RED-CELL ANTIBODY SCREENING AND IDENTIFICATION - A COMPARISON OF 2 COLUMN TECHNOLOGY METHODS

Two commercial column techniques for use in antibody screening and ide ntification procedures were tested in parallel with 1000 random sample s sent for ante-natal serological investigation. The DiaMed ID(TM) mic rotyping system uses a sephadex gel contained in microtubes, either ne utral or impregnated with anti-human globulin (AHG), for use in two-st age enzyme methods and LISS indirect antiglobulin testing (IAT) respec tively. The Ortho Biovue(TM) technique consists of a slurry of micro g lass spheres which act as the filter to retain haemagglutination react ions within the matrix. Columns containing AHG also possess a macromol ecular density barrier to prevent test serum from passing into the col umn and neutralising the AHG. Both systems offer the advantage of 'no- wash' IAT, which minimises the potential for problems and errors assoc iated with conventional spin-tube techniques. In this comparison of th e two column methods, antibody detection rates were found to be simila r and the sensitivity of both methods was comparable, although the Bio vue technique was prone to exhibit equivocal results, particularly in the IAT.