A plaque assay for cells making antibody against HLA antigens

A plaque assay has been devised, for detecting cells making antibodies to HLA antigens, using intact nucleated cells as targets. The principle is to use a green fluorescent dye to stain living cells and a red fluorescent dye to stain the cells in a plaque that have been lysed by antibody and complement. Plaques are counted under a fluorescence microscope and the preparations can be made permanent and virtually non-quenchable by drying.