Comparison of ABO antibody titers on the basis of the antibody detection method used

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Detection methods for ABO antibody (Ab) titers vary across

laboratories, and the results are different depending on the method used. We

aimed to compare titer values using different detection methods for the

measurement of ABO Ab titers. METHODS: For ABO Ab detection, pooled group A or B

red blood cells (RBCs) were reacted with each of 20 sera from blood groups A, B,

or O without dithiothreitol treatment. The room-temperature (RT) incubation

technique and the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) were used in the tube test and

gel card test. Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed by using anti-IgM and anti-IgG

Abs. RESULTS: Regardless of the blood groups tested, the FCM assay with anti-IgM

showed the highest titer compared to the tube test and gel card test with RT

incubation in both. The tube test with IAT showed a higher titer than the gel

card test with IAT (Gel-IAT) or FCM with anti-IgG in blood group A and B, while

Gel-IAT showed the highest titer relative to the other tests, only for the anti-A

Ab in blood group O. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in the

titers depending on the detection method used, and each method showed a different

detection capacity for each ABO Ab depending on the ABO blood group tested.

Therefore, caution should be exercised in interpreting ABO Ab titer results,

taking into consideration the detection method used and the blood group.