Variability in Telavancin Cross-Reactivity among Vancomycin Immunoassays

ABSTRACTTelavancin is a semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide with a dual mechanism of action against Gram-positive pathogens. Two brief reports have suggested potential cross-reactivity of telavancin with the vancomycin particle-enhanced turbidometric immunoassay (PETIA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate several commercially available vancomycin immunoassays (fluorescence polarization [FPIA], enzyme-multiplied immunoassays [EMIT], PETIA, and chemiluminescent immunoassay [CMIA]) for cross-reactivity with telavancin. Seven sites were selected to analyze serum samples for vancomycin. Each site received a set of samples (n= 18) which combined drug-free serum with telavancin, 7-OH telavancin metabolite, or vancomycin. Immunoassays demonstrating potential cross-reactivity were further evaluated by sending a duplicate sample set to multiple laboratories. Cross-reactivity was defined as the percent theoretical concentration (reported concentration/theoretical concentration × 100). No cross-reactivity was seen with FPIA or EMIT. Within the theoretical concentration range of 5 to 120 μg/ml of telavancin, the Synchron PETIA system reported vancomycin concentrations ranging from 4.7 to 54.2 μg/ml compared to vancomycin concentrations from 1.1 to 5.6 μg/ml for the Vista PETIA system. The Architect CMIA system reported vancomycin concentrations in the range of 0.27 to 0.97 μg/ml, whereas Advia Centaur XP CMIA reported vancomycin concentrations between 1.6 and 31.6 μg/ml. The Architect CMIA immunoassay had the lowest percent cross-reactivity (0.8 to 5.4%), while the Synchron PETIA immunoassay demonstrated the highest percent cross-reactivity (45.2 to 53.8%). Telavancin samples measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy were within 93.9 to 122% of theoretical concentrations. Vancomycin concentrations were not measured in any 7-OH telavancin-spiked sample. Vancomycin concentrations measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy were within 57.2 to 113% of theoretical concentrations. PETIA and CMIA measured vancomycin concentrations in telavancin-spiked samples. Significant variability in percent cross-reactivity was observed for each platform regardless of immunoassay method.

Determination of Lipophilic Toxins by LC/MS/MS: Single-Laboratory Validation

An LC/MS/MS method has been developed, assessed, and intralaboratory-validated for the analysis of the lipophilic toxins currently regulated by European Union legislation: okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxins 1 and 2, including their ester forms; azaspiracids 1, 2, and 3; pectenotoxins 1 and 2; yessotoxin (YTX), and the analogs 45 OH-YTX, Homo YTX, and 45 OH-Homo YTX; as well as for the analysis of 13-desmetil-spirolide C. The method consists of duplicate sample extraction with methanol and direct analysis of the crude extract without further cleanup or concentration. Ester forms of OA and dinophysistoxins are detected as the parent ions after alkaline hydrolysis of the extract. The validation process of this method was performed using both fortified and naturally contaminated samples, and experiments were designed according to International Organization for Standardization, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and AOAC guidelines. With the exception of YTX in fortified samples, RSDr below 15% and RSDR were below 25%. Recovery values were between 77 and 95%, and LOQs were below 60 μg/kg. These data together with validation experiments for recovery, selectivity, robustness, traceability, and linearity, as well as uncertainty calculations, are presented in this paper.

Enumeration of Marine Viruses in Culture and Natural Samples by Flow Cytometry

ABSTRACT Flow cytometry (FCM) was successfully used to enumerate viruses in seawater after staining with the nucleic acid-specific dye SYBR Green-I. The technique was first optimized by using thePhaeocystis lytic virus PpV-01. Then it was used to analyze natural samples from different oceanic locations. Virus samples were fixed with 0.5% glutaraldehyde and deep frozen for delayed analysis. The samples were then diluted in Tris-EDTA buffer and analyzed in the presence of SYBR Green-I. A duplicate sample was heated at 80°C in the presence of detergent before analysis. Virus counts obtained by FCM were highly correlated to, although slightly higher than, those obtained by epifluorescence microscopy or by transmission electron microscopy (r = 0.937, n = 14, andr = 0.96, n = 8, respectively). Analysis of a depth profile from the Mediterranean Sea revealed that the abundance of viruses displayed the same vertical trend as that of planktonic cells. FCM permits us to distinguish between at least two and sometimes three virus populations in natural samples. Because of its speed and accuracy, FCM should prove very useful for studies of virus infection in cultures and should allow us to better understand the structure and dynamics of virus populations in natural waters.

Application of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy to Determination of Fat in Cheddar Cheese

Near infrared reflectance (NIR) "spectroscopy was used to determine the fat content of Cheddar cheese. Through multiple linear regression, calibrations were developed for use with a commercial filter monochromator instrument. A 6-wavelength calibration, using 1734 nm as the primary indicator wavelength, was found to perform satisfactorily. Averaging readings from duplicate sample repacks reduced the standard error of performance (SEP) compared with the use of single readings. For a validation set of 23 samples, the correlation coefficient squared (r2) between the NIR and Roese-Gottlieb methods was 0.92, with an SEP of 0.44%. Both sample temperature and age of the cheese influenced the NIR response.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay of Aflatoxin Bi in Naturally Contaminated Corn and Cottonseed

Naturally contaminated corn and cottonseed samples were screened for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) by a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples were blended 5 min in an extraction solvent of methanol-water-dimethylformamide (70 + 29 + 1) and filtered. Filtrates were assayed by direct competition between AFBi in the corn and cottonseed samples and AFB1-peroxidase conjugate for binding to specific antibody adsorbed to a solid phase microtiter plate. Standard curves prepared using the extract of AFB1-free corn and cottonseed samples, and extraction solvent only, showed negligible interference by the sample extract in the performance of ELISA. The AFBi content in corn and dehulled cottonseed samples as determined by ELISA ranged from 7 to 422 μg/kg and 7 to 3258 μg/kg, respectively. When ELISA estimates of AFB1 in corn were compared with values obtained by thin layer chromatography (CB method), the correlation coefficient (n = 10) was 0.95. Average interassay and subsample coefficients of variation for ELISA in corn were 21.4 and 22.0%, respectively. When ELISA estimates of AFB1 in cottonseed were compared with values obtained by liquid chromatography (Pons method), the correlation coefficient (n = 15) was 0.96. Using this ELISA, 36 duplicate sample extracts can be screened for AFB1 in less than 2 h.