Antibody identification using both automated solid-phase red cell adherence assay and a tube polyethylene glycol antiglobulin method.
BACKGROUND
Because antibody identification is labor-intensive, facilities with high volume and/or marginal technical support could benefit from partial automation.


METHODS
After a validation study of automated solid-phase red cell (RBC) adherence assay (SPRCA; Galileo, Immucor) compared to tube polyethylene glycol antiglobulin antibody identification method (t-PEG), we evaluated Galileo followed by select RBC panels by t-PEG. Of 298 consecutive samples in which antibody identifications were performed in a 2-month period, 160 samples were examined by both Galileo and t-PEG.


RESULTS
There were concordant results between Galileo and t-PEG in 120 of 160 (75%) samples including cases with identical alloantibody identification (n = 99), panagglutinin (n = 9), and negative results (n = 12). Of the samples in which alloantibodies were identified, 99 of 108 (91.7%) were identical. In 9 samples with discrepant antibody identifications, 2 samples showed alloantibody specificity by Galileo (possible anti-K and anti-Jk(b)) but were negative by t-PEG. These antibodies were identifiable by t-PEG in subsequent samples. One sample showed anti-E by Galileo, while t-PEG revealed anti-Fy(a) and -E. Five samples showed alloantibody specificity by t-PEG and nonspecific reactivity or panagglutinin by Galileo. These included samples with anti-C (n = 2), anti-E (n = 2), and anti-Fy(a) (n = 1). One sample showed anti-E by t-PEG but was negative by Galileo. Galileo found a panagglutinin in 23 samples and nonspecific reactivity in 22 samples, whereas t-PEG found a panagglutinin in 12 samples but no nonspecific reactivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Automated Galileo solid-phase red cell adherence assay can be a useful adjunct for antibody identification, although it detects more nonspecific reactivity than does t-PEG.
Yamada
Chisa
C
Transfusion Medicine Division, Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Carnegie, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. cyamada2@jhmi.edu
Serrano-Rahman
Leana
L
Vasovic
Ljiljana V
LV
Mohandas
Kala
K
Uehlinger
Joan
J
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003298:Coombs Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000939:Epitopes; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D007518:Isoantibodies; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols