title: White cell related red cell antibodies.
abstract: Occasional sera react weakly with a few red cells in the antiglobulin phase but without a recognizable pattern. We sought to identify the nature of such antibodies in 27 samples referred to our HLA laboratory for lymphocytotoxin testing. All samples were tested against a panel of 15 red cells by a capillary tube antiglobulin technique developed to conserve sera. This technique correlates well with tube antiglobulin tests, and can be performed with either fresh or thawed red cells. Of 27 sera, 14 contained anti-HLA B7, B17, or A28, since they reacted only with red cells from donors whose lymphocytes were B7, B17, or A28. Eight further sera probably contained anti-B7, -B17, or -A28, but reacted with one or two additional red cells. Two samples agglutinated all panel red cells so the presence of anti-B7, B17, or A28 could not be determined. In three additional sera, lymphocytotoxin testing suggested that specificity other than anti-B7, B17, or A28 was present. Of 27 sera containing weak unidentified red cell antibodies, 22 (81%) contain definite or probable anti-B7, -B17, or -A28. The identity of these troublesome antibodies can be determined by maintaining red cell panels of donors whose HLA phenotypes are known.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000276:immunology; D003298:Coombs Test / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007518:Isoantibodies