Detection of irregular red cell antibodies: more than 3 years of experience with a gel technique and pooled screening cells.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate more than 3 years of experience with a gel technique in combination with pooled screening cells for the detection of irregular red cell antibodies.


METHODS
Conventional serologic methods were used for blood typing, antibody screening and cross-matching until the end of 1992. We introduced the gel technique as a routine assay for antibody detection and identification in 1993.


RESULTS
After the tube technique had been abandoned, the number of false-positive antibody screening tests was reduced by 71%, positive antibody screening tests by 33%, enzyme agglutination by 100% and rouleaux reactions and cold-reacting antibodies by more than 50%. There was a 40% increase in first-time detection of clinically relevant antibodies. We saw no increase in delayed haemolytic transfusion reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
For the detection of irregular red cell antibodies, pooled screening cells in combination with a gel technique are at least as efficient and safe as a conventional tube technique with unpooled test cells.
Titlestad
K
K
Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Georgsen
J
J
Andersen
H
H
Kristensen
T
T
D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D003298:Coombs Test; D003911:Dextrans; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D003911:Dextrans; D005782:Gels; D007518:Isoantibodies; C025614:sephadex