodies to HIV. Safe practices for transfusion services would include promoting voluntary donors, motivating and recruiting donors from low-risk groups, encouraging high-risk donors to exclude themselves from the donor pool, obtaining trained donor pool, obtaining trained donor recruiters, and linking programs with AIDS education campaigns. Further, the Blood Safety Initiative of the World Health Organization stresses the importance of transfusing blood and its products only when required to prevent mortality or major morbidity. 4082 of 589,824 individuals screened in India over the period 1985-90 were identified as HIV-seropositive. Of these individuals, 2068 were heterosexually promiscuous, 6 were homosexual, 600 sold blood professionally, 64 were recipients of blood and blood products, and 861 were IV drug users. To help control the spread of HIV, known seropositive donors should be told of their status and permanently barred from giving blood. Since HIV seroprevalence in samples of professional blood sellers has been shown to be comparatively higher than that among voluntary donors, the professional sale of blood should be discouraged in favor of increased the voluntary supplies. ELISA and Western blot tests are used to screen blood for antibodies to HIV, while serum neopterin estimation is also helpful. Viricidal techniques for blood parasites plasma include the application of dry heat of 600 degrees Celsius for 24 hours, heptane, or treatment with solvent-detergents. Viricidal techniques for cellular components of blood remain experimental.^ieng