An improved immunoblotting procedure for the detection of antibodies against HIV.

Immunoblotting ('Western blotting') is routinely used for detection of antibodies against HIV in the diagnosis of HIV infection. We describe an improved procedure, which does not require virus purification and is easy to control for 'false-positive' results. The technique also does not produce erroneous results due to reactivity of the developing system with residual cellular proteins or viral antigens and does not give high nonspecific background staining. The technique can be applied to the detection of antibodies to HIV in serum, plasma, and blood products.

Anti-Rh D activity of commercial intravenous immunoglobulin preparations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The presence of antibodies against Rh D in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products has been proposed as causing adverse reactions and blood grouping problems, although data on the incidence and titre of such antibodies is sketchy. This study was conducted to investigate methodology for carrying out haemagglutination tests on IVIG products, and to examine in retrospect 200 IVIG batches for the presence of anti-D and other haemagglutinins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Batches of commercial IVIG products were tested using the low-ionic-strength indirect antiglobulin test (LIAT). Positive batches were further investigated using a typed red cell panel and direct haemagglutination tests. RESULTS: 44 batches of IVIG gave positive LIAT. Of these, 12 contained specific anti-D. 11 batches had LIAT anti-D titres of 2-8; a further batch contained anti-D with a LIAT titre of 64. The remaining 32 batches agglutinated all erythrocyte phenotypes tested with LIAT titres

The etiology of nongonococcal urethritis in men attending a venereal disease clinic.

Nongonococcal urethritis was identified as a major reason that men attended our Venereal Disease Clinic. The prevalence of several agents that might cause nongonococcal urethritis was determined. Attempts were made to isolate gonococci; chlamydiae, Ureaplasms urealyticum, trichmonads, Candida sp., and Corynebacterium vaginale from urethral swabs from 307 men. Chlamydiae were recovered from 31% of the 67 men with nongonococcal urethritis compared to only 4% of 86 asymptomatic men without pyuria. Unexpectedly, cultures from only 4% of the 99 men with gonorrhea also yielded chlamydiae. Ureaplasma urealyticum was recovered from 9 of 27 asymptomatic men (33%), 16 of 30 men with nongonococcal urethritis (53%) and 16 of 68 men with gonorrhea (42%). These differences were not statistically significant. However, when chlamydiae-positive men were excluded from the analysis urethritis. Twelve of 18 (76%) men with nononchlamdial nongonococcal urethritis yielded the organism compared to 8 of 26 (31%) men without urethritis. The other organisms sought were recovered infrequently and could not be associated with nongonococcal urethritis.