Characteristics of anti-Cob in vitro and in vivo: a case study

Serologic and biologic properties of an example of anti-Cob were investigated. The antibody was of the IgG class, and it bound small amounts of complement. It reacted optimally in the albumin-antiglobulin test with little or no enhancement of its reactivity in tests using enzymes. Additional experiments indicated that the Cob antigen is resistant to treatment with chemicals known to destroy other antigens. The antibody caused shortened survival of radiolabeled Co(b+) donor red cells in our patient. At 24 hours, nearly 50 percent of the red cells were no longer detectable in the circulation. It is concluded that anti-Cob is a clinically relevant antibody, a fact that must be taken into account when transfusing patients with anti-Cob.