Method-specific and unexplained reactivity in automated solid-phase testing and their association with specific antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS: The inherent tradeoff between sensitivity and specificity in the detection of unexplained antibodies has been the objective of many studies, editorials, and journal articles. Many publications note that no method is capable of detecting all clinically significant antibodies while avoiding all clinically insignificant antibodies. This study describes the frequency of nonspecific reactivity and unexplained reactivity in solid-phase testing, along with the subsequent development of specific antibodies (Abs). In this study, nonspecific reactivity (NS) is defined as method-specific panreactivity detected by solid-phase testing only, with no reactivity in other methods. Unexplained reactivity (UR) is defined as reactivity present and detectable in all test methods after all clinically significant antibodies were ruled out following a standard antibody identification algorithm using selected cell panels. This retrospective study evaluated antibody detection tests of patients at a single center for 2 years using two automated solid-phase instruments that used the same three-cell antibody detection test. Antibody identification was performed with solid-phase panels supplemented with a polyethylene glycol tube method as needed. Of the 1934 (5%) samples with a positive antibody detection test, 29 had unavailable work-up data, leaving 1905 (98.5%) samples eligible for inclusion in the study. The data revealed the following: Ab only 999 (52.4%); UR only 429 (22.5%); Ab and UR...
Source: Immunohematology - Category: Hematology Tags: Immunohematology Source Type: research