DETECTION OF RED-CELL ANTIBODIES - CURRENT AND FUTURE TECHNIQUES

The techniques used routinely in blood group serology for detection of antigen:antibody reactions rely on haemagglutination Caused by the ab ility of antibodies, or antibody:antibody complexes to cross-link with individual cells. The anti-human globulin technique has become the mo st important test for detecting significant red cell antibodies; howev er, the classical tube test has been refined to improve speed and sens itivity with the introduction of microtube (column) agglutination and solid-phase methods. Historically, clinical laboratories in the UK hav e used albumin and/or enzyme methods to support the antiglobulin techn ique but the cost of these, the insensitivity of albumin techniques, a nd the doubtful clinical relevance of antibodies detected only by enzy me methods have led to a re-assessment of their value. Although recent innovations employing polybrene and polyethylene glycol have not beco me widespread in routine practice, the simplicity and sensitivity of m icrotube and solid-phase methods have ensured that they are becoming t he commonly used techniques.