Hsu Kline (flaxbroker87)

Serologic testing for antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in potential donors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) may not be performed until after blood donation. A hospital-based recruitment program for CCP may be an efficient way to identify potential donors prospectively. Patients who recovered from known or suspected COVID-19 were identified and recruited through medical record searches and public appeals in March and April 2020. Participants were screened with a modified donor history questionnaire and, if eligible, were asked for consent and tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgG and IgM). Participants positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG were referred for CCP collection. Of 179 patients screened, 128 completed serologic testing and 89 were referred for CCP donation. IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 23 of 51 participants with suspected COVID-19 and 66 of 77 participants with self-reported COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG level met the US Food and Drug Administration criteria for "high-titer" CCP in 39% of participants confirmed by PCR, as measured by the Ortho VITROS IgG assay. A wide range of SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels were observed. A hospital-based CCP donor recruitment program can prospectively identify potential CCP donors. Variability in SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels has implications for the selection of CCP units for transfusion. A hospital-based CCP donor recruitment program can prospectively identify potential CCP donors. Variability in SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels has implications for the selection of CCP units for transfusion. Pool testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) preserves testing resources at the risk of missing specimens through specimen dilution. To determine whether SARS-CoV-2 specimens would be missed after 101 pooling, we identified 10 specimens with midrange (ie, 25-34 cycles) and 10 with late (ie, >34-45 cycles) crossing threshold (Ct) values and tested these both neat and after 101 pooling. Final test results and Ct changes were compared. Overall, 17 of 20 specimens that contained SARS-CoV-2 were detected after 101 pooling with the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 Assay (Cepheid), rendering an 85% positive percentage of agreement. All 10 of 10 specimens with an undiluted Ct in the mid-Ct range were detected after 101 pooling, in contrast to 7 of 10 with an undiluted Ct in the late-Ct range. The overall Ct difference between the neat testing and the 101 pool was 2.9 cycles for the N2 gene target and 3 cycles for the E gene target. The N2 gene reaction was more sensitive than the E gene reaction, detecting 16 of 20 positive specimens after 101 pooling compared with 9 of 20 specimens. An 85% positive percentage of agreement was achieved, with only specimens with low viral loads being missed following 101 pooling. The average impact on both reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions within this assay was about 3 cycles. An 85% positive percentage of agreement was achieved, with only specimens with low viral loads being missed following 101 pooling. The average impact on both reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions within this assay was about 3 cycles.Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera Aphididae) is a polyphagous species frequently associated with the presence of sooty mold and viruses lethal to plants. The purpose of this work was to characterize possible resistance categories of cotton genotypes against A. gossypii. Initially, a preliminary test was carried out with 78 genotypes, 15 of which were selected for infestation ability assays and the determination of the cumulative aphid-day rates. Posteriorly, these genotypes were also evaluated through antixenosis and antibiosis assays. The genotypes FM 910, FM 966 LL, Mocó, Gossypium hirsutum var. punctatum L. (Malvaceae), Vari