A high-sensitivity fiber-optic gas pressure sensor based on a Fabry-Perot interferometer filled with epoxy resin adhesive is proposed. The factors of affecting the sensitivity are theoretically analyzed and verified experimentally. In our experiment, epoxy-filled thinnest diaphragm thickness <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink...

BACKGROUND IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to latex has been recognized as an increasing health problem with far-reaching consequences for patients, regarding both their occupational situation and safety in medical care. Therefore, a correct diagnosis of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy is essential. The purpose of the study was to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of several established dia...

The relative sensitivity and specificity were as follows: treponemal: 92.2% sensitivity (n ϭ 51), 93.6% specificity (n ϭ 94); and nontreponemal: 94.2% sensitivity (n ϭ 52), 97.6% specificity (n ϭ 96). Another area of infectious disease testing to which Copalis has been applied is Epstein-Barr serology. In this case, three different antigens from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were coated onto thr...

BACKGROUND Latex allergy has emerged as a major cause of allergic reactions in health care workers. However, information is limited regarding the diagnostic methods available. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values) of screening for natural rubber latex sensitization by questionnaire among health care workers,...

Leptospirosis is an important global veterinary health problem caused by spirochetes belonging to the genus Leptospira. Leptospires are ubiquitous in nature, and therefore able to adapt to both the ambient environment and the renal tubules of chronically infected reservoir hosts. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) remains a specialized test, which is not generally performed in the routine dia...

Transfusion-acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections should be prevented in seronegative immunocompromised patients by providing blood products from donors who are also seronegative. Latex agglutination was investigated as a simple and rapid method for detecting antibody against CMV. Latex beads were coated with CMV antigen, incubated for 8 min at room temperature with 25 microliter of sera, a...

INTRODUCTION Latex allergy is one of the main reasons of anaphylaxis in the operating room. The prevalence of this condition is higher among patients with myelomeningocele. Epidemiological data obtained from Argentine patients is scarce. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of latex sensitivity and latex allergy in a population of patients with myelomeningocele and to describe associated risk...

Background: Rotavirus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children with gastroenteritis. Since the discovery of rotaviruses, several techniques have been used for their laboratory diagnosis; those included Electron Microscopy (EM) and enzyme immunoassay. These methods, however, are expensive and not readily available everywhere. We have developed a technique which can be used for ...

Hepatitis associated antigen may be detected quickly and reliably by the latex agglutination test, using antiserum from guinea pigs immunized with the antigen. The latex test has a sensitivity comparable to the counter current immunoelectrophoresis technique.

BACKGROUND Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a life-threatening systemic disease and is a neglected public health problem in many endemic regions of Latin America. Though several diagnostic methods are available, almost all of them present with some limitations. METHOD/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS A latex immunoassay using sensitized latex particles (SLPs) with gp43 antigen, the immunodominant antigen of...