For the diagnosis of allergic aspergillosis demonstration of specific immune responses to allergens has been accepted as a significant paradigm. Elevated levels of total IgE and Aspergillus fumigatus specific IgE and IgG antibodies are important criteria for diagnosis of ABPA. Although reference antigens or standardized methods are not available, there are a number of relevant recombinant antig...

Conceiving, building, maintaining and refi ning a universal health system is an inordinately complex undertaking. Its effective implementation requires everything from political will consistently and strategically applied, to accurate epidemiological data and analysis, plus quality medical education and active citizen participation. It also takes resources—fi nancial, technological, pharmaceuti...

The aim of this work was to standardize metabolic and cytoplasmic Madurella mycetomatis antigen to be applied in the immunodiagnosis of mycetoma. Growth curves were established growing the mold in two broth media with weekly measures of protein and carbohydrate levels and of dry weight. Sera from immunized rabbits and patient's sera were used in immunoprecipitation to test the antigens. Three w...

Management of a patient with snake bite is influenced by the nature of the offending snake. Species diagnosis based on the patient's history and physical signs is often unreliable and the possibility of making a species diagnosis by immunological means has therefore been investigated. Wound aspirates, blister fluids, sera, and urine samples from patients with snake bite were examined for the pr...

The rabies tissue culture infection test (RTCIT) and rapid rabies enzyme immunodiagnosis (RREID) were compared to the fluorescent-antibody test (FAT) with field specimens. At the French National Reference Center for Rabies, 15,248 specimens were analyzed by FAT and RTCIT, and 2,290 of those specimens were also tested by RREID; 818 other specimens were tested by FAT and RREID in 12 laboratories ...