Evaluation of the flow cytometric crossmatch. Preliminary results of a multicenter study

The flow cytometric crossmatch is a technique that is increasingly being used by clinical transplant laboratories. In this multicenter study by the British Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Flow Cytometry Group, a series of crossmatches were carried out to determine whether different centers obtained same results when performing the same crossmatch. There was greater than 80% agreement among participating laboratories on the results of 35/54 tests. There was no clear agreement in the remaining 20 cases. Quantitative analysis, estimating the number of cell-bound fluorescein molecules, demonstrated that differences in the criteria used by each center to define a positive crossmatch were responsible for some discordant results. When applied, definition of positivity based on the molecules of fluorescein increased concordance from 57.5% to 81.4%.l. These results suggest that a criterion for the interpretation of results based on quantitative analysis of bound antibody may be more reliable than methods in current routine use.

Sex-role orientation of nursing students at a community college

The sex-role orientation of 20 male and 48 female nursing students at an urban community college was assessed by the Bern Sex-role Inventory. Sex and sex-role orientation were not significantly associated, and no significant difference was found between male and female students on a geometric mean estimate of androgyny. No support was found for Bern's theory of sex-role orientation. Results are discussed in terms of sample-specific features of the subjects.

Assertiveness factors and depression in a sample of college women

This investigation examined the relationships between measures of depression and factors of assertiveness in college women and tested the moderating effects of anxiety and locus of control on these relationships. A factor analysis of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule was done, and the factor scores were correlated with three depression scales. After controlling for possible moderator effects, only one factor, Inhibited Verbal Expression, was significantly related to depression scores. The relevance of these findings for social skills in depression and for assertiveness training in depression is discussed as is the desirability of replications with larger samples including men.