Adsorption Technique in Pre-Transfusion Testing For Patients with Warm Type Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Warm auto-antibodies are directed against patients' own red blood cell antigens and can interfere with and complicate investigations for the detection and identification of RBC allo-antibodies. Most patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) have already been transfused and the patients' phenotype can be difficult to determine. In warm type AIHA; the auto- antibodies in the patient's serum react with all normal red blood cells and make it impossible to find compatible blood. Special appropriate compatibility test procedures in a reference laboratory allow the detection and identification of clinically significant allo- Abs that may be masked by the auto- Abs. Adsorption is an available technique to remove serum auto-antibodies and subsequently detect the underlying allo-antibodies against red blood cell antigens that can significantly complicate transfusion therapy in previously transfused patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. This centre establish a suitable adsorption technique in their transfusion service which can remove all auto-antibodies and detect underlying allo-antibodies to provide safety and effectiveness of blood transfusion for patients. Continue without subheading. These patients subjected to allo-adsorption on different phases; in this procedure adsorption of auto-antibodies from the patient's serum is carried out using three to four different samples of allogenic red cells of varying phenotypes. Of the 300 patients; 69 (23%) revealed co-existing allo-antibodies with auto-antibodies and 231 (77%) revealed only auto-antibodies. It is concluded that the adsorption technique is an effective way to get rid of auto-antibodies and make it easy to detect the underlying allo-antibodies.