Certified reference materials for organic contaminants in sewage sludge: a feasibility study

As an answer to the re-evaluation of the European sludge directive, two novel reference materials for organic components in municipal sludge have been produced and test certified for AOX (absorbable organic halogens), PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), NPE (nonylphenol and nonylphenolethoxylates), DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate), bisphenol A, and BFR (brominated flame retardants). The materials were prepared from raw sludge without spiking or mixing of different sludges. The study demonstrated that the technique for the preparation of a suitable reference material, sufficiently homogenous and stable, and with concentration levels that answer the needs of the laboratories and the relevant authorities, can now be presented in detail. The results, furthermore, show there is a need for method validation and standardisation of the measurements of NPEs and certain BFR congeners, and that the development of the laboratory structure in Europe, with fewer and more specialised laboratories, might become a major obstacle when trying to find a sufficient number of laboratories being appropriately proficient for this kind of study in the future.     

Chemistry and function of human plasma proteins

Human blood plasma contains a large number of proteins. New analytical and preparative techniques have so far permitted the isolation of more than one hundred such proteins; about ninety percent of these were first characterized in the last 30 years. The plasma proteins include components of the clotting and complement systems as well as proteinase inhibitors, immunoglobulins, lipoproteins, and carrier proteins. The biological function of some of the plasma proteins is not yet known. Deficiency of one or more plasma proteins usually causes serious health disorders, the best known example being hemophilia. Several biologically active proteins can be gained from blood plasma; these proteins—for example the blood clotting factors—are of great prophylactic and therapeutic importance and allow a better exploitation of the valuable plasma than can be obtained by means of transfusion.     

Entwicklungstendenzen immunologischer Methoden in der Klinik

Zusammenfassng Immunologische Methoden, die sich durch hohe Empfindlichkeit und große Spezifität auszeichnen, haben in den letzten Jahren zunehmende Anwendung in klinischen Laboratorien gefunden. Insbesondere die Immungel-Diffusionsmethoden eignen sich für qualitative und quantitative Untersuchungen von Serum und Körperflüssigkeiten. Es wird beschrieben, welche Methoden zur Verfügung stehen, und auf die künftige Anwendung immunologischer Methoden in der Klinik eingegangen.

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Tendency of development of immunological methods in clinical laboratories

Immunological methods, which are characterized by high sensibility and specificity were used more and more in clinical laboratories during the last years. In particular, the immunogel-diffusion methods are suited for quantitative and qualitative determination of serum and body fluids. The methods available are dealt with and the future use of immunological methods in hospital is discussed.