PAF Assay - From David Gillis

Dear All

I'd welcome any assistance that can be offered on availability of PAF (platelet activating factor) assay, required for a patient of David Gillis.

More on PID Gene Testing - From Rohan Ameratunga

Dear All

Thanks again to Rohan, whose work in this field has been tireless:
" I was asked by David Gillis to present our experience at the recent Path update in Melbourne.  I did talk briefly about our customised PID testing program. 

PID Genetic Testing - From Richard Loh

Dear All

Thanks to Richard Loh for his advocacy in finding a "best way" forward for Australasian PID gene testing:
"I wanted to know if Australia/NZ should have their own database for genetic tests for PID (? using current RCPA) 

PID Gene Testing - From Glenn Reeves

Dear All

It appears that we are blessed with a multitude of options for genetic testing in PID, and enthusiastic colleagues are full of helpful information about available services (summarised on this page).

PID Genetic Testing - From Rohan Ameratunga

Dear All

Our cup runs over - especially for NZ residents. Thanks to Rohan for highlighting his valuable NZ service.

STAT3 Mutation in ?Hyper-IgE Syndrome - From Melanie Wong

Thanks to Melanie for informing us of availability of this assay at The Children's Hospital, Westmead, as well

STAT3 Mutation in ?Hyper-IgE Syndrome - From Prof YL Lau

Dear All,

We have been providing e-consultation on suspected PID patients for Asian pediatric colleagues and lately African colleagues as well. 

STAT3 Mutation in ?Hyper-IgE Syndrome - From Stuart Tangye

Thanks to Stuart Tangye for informing me of assay availability through his laboratory, as well as performance of genotyping through Matthew Cook's laboratory

STAT3 Mutation in ?Hyper-IgE Syndrome - From Rohan Ameratunga

Thanks to Rohan for his information on assay availability, through LabPlus:

"Available at LabPlus, Auckland Hospital.  Kathryn can contact Dr See-Tarn Woon for costs etc if she wishes to proceed.Regards Rohan Ameratunga "

XII mutation testing for HAE - From Peter Davidson

Dear Peter

Assay available through Sonic Genetics
For relevant items on blog, click here

VEGF Assay - From Margret Schuller

Dear All

Thanks to Margret for conveying details of one the commercially-available ELISA kits for measuring VEGF levels - in this case, from Peprotech.com

Details of Peprotech VEGF ELISA available here

VEGF Assay - From Gary Unglik

Dear All

I'd appreciate feedback from anyone with knowledge of any lab's performing assay for VEGF levels. Input welcome.

Some additional info:

STAT3 Mutation in ?Hyper-IgE Syndrome - From Kathryn Patchett

Dear All

I'd be grateful for any help that can be provided on availability of the STAT3 mutation analysis assay. The patient in question is a 15 y.o. man

Desmoglein Antibodies in a case of Resistant Pemphigus - From Stephen Adelstein

Attached* may help – published last week

Desmoglein Antibodies in a case of Resistant Pemphigus - From David Fulcher

As Julian mentioned, we are doing dsg-1 and 3 antibodies quantitatively by ELISA. We are about to publish a series of 55 cases assessed at enrolment, then followed sequentially 

Consensus and Standardisation Initiatives in Autoimmune Serology

Dear All

I'm told that formal working group processes for ENA and CD are not currently active (Thanks to Daman Langguth and Richard Steele). Still unsure about other areas of work, including phospholipid/cardiolipin antibodies, pernicious anaemia testing, autoimmune hepatitis.

Desmoglein Antibodies in a case of Resistant Pemphigus - From Daman Langguth

More pithy pearls from Daman:
"[Westmead]...And yes titres are useful.

Failure in pemphigus with ritux unusual when Bcells depleted."

Desmoglein Antibodies in a case of Resistant Pemphigus - From Julian Bosco

Thanks to Julian Bosco for reminding of David Fulcher's interest in this domain -- David, Any comments?

Desmoglein Antibodies in a case of Resistant Pemphigus - From Kerri Prain

Pathology Queensland (RBH) is performing DSG 1/3 testing on Transfected cells.

Regards

Kerri

Desmoglein Antibodies in a case of Resistant Pemphigus - From Chris Bundell

Thanks to Chris for her input on this question:

"PathWest has the Skin Mosaic put out by Euroimmun.  It includes the desmoglein 1 and 3 and is reported as detected or not detected."

Desmoglein Antibodies in a case of Resistant Pemphigus - From Peter Bourke

Hi Glenn,

We have a 39yo Indigenous female patient with pemphigus (for >10 years) which was resistant to routine immunosuppression and so we tried rituximab.

Circulating CD19 B cells are undetectable still, now >4 months after rituximab but there is no significant improvement in the lesions 

Consensus and Standardisation Initiatives in Autoimmune Serology

Dear All

By the end of this week, I'd be grateful if any colleagues involved in standardisation/consensus committees or working groups on autoimmune serology could please feed back to me the scope of their activities.

Cytokine Assays by Electrochemiluminescence - From Sue Baker

Do you or any members of your group know of anyone using electro chemiluminescence for cytokine assays?

Fip1-like1 (FIP1L1)-PDGFRA F/P Fusion Gene for Hypereosinophilic Syndrome – From Daman Langguth

At SNP we can do the break apart probe, at peter mac they can type the defect.

Autoantibody QA/QC/Standardisation Activites in Australasia 2007-2013

Dear All

I'd welcome input from anyone involved in QA/QC/consensus activities in autoimmune realm over last five years.

Fip1-like1 (FIP1L1)-PDGFRA F/P Fusion Gene for Hypereosinophilic Syndrome – From Janette Kwok

I wonder if there is any lab doing Fip1-like1 (FIP1L1)-platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) (F/P) fusion gene for hypereosinophilic syndrome?