title: Testing efficacy of anti-D sera by a panel of donor red cells with weak reacting D antigen and with partial D antigens.
abstract: In 1987 the definition of an Rh-negative donor in the Netherlands was changed from C-, E- as well as Du-negative to D-negative only. The use of 2 different strong anti-D sera without an antiglobulin phase (Du test) was considered sufficient to reveal the clinically important D antigen. In applying this policy, we identified 32 donors in 13,500 consecutive blood donations whose indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) (Du)-positive red cells gave negative reactions with at least 2 out of 11 anti-D sera and whose cells might therefore be typed as Rh(-D-)-negative in routine investigations. IgG anti-D used by a one-stage bromelain technique and anti-D with modified IgG appeared to be relatively insensitive in detecting Du in this study. Polyclonal anti-D in an enhancement medium and monoclonal anti-D scored better, although differences exist between the products of various manufacturers. It is suggested that if IAT (Du) testing is omitted, only anti-D sera with a high index of detectability of cells expressing weak D antigens should be accepted.
authors.affiliation: Red Cross Bloodbank Zuid-Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Rhenen
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Overbeeke
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001782:Blood Donors; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007106:Immune Sera; D010455:Peptides; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; C026410:Rho(D) antigen