title: [Countermeasures against non-specific reactions in the measurement of beta-glucan in plasma by alkaline treatment, chromogenic automated kinetic assay].
abstract: We investigated the detection of non-specific reactions in the measurement of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (beta-glucan) and countermeasures against them using alkaline treatment, chromogenic automated kinetic assay (alkaline-kinetic assay). In this study, we reexamined the values of beta-glucan using the alkaline-kinetic assay with and without laminaran oligosaccharides (LO) as a kind of beta-glucan that blocks the Limulus reaction. The materials for this study were 584 plasma samples in which beta-glucan had been measured. These were taken from 232 patients in Kawasaki Medical School Hospital between January 2002 and March 2002. Non-specific reactions were judged by a calculated value under a LO additive condition. Determination as to whether or not the each time course of the Limulus reaction was influenced by a non-specific reaction was also studied by applying a non-specific reaction index set up independently. Non-specific reactions were recognized in 51.9% of the samples (81/156). The amount of non-specific reaction was 9.9 pg/ml or less in major samples. On the other hand, when the cut off value of the index for detection of non-specific reactions was set at 0.5, the sensitivity was 88.9% and specificity was 73.7%. The positive and negative predictive values were 93.5% and 60.9% respectively. Non-specific reactions can be approximately distinguished by applying the non-specific reaction index. By so doing, unnecessary initiation of anti fugal therapy in response to non-specific reactions can be avoided. Further prospective and radical studies of non-specific reactions in the alkaline-kinetic assay are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School.
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niki
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobashi
authors.forename: Toshiharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008033:Limulus Test; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D047071:beta-Glucans
chemical_list: D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D005936:Glucans; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan