Haemoglobin mass is a main determinant of maximal oxygen uptake. Blood doping aims at increasing this variable. Limits for haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration are used as indicators of blood doping. However, these variables are measures of concentration, do not represent total haemoglobin mass and are altered by vascular volumes shifts. Direct estimation of haemoglobin mass could improve blood tests. It is unknown if physical exercise alters haemoglobin mass. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reaction of haemoglobin mass and other vascular compartments to heavy exercise in athletes. Haemoglobin mass and vascular compartments were evaluated using the optimised CO rebreathing method in 7 elite cyclists during a stage race. Simultaneously, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit were analysed. Haemoglobin mass (pre-race 958 +/- 123 g, end race 948 +/- 106 g) and red cell volume did not change significantly over the study period, while plasma volume and blood volume tended to increase. Haematocrit (pre-race 44.1 +/- 2.5 %, end race 40.9 +/- 1.59 %) and haemoglobin concentration (pre race 15.8 +/- 0.9 g/dl, end race 14.7 +/- 0.7 g/dl) decreased. During the study, a plasma volume expansion as adaptation to prolonged exercise occurred. Haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit decreased accordingly, whereas haemoglobin mass remained stable. Haemoglobin mass might therefore be a suitable screening tool for blood manipulations.
Hb mass determination with the optimized CO-rebreathing method has sufficient precision to detect the absolute differences in Hb mass induced by blood withdrawal and autologous reinfusion. Thus, it may be suited to screen for artificially induced alterations in Hb mass.
BackgroundImmunoCAP ISAC 112, is a commercially available molecular allergy IgE multiplex test. Data on the comparison of this rather novel test with extract-based as well as molecular ImmunoCAP singleplex IgE tests is missing.ObjectiveTo perform a comparison between the ISAC multiplex IgE assay and the ImmunoCAP singleplex test results.MethodsSerum samples of 101 adults with grass pollen allergy were analysed for sIgE to 112 allergenic molecules represented on the ISAC test as well as to common atopy-related extract-based allergy tests with the ImmunoCAP System (house dust mite [d1], cat [e1], dog [e5], cow’s milk [f2], hen’s egg [f1], hazelnut [f17], celery [f85], Alternaria alternate [m6], as well as pollen from birch [t3], hazel [t4], mugwort [w6], and ragweed [w1]). Subsequently statistical analysis was performed with the Spearman rank correlation test and the Clopper-Pearson method in order to compare the ISAC multiplex results with the sIgE singleplex results.ResultsThe positive percent agreements (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA) of corresponding allergens between the ISAC sIgE test and the extract-based singleplex ImmunoCAP results at cutoff 0.1 kUA/l varied between 60–100 % for PPA and 78–97 % for NPA.ConclusionWhen taking into account corresponding allergens molecular testing with the ISAC multiplex test correlates well with ImmunoCAP singleplex results.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.