Specialty Medical Research Articles

Access to specialty medical care for children with mental retardation, autism, and other special health care needs.

Access to specialty medical care among children with mental retardation, autism, or other types of special health care needs was examined. Results from a national survey indicate that over a third of the children with autism, over a fifth with mental retardation, and over a fifth with other types of special health care needs had problems obtaining needed care from specialty doctors in the preceding year. The most common problems included getting referrals and finding providers with appropriate training. Children with unstable health conditions, autism, or those whose parent was in poor health were at greater risk for problems. Primary Medicaid coverage and public secondary health coverage were associated with fewer access problems. Implications for health services for children with special health care needs are discussed.

University Affiliated Programs as Specialty Medical Providers and the Emerging Managed-Care System

University Affiliated Programs as Specialty Medical Providers and the Emerging Managed-Care System

Specialty Medical Audit

Specialty Medical Audit

Quantitative immunoenzymatic assay of human lutropin, with use of a bi-specific monoclonal antibody

In this immunoenzymatic assay for human lutropin (hLH) we used bi-specific antibodies (BiAbs) obtained from the fusion of two hybridomas producing antibodies to beta-D-galactosidase and hLh. The BiAb complexed with the enzyme beta-D-galactosidase was used as tracer in a double-determinant assay. We compared the assay involving the BiAb (Bi-EIA) with an immunoenzymatic assay (EIA) in which the same capture antibody was used but the tracer was an enzyme-conjugated hLH-specific monoclonal antibody produced by the same parental cell line used to produce the BiAb. The coefficient of correlation (r) between the two assays was 0.979 but the Bi-EIA was more sensitive (detection limits: 0.8 int. units/L for the Bi-EIA, 2.0 int. units/L for the EIA) and more specific (less than 0.04% vs less than 1.2% cross-reactions with human choriogonadotropin). Mean intra- and interassay CVs for the Bi-EIA were 2.9% and 5.9%, respectively. Correlation (r) with an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA, Serono kit) was 0.960, with radioimmunoassay (RIA, Biodata kit) 0.909, and with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA kit, Specialty Medical Industries Inc.) 0.888, (n = 25). Evidently, bi-specific antibodies can be used successfully in immunoenzymatic assays, and with potentially greater sensitivity and specificity than assay with a traditional antibody-enzyme conjugate.

Military Occupational Specialty Medical Retention Board: Promises and Problems

Military Occupational Specialty Medical Retention Board: Promises and Problems