title: RHD antigen density and agglutination in RHD variant red cells.
abstract: For the Rhesus categories DIV, DVI, and DVII, agglutination was compared to the number of RHD antigens per cell. We detected 3,100 to 15,400 antigens/cell on DVI. We report examples of anti-D reactivity showing lack of specificity and pointing to the known serologic split in DIV and DVI. Such a split was not found in DVII. Other examples were explained by lack of sensitivity. These results emphasized the need to consider RHD antigen densities, before a serologic split in RHD variant cells is postulated. In this context, flow cytometry may be superior to agglutination titers to determine antigen densities.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Transfusionsmedizin, Universität Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Flegel
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System