Päivi Liitti

Novel luminescent samarium(III) chelates

Abstract A series of new stable, luminescent samarium(III) chelates were synthesized and their photophysical properties were measured. The iodoacetamido activated chelate coupled to a peptide was used in a caspase-3 assay.

Maternal serum placental growth factor and α‐fetoprotein testing in first trimester screening for Down syndrome

The aim of this research was to evaluate the addition of first trimester maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and α‐fetoprotein (AFP) to the combined test for Down syndrome and a serum only protocol of PlGF, AFP, free β‐human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A.

The stability of free-β human chorionic gonadotrophin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in first trimester dried blood spots†

To determine the stability of first trimester free‐β human chorionic gonadotrophin (free‐β hCG) and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) in dried blood spots (DBSs) under typical storage conditions.

A technical and clinical evaluation of a new assay for inhibin A and its use in second trimester Down syndrome screening.

Abstract Background: The objective of the study was to compare a new AutoDELFIA® Inhibin A kit (B064-102) with the Access Inhibin A kit (A36097) using clinical specimens and to evaluate the AutoDELFIA® Inhibin A assay performance in screening for Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Using clinical samples, we performed a method comparison between new and existing inhibin A kits and assessed AutoDELFIA® Inhibin A kit precision performance. Normal median values for the second trimester of pregnancy were also determined. Finally, we evaluated the screening performance of the AutoDELFIA® Inhibin A kit together with other second trimester biomarkers for the detection of Down syndrome. Results: The two methods showed a high degree of correlation (r=0.99, Pearson and Spearman correlation), and the average relative level difference between the methods at a concentration range of 41.7–1925 pg/mL was 19.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) from 17.6% to 21.5%]. The acceptable precision of the AutoDELFIA® Inhibin A kit was demonstrated: the within-lot CV% varied from 1.9% to 3.9%. The screening performance results show that AutoDELFIA® Inhibin A when added to a combination of other second trimester serum markers [human alpha foetoprotein (hAFP), free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (free hCGβ) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) or hAFP and free hCGβ] improves the detection rate of screening in both combinations. Conclusions: The performance of the AutoDELFIA® Inhibin A assay is highly acceptable for routine laboratory use for screening Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Lanthanide Chelates as a Tool in Nucleic Acid Chemistry

The potentiality of lanthanide chelates as photoluminescent markers and cleaving agents of nucleic acids is discussed, the main emphasis being on the chelates derived from aromatic nitrogen bases.