ANTIBODY SCREENING AND DIFFERENTIATION WI TH PAPAIN-TREATED RED-CELLSBY USING THE GEL CENTRIFUGATION METHOD (ID MICROTYPING-SYSTEM(R))

Background: The gel centrifugation system (ID Microtyping System(R), F a. Diamed, Bensheim, FRG) is one of several new methods, which has bec ome commercially available within the last few years for the detection of antibodies against red blood cell antigens. Materials and Methods. During 1 year we used the gel centrifugation method for antibody scre ening in our routine laboratory by performing 3 tests each time: 1. Na Cl card (room temperature) with untreated red cells; 2. NaCl card (37 degrees C) with papain-treated red cells, and 3. Liss-Coombs card (37 degrees C) with untreated red cells. Results: The two-stage papain tes t revealed some interesting phenomena: 1. In some cases the sensitivit y of the papain gel test is higher than that of all other methods test ed in this study, namely in the gel centrifugation technique and in th e tube centrifugation technique. 2. There are reactions which seem to be directed against patients' own antigens (in the Rhesus or Kidd syst em), but there are no positive direct antiglobulin test and no clinica l signs of hemolysis. 3. Some sera show reaction patterns which seem t o have a distinct specificity, but they cannot be assigned to any of t he antigens in the manufacturer's antigenogram. Conclusions: Before a general recommendation for antibody screening with the two-stage papai n test in the gel centrifugation method can be given, further investig ations about the clinical value of those antibodies which are detectab le only by this technique are necessary. For antibody identification f urther declarations in the work sheet of the panel would be desirable.