Validation of a hospital-laboratory workstation for immunohematologic methods.
BACKGROUND
The FREELYS Nano system (Diagast) is a manual workstation for ABO/D grouping, Rh phenotyping, K typing, and antibody screening (ABS) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies only and works with the erythrocyte-magnetized technology (EMT). The principle of EMT is based on magnetization of red blood cells and avoids centrifugation and washing steps.


METHODS
A total of 304 samples were tested with our routine blood bank methods, 100 samples for ABO/D grouping, 196 samples (100 at first evaluation, 96 at second evaluation) for Rh phenotyping and K typing (PK7200, Olympus), and 108 samples for ABS (DiaMed). All samples were tested in parallel with the FREELYS Nano.


RESULTS
We found a 100% concordance between the observed (FREELYS Nano) and the expected (Olympus PK7200) results for ABO/D grouping in all 100 samples. For Rh phenotyping and K tests, in 24 of 100 samples false-positive reactions were observed in the first evaluation by the FREELYS Nano. After changing the test kit batch for Rh phenotyping by the manufacturer, a complete concordance in Rh phenotyping and K tests was observed in a second evaluation. For ABS, the FREELYS Nano showed in 4 of 108 samples (3.7%) false-negative reactions for IgG antibodies (two anti-K, one anti-E, one anti-C(w)), and one (0.9%) false-positive reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
The FREELYS Nano is reliably suited to ABO/D grouping, Rh phenotyping, and K testing. The rate of false-negative reactions for IgG antibodies should be reduced.
Schoenfeld
Helge
H
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and the Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. helge.schoenfeld@charite.de
Pretzel
Karin J
KJ
von Heymann
Christian
C
Neuner
Bruno
B
Kalus
Ulrich
U
Kiesewetter
Holger
H
Pruss
Axel
A
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000592:standards; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System