Flow cytometry related to red cells

Researchers in Transfusion Medicine Science have benefited from the use of the flow cytofluorometer. The flow cytometer has distinct advantages over visual examination of antigen-antibody reactions. The flow cytometer measures fluorescence per cell, and through the use of anti-IgG tagged with a fluorochrome, cells with differing levels of cell-bound IgG can be quantitated. This has been used in the study of allo- and autoantibodies. Immunohematologists, with the wide range of red cell alloantibodies in many blood group systems, have a seemingly unending supply of materials to enable studies of red cells. This article describes the published reports involving flow cytometry related to red cells. Four areas are discussed: detection of red cell-bound IgG, detection of red cell immunogobulins other than IgG, detection and quantitation of red cell antigens, and detection and quantitation of red cell populations.