NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR RED-CELL SEROLOGY

Until 1943, blood-grouping tests were performed mainly on glass slides or tiles but, following the description of the antiglobulin test, tub e techniques became widespread. With increasing workloads and pressure to be ever more cost-efficient, other 'reaction vessels' such as micr oplates have been developed for blood-group serological testing. The i ndirect antiglobulin test has been shown to be the most effective and reliable method for detecting clinically significant antibodies. As a result, this test has been developed, for example by the introduction of enhancement media such as low-ionic-strength saline and polyethylen e glycol. However, the problems and inconvenience associated with the labelling and washing of large numbers of tubes were not overcome unti l the introduction of the solid-phase antiglobulin test and the newer microtubes containing gel or glass microbeads. These techniques are no w replacing the conventional tube tests, but they too have their own l imitations. There is still no single technique that will detect all cl inically significant red-cell antibodies. Therefore, the safe transfus ion of red cells that would survive optimally in the recipient depends not on a single test but on a series of tests and procedures, such as correct patient identification, blood-grouping, antibody-screening an d compatibility-testing.