OBJECTIVE The Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) was designed to measure performance accuracy and speed on specific neurobehavioral domains using tests that were previously validated with functional neuroimaging. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the neuropsychological theory used to construct the CNB by confirming the factor structure of the tests composing it. METHOD...

BACKGROUND Almost all newborns in the US are screened at birth for multiple inborn errors of metabolism using tandem mass spectrometry. Screening tests are designed to be sufficiently sensitive so that cases are not missed. The NACB recognized a need for standard guidelines for laboratory confirmation of a positive newborn screen such that all babies would benefit from equal and optimal follow-...

When multidimensional tests are analyzed, the item structures that are obtained by Exploratory Factor Analysis are usually rejected when tested by Confirmatory Factor Analysis. This paper analyzes some of the aspects of the problem by means of simulation studies, and proposes a procedure that may be useful for dealing with the problem. The procedure is illustrated by means of an empirical example.

Disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rare cause of acute fulminant liver failure. We hereby present a case series of three patients with acute disseminated HSV with necrotizing hepatitis successfully treated with a week course of acyclovir. Early empiric administration of acyclovir therapy while awaiting confirmatory tests is critical in this potentially lethal disease.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are becoming widespread worldwide, and the rapid identification of VRE carriers from surveillance cultures is crucial for the efficient control of their spread. We assessed a new selective chromogenic medium, chromID VRE (bioMérieux, France), that enhanced the isolation and presumptive identification of VRE directly from rectal swabs and reduced unnecessar...

• To recognize the etiologies and clinical manifestations of endocrine crises involving the pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands • To review the optimal confirmatory laboratory tests for these disorders in the acute care setting • To delineate the initial treatment for each specific endocrine emergency • To cover important pearls and selected caveats related to the diagnosis and man...

Five different enzyme immunoassays, electron microscopy, and latex agglutination (Slidex; bioMerieux) were compared for the rapid detection of human rotavirus in fecal specimens. The enzyme immunoassay using rotavirus polyclonal antiserum (Dakopatts) with simple in-house modifications was shown by the use of confirmatory tests to be the most sensitive and specific procedure.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance programs have been employed in numerous countries to monitor BSE prevalence and to protect animal and human health. Since 1999, the European Commission (EC) authorized the evaluation and approval of 20 molecular based tests for the rapid detection of the pathological prion protein (PrP(sc)) in BSE infection. The diagnostic sensitivity, conveni...

The prevalence and molecular types of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were determined during a 1-year period in unselected clinical nonduplicate isolates of Escherichia coli (n = 1,738), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 436), and Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 208), cultured at the University Medical Centre Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Isolates identified as ESBL producer by the Phoenix automated sy...

The isolation of two coagulase-negative strains of Staphylococcus pyogenes is reported, and their biochemical characteristics are given. The reliability of coagulase tests alone in the identification of Staph. pyogenes is discussed, and the deoxyribonuclease test is recommended as a useful confirmatory test.