The samples were analyzed by using the Liaison kits (Byk-Sangtec, Dietzenbach, Germany).
Morning, fasting cortisol levels were measured in participant's plasma samples using a Liaison Cortisol kit (Reference 313261, DiaSorin, Italy).
All women were referred for preconception blood test screening for CMV by LIAISON ELISA kits (LIAISON CMV-IgG and -IgM, DiaSorin, Italy).
In USA, using two EIA assays (Trep-Chek, Trep-Sure EIA kit) and Liaison CIA assay as screening assays, the positive rate of CIA was 2.3% in low-prevalence population, and the proportion of TP-PA-negative sera among 2984 EIA/CIA-reactive sera was 24.7% (737/2984) [ 6].
Thyroid profiles were assessed by estimation of serum-free triiodothyronine (FT3), free T4 (FT4), and thyrotropic-stimulating hormone (TSH), which were assayed by a chemiluminescent assay method using a LIAISON analyzer with original kits obtained from DiaSorin (DiaSorin S.p.A, Saluggia, Italy).
Then, samples were measured for plasma levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D using a chemiluminescent immunoassay kit ("25 OH Vitamin D total assay, Diasorin Liaison") by LIAISON analyzer.
"If you've got 1.2m men who've got the wrong kit and can't be deployed," says one western liaison officer, "the situation is not much better than when the Germans came".
