A SIMPLE SOLID-PHASE METHOD FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF RED CELL-BOUND ANTIBODIES WITHOUT ELUTION

The authors have developed a solid-phase direct hemadherence assay (SP DHA) to identify red cell-bound antibody without elution. The procedur e of SPDHA is as follows: (1) commercially available panel cells were immobilized on the well of microplate; (2) 22% polymerized albumin and 0.3% test red cells were added, and the plate was centrifuged at low speed, and incubated; (3) finally the plate was centrifuged, and the r esults were read macroscopically. SPDHA could detect antibodies agains t D, C, c, E, e, Fy(2), Fy(b), K, k, A and B antigens. The sensitivity of SPDHA was high in Rh antibodies as compared with that in the other antibodies. SPDHA failed to detect anti-Jk(a), -Jk(b), -S, -s and -Di (a) antibodies. In cases of suspected hemolytic disease of newborn, Rh antibodies could be identified using very small volume of red cells. In conclusion, SPDHA is a useful and simple method to identify red cel l-bound antibodies, especially when only a small volume of red cell sa mple is available, such as the sample from fetus or newborn.