[Comparison of the latex agglutination method with the hemagglutination inhibition test in the detection of antibodies against rubella virus]. / Comparación del método de aglutinación en latex con la inhibición de la hemaglutinación en la detección de anticuerpos contra el virus rubéola.

Rubella virus antibodies were measured in 85 sera from pregnant women by using a new latex test, and the results were compared with those obtained by using hemagglutination inhibition. The sensitivity of the latex test was 98.4%, specificity was 66.6% and the predictive value of a positive result was 90%. The latex test is a simple test and has much shorter reaction time than that of the hemagglutination inhibition.

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with faecal cytotoxin and verotoxin neutralizing antibodies.

Forty-nine patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) were investigated to determine evidence of infection by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Free faecal cytotoxin active on Vero cells (VT) was detected in 15 out of 49 patients (31%). Seroconversion or high titres of VT-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 11 out of 18 patients (61%). The results of the present study suggest an association between HUS and infection by VTEC.