Evaluation of D-dimer levels measured by different analytical methods in COVID-19 patients

Clinicians experience some challenges due to the lack of standardization of test, although D-dimer is a prognostic marker for COVID-19. We compared the clinical and analytical performances of D-dimer results obtained from different devices, kits and methods in patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Thirty-nine patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and 24 healthy individuals were included in the study. D-dimer levels were measured with Innovance D-DIMER kit (immunoturbidimetric method) on Sysmex CS-2500 and BCS XP and VIDAS D-Dimer Exclusion II kit (enzyme-linked fluorescence method) on mini VIDAS. The studies of precision, method comparison and clinic performance were performed. The variation coefficients in all systems were within the acceptable imprecision (7.8%). Bias%(12.5%) between BCS XP and Sysmex CS-2500 was lower than the acceptable Bias%(15.5%). Bias% values (19.2% and 33.3%, respectively) between Mini VIDAS with BCS XP and Sysmex CS-2500 were higher than the acceptable Bias%. The correlation coefficients among all systems were 0.89-0.98. For 500 ng/ml FEU, there was almost perfect agreement between BCS XP and Sysmex CS-2500, a moderate agreement between Mini VIDAS and BCS XP and Sysmex CS-2500. The cut-off values for distinguishing between individuals with and without COVID-19 were Mini VIDAS, Sysmex CS-2500 and BCS XP 529, 380 and 390 ng/ml FEU, respectively. The immunoturbidimetric method can be used as an alternative to the enzyme-linked fluorescent method because of satisfactory agreement at the different thresholds proposed for venous thromboembolism. However, it is recommended to follow up COVID-19 with the D-dimer results obtained by the same assay system

Tüberküloz dışı mikrobakteri izolatlarının tanımlanmasında INNO-LIPA mycobacteria, INNO-LIPA mycobacteriav2 ve hsp65 dizi analizinin karşılaştırılması

In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reverse hybridization based line probe assays, INNO-LiPA Mycobacteria and INNO-LiPA Mycobacteria v2 (Innogenetics, Ghent, Belgium) and partial sequencing of hsp65 gene were evaluated for the identification of 29 clinical mycobacterial isolates. Unique hsp65 sequences identified during the study were deposited in EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) under accession numbers AY379074, AY379077, AY379075 and AY553874.All mycobacteriai isolates were identified at the genus level on both LiPA assays, whereas 8 of 9 different known mycobacteria species (M.kansasii, M.gordonae, M.avium, M.intracellulare, M.chelonae, M.abscessus, M.fortuitum and M.peregrinum) were identified at species level with LiPA Mycobacteria v2. A clear correlation was found between the results of identifications obtained by the both LiPA assays, which targeted the 16S-23S rRNA ITS region, and DNA sequencing, which targeted the hsp65 gene. In conclusion, although LiPA Mycobacteria v2 could not identify all mycobacteria species, it may be especially useful for routine work in clinical laboratories, which are not capable of carrying out DNA sequencing.Bu çalışmada, klinik örneklerden elde edilen 29 adet mikobakteri izolatının tanımlanmasında polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu (PCR) ters hibridizasyon temelli INNO-LİPA Mycobacteria ve INNO-LİPA Mycobacteria v2 (Innogenetics, Ghent, Belgium) testleri ile hsp65 geninin parsiyel dizi analizinin performansları değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmada saptanan yeni ve özgün hsp65 gen dizileri AY379074, AY379077, AY379075 ve AY553874 kabul numaraları ile EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) gen bankasında saklanmıştır. Bütün mikobakteri izolatları her iki LiPA testinde de cins düzeyinde saptanmış, ayrıca, LiPA Mycobacteria v2 ile bu çalışmada değerlendirilen 9 farklı mikobakteri türünden 8'i {M.kansasii, M.gordonae, M.avium, M.intracellulare, M.chelonae, M.abscessus, M.fortuitum ve M.peregrinum) tür düzeyinde tanımlanmıştır. 16S-23S rRNA ITS bölgesini hedef alan LİPA testlerinden elde edilen tanımlama sonuçları ile hsp65 genine yönelik DNA dizi analizi sonuçları arasında bir uyum olduğu görülmüştür. LİPA Mycobacteria v2 ile bütün mikobakteri türlerinin tanımlanamamasına karşın, bu testin DNA dizi analizinin yapılamadığı klinik laboratuvarlarda rutin çalışmalarda yararlı olacağı sonucuna varılmıştır

Typing and antifungal susceptibility of the candida species isolated in geriatric patients at a tertiary care center

Objective: In this study we aimed to detect, identification and distribution of the Candida species in blood and urine samples; and antifungal susceptibility of Candida bloodstream isolates in geriatric patients Methods: All Candida species isolated from blood and urine cultures samples of patients over than 65 years of during the period December 2011 -November 2014 in İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital were enrolled in this study. For Candida species identification conventional methods, colony appearance in candida chromogenic agar and for some unidentified isolates API ID32C AUX (BioMérieux, France) was used. Antifungal susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed with API ATB Fungus 3 (BioMérieux, France). Results: During the study period 681 Candida species were isolated in blood and urine samples of patients over than 65 years. When the sample species were evaluated, Candida species detected in 561(82.4%) urine sample, and 120 (17.6%) blood samples. Most isolated species were respectively detected C. albicans (47.0%), C.parapsilosis (16.0%), C.tropicalis (15.9%), C.glabrata (12.2%), C.kefy (3.7%) and C.krusei (2.8%). C. albicans detected the most common in urine samples (51.7 %), on the other hand C.parapsilosis the most common species in blood samples (50.8%). In general surgery unit, C.tropicalis was found as the most common isolate. On the other hand C.albicans the most common species in the other units and services. C.parapsilosis rate in blood cultures increased with age. Antifungal susceptibility of the Candida bloodstream isolates were detected as 97.5% for flucytosine, 95.8% for amfotericin B, 82.5% for fluconazole, 91.7% for itraconazole and 77.5% for voriconazole. Conclusion: The most frequently isolated yeast species in blood and urinesamples of geriatric patients has been found C. albicans. C.parapsilosis especially frequently isolated from blood cultures and increasing the frequency with age. Voriconazole in Candida species is notable for low sensitivity rates