A NEW METHOD FOR DETERMINING ANTI-B CELL ANTIBODIES AND THEIR SPECIFICITY USING FLOW-CYTOMETRY

We describe a new flow cytometric B cell crossmatch method with improv ed sensitivity and specificity. It is based on the coating of B cell s urface immunoglobulins with an unconjugated polyvalent anti-human immu noglobulin antibody. The method also provides a means for determining the specificity of anti-B cell antibodies and, potentially, for anti-H LA class II antibody specificity differentiation (DR. DQ or DP) in a b inding inhibition test using mouse monoclonal antibodies directed agai nst human HLA class II antigens.