Biomaterial Database

Variability, predictive value, and uses of the beryllium blood lymphocyte proliferation test (BLPT): preliminary analysis of the ongoing workforce survey. 2001

D C Deubner, and M Goodman, and J Iannuzzi

Brush Wellman Inc., Elmore, Ohio, USA.

The beryllium blood lymphocyte proliferation test (BLPT) is used as a medical surveillance tool for assessment of persons at risk for developing clinical and subclinical chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Three laboratories, coded "A," "B," and "C," were used to perform the BLPTs, which involved two simultaneous tests on a split specimen. The intra-laboratory agreement analysis compared the first and the second test performed by the same laboratory. The interlaboratory agreement analysis compared test results performed by different laboratories on the same sample. The level of agreement was expressed as a kappa statistic. The positive predictive value (PPV) analysis compared BLPT results against the results of a bronchoscopy used to detect CBD. The data included 5483 records representing 3081 samples from 1510 persons. Intra-laboratory agreement was fair to moderate, with kappa values between 0.3 and 0.6. Inter-laboratory agreement was moderate (kappa = 0.5) for Labs A and B, moderate (kappa = 0.6) for Labs B and C, and poor (kappa = 0.2) for Labs A and C. A single unconfirmed abnormal test had a PPV for CBD of 39 percent, a confirmed (based on subsequent testing) abnormal test had a PPV for CBD of 45 percent, and a first-time double abnormal test had a PPV for CBD of 49 percent. Substantial inter- and intralaboratory disagreement exists between and within major laboratories that conduct this test.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006967	Hypersensitivity	Altered reactivity to an antigen, which can result in pathologic reactions upon subsequent exposure to that particular antigen.	Allergy,Allergic Reaction,Allergic Reactions,Allergies,Hypersensitivities,Reaction, Allergic,Reactions, Allergic
D007159	Immunologic Tests	Immunologic techniques involved in diagnosis.	Diagnosis, Immunological,Immunodiagnosis,Diagnosis, Immunologic,Immunologic Diagnosis,Immunologic Test,Immunological Tests,Tests, Immunologic,Diagnoses, Immunologic,Diagnoses, Immunological,Immunodiagnoses,Immunologic Diagnoses,Immunological Diagnoses,Immunological Diagnosis,Immunological Test,Test, Immunologic,Test, Immunological,Tests, Immunological
D008403	Mass Screening	Organized periodic procedures performed on large groups of people for the purpose of detecting disease.	Screening,Mass Screenings,Screening, Mass,Screenings,Screenings, Mass
D011237	Predictive Value of Tests	In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test.	Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001607	Berylliosis	A form of pneumoconiosis caused by inhaled rare metal BERYLLIUM or its soluble salts which are used in a wide variety of industry including alloys, ceramics, radiographic equipment, and vacuum tubes. Berylliosis is characterized by an acute inflammatory reaction in the upper airway leading to BRONCHIOLITIS; PULMONARY EDEMA; and pneumonia.	Beryllium Disease,Beryllioses
D001608	Beryllium	An element with the atomic symbol Be, atomic number 4, and atomic weight 9.01218. Short exposure to this element can lead to a type of poisoning known as BERYLLIOSIS.
D012680	Sensitivity and Specificity	Binary classification measures to assess test results. Sensitivity or recall rate is the proportion of true positives. Specificity is the probability of correctly determining the absence of a condition. (From Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed)	Specificity,Sensitivity,Specificity and Sensitivity