[Specificity of immunofluorescent methods detecting malarial antibodies: comparative study in the screening of blood donations].
In France, no case of transfusion-transmitted malaria has been reported since 1994, reflecting the efficiency of the blood donations screening. However, an insufficiently specific serological assay leads to an unjustified loss of red cell units.


METHODS
A retrospective study included 55 sera previously disqualified for the presence of malarial antibodies. We used different assays detecting these antibodies: Paludix, Falciparum-Spot without or with the elimination of natural antiglobulins by two different methods.


RESULTS
Using Paludix, 87% of sera were negative (P < 0.001). With the sera treated for the elimination of natural antiglobulins by neutralisation or absorption, Falciparum-Spot(TM) gave respectively 87% and 94.5% of negative results.


CONCLUSIONS
When using assays avoiding non-specific fluorescence, the number of false positive results significantly decreased. Because the number of blood donors travelling in at-risk countries is continuously rising, a sufficiently specific method to detect malarial antibodies should save a lot of red cell units.
Soullié
B
B
Centre de transfusion sanguine des armées Jean-Julliard, 1, rue Raoul-Batany, 92140, Clamart, France.
Soler
C
C
Gérôme
P
P
Clavier
B
B
Multon
L
L
Dingreville
M
M
Joussemet
M
M
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D011786:Quality Control
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan