Study on ABO and RhD blood grouping: Comparison between conventional tile method and a new solid phase method (InTec...

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Immunohaematology
• Diagnostic Technology

Background:

• Solid-phase technology offers a stable, room-temperature alternative to conventional blood grouping methods.
• The InTec Blood Grouping Test kit is designed for point-of-care (POC) applications, including outdoor and bedside settings.
• Evaluating new diagnostic tools is crucial for improving blood transfusion services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic efficiency of the InTec solid-phase method with the conventional tile method for ABO and RhD blood grouping.
• To assess the suitability of the InTec kit as a point-of-care test for healthy blood donors.

Main Methods:

• A total of 760 voluntary donors were enrolled in the study.
• ABO and RhD blood groups were determined using the conventional tile method and the InTec solid-phase method.
• The conventional tube method served as the gold standard for comparison.

Main Results:

• The tile method achieved 100% concordance with the gold standard for ABO grouping.
• The InTec solid-phase method demonstrated 99.2% concordance for ABO grouping, with 97.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity.
• Both methods showed high concordance (99.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity) for RhD grouping, with minor discrepancies.

Conclusions:

• The InTec Blood Grouping Test kit is user-friendly and suitable for offsite blood donation settings.
• While effective, further enhancements in internal quality control could improve the sensitivity and validity of the solid-phase test results.
• The study highlights the potential of solid-phase technology for decentralized blood grouping services.