title: Colloidal gold immunostaining for the detection of platelet reactive allo- and autoantibodies. Use on fresh and frozen cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fresh washed platelets are commonly used as target cells for the detection of platelet reactive antibodies. The use of stored platelets would allow a faster execution of the tests and a rapid selection of phenotyped cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Glass-adherent platelet monolayers were freeze stored. The antigen-antibody reaction between platelet antigens and platelet reactive allo- or autoantibodies was revealed by a modified antiglobulin test, using colloidal gold-labeled anti-human IgG. Immunogold staining (IGS) was compared with the platelet suspension immunofluorescence test (PSIFT) and with the solid-phase red cell adherence assay (SPRCA). The reactivity of fresh and freeze-stored platelets was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IGS proved to be slightly less sensitive (10%) than PSIFT and SPRCA: The results obtained with fresh and freeze-stored cells were scored identically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immunogold staining assay on freeze-stored platelets seems to be a convenient technical approach for platelet serology.
authors.affiliation: Centro Trasfusionale, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borzini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005615:Freezing; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D010641:Phenotype; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007518:Isoantibodies; D006046:Gold