Evaluation of a rapid technique for antibody elution

This study evaluated a new rapid acid elution technique using citric acid. This technique was compared to the commonly used digitonin acid procedure. Twenty patient or donor antibodies with specificities in the Rhesus, Kell, Kidd, or Duffy systems were used to coat red cells. Eluates produced from these cells by the citric acid procedure were equivalent or greater in volume and potency to those produced by a digitonin acid method. The citric acid procedure required five to nine minutes to complete, while the digitonin acid procedure required 28 to 44 minutes. The citric acid technique is a rapid means of producing a potent eluate.