[Evaluation of different cross-matching techniques in comparison to the tube agglutination method in dogs]

Cross-matching is used to determine the serological compatibility of donor and recipient blood. This procedure is used to detect possible antibodies against the donor's erythrocytes, thereby reducing the risk of immunological transfusion reactions. Various methods are available for cross-matching: In addition to the tube agglutination method, which is often viewed as a reference method, gel and immunochromatographic methods are available. In this study, a gel tube method, an antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method, and an immunochromatographic method were evaluated in comparison to the tube agglutination method in 28 different major cross-matches. The evaluation resulted in 85,7 % agreement between the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method, in 60,7 % agreement between the gel tube method and in 35,7 % agreement between the immunochromatographic method and the tube agglutination method. Considering the macroscopically positive test results alone, the agreement between the tube agglutination method and the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method was 100 %, the gel tube method 62,5 % and with the immunochromatographic 0 %. Using the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method, 4/9 weakly positive cross-matches, which were positive with a microscopic degree of agglutination of 1+ - 2+ using the tube agglutination method, were compatible. In all other cross-matches with a higher degree of agglutination, the results were consistent with those of the tube agglutination method. Transfusion of incompatible blood products may result in hemolytic transfusion reactions. However, the clinical relevance of microscopically weakly positive cross-matches is unclear. The application of the various test kits took significantly less time compared to the tube agglutination procedure. Due to the strong agreement and reduction in required time, the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method offers a good alternative to the reference method, especially in emergency situations. On the other hand, there was only a weak agreement between the gel tube and no agreement between the immunochromatographic method and the reference method.