title: Screening for alloantibodies in the serum of patients receiving platelet transfusions: a comparison of the ELISA, lymphocytotoxicity, and the indirect immunofluorescence method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For screening of alloimmunization in patients repeatedly receiving platelet transfusions, different tests are used, none of which is the standard. Here we describe a comparison of four tests most commonly used for detection of alloimmunization in a group of nonselected patients receiving platelet transfusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 99 patients with hematologic malignancies who received platelet transfusions, 192 random serum samples were tested in the ELISA, the lymphocytotoxic test (LCT), the lymphocyte immunofluorescence test (LIFT), and the platelet immunofluorescence test (PIFT). Results of all tests were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of all tests were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.005). ELISA and LIFT were more often positive than LCT and PIFT. ELISA and LIFT showed the best correlation (chi-square test = 63.7, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ELISA, the least time-consuming test, detects alloimmunization as often as LIFT and more often than LCT and PIFT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. levin@xs4all.nl
authors.forename: Mark-David
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Jos C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Veld
authors.forename: Bronno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van der Holt
authors.forename: Mars B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: van't Veer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017713:Platelet Transfusion
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies