A novel method for antibody specificity identification using microscale direct antiglobulin test-positive red cells

Abstract

PREVIEW

Dear Sir,
The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is a routine procedure used to determine whether red blood cells (RBC) have been coated with immunoglobulin. This test is particularly useful in diagnosing autoimmune hemolytic anemia, transfusion reactions, hemolytic disease of the fetus/newborn, and other hemolytic disorders that may result in a positive DAT result¹. In some cases, elution tests may be necessary to further analyze DAT-positive RBC².
However, obtaining blood samples for testing can be challenging, particularly in cases involving neonates or patients with low hematocrit levels. To address this issue, a novel method has been developed that uses enzyme-treated panel cells to detect sensitizing antibodies on DAT-positive RBC. This innovative approach requires only a small amount (approximately 50 μL) of 3% DAT-positive RBC suspension. [ ... ]