Antibody detection using pooled sera and a solid phase system

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of substituting the Immucor Capture-R solid phase (SP) antibody detection system for our routine donor antibody screen. Our routine procedure (RP) used a 12-drop pool of six donor sera and one drop of pooled reagent red cells, with 37 degrees C incubation and indirect antiglobulin test readings. The SP system was used according to the manufacturer's directions except that one drop of the pooled sera (rather than an individual serum) was added to each microwell. In parallel tests of 888 donor pools and of 70 stored sera containing known alloantibodies, results with SP were comparable to results with RP. After implementation of SP for donor antibody detection, 1,135 donor pools were tested. Results with SP appeared satisfactory when compared to previous records. We concluded that Immucor Capture-R system can be used for antibody detection using pooled donor sera.