An evaluation of Re/coagulan for blood center tests

Re/coagulan was compared to the standard calcium chloride (CaCl2) method for effectiveness of recalcification of plasma and whole blood. The time required for clot formation was determined. The effect of Re/coagulan on the specificity of hepatitis tests, direct antiglobulin tests, indirect antiglobulin tests, and agglutination tests were investigated. Hepatitis testing was performed on untreated serum and Re/coagulan-treated ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasmas by radioimmunoassay, reversed passive latex agglutination, and reversed passive hemagglutination methods. Direct antiglobulin tests were performed on untreated, CaCl2 treated, and Re/coagulan treated EDTA, acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD), and citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) samples of whole blood. Red cell antibody specificity and titer were determined before and after clot formation by both the CaCl2 and Re/coagulan methods. Examples of agglutinating and sensitizing antibodies were tested. Antibodies directed against antigens in the Rh, Kell, MNS, Lewis, P, Kidd, Duffy, and Lutheran blood groups systems were investigated. Re/coaglulan didnot have a detrimental effect on the tests performed and compared favorably to the standard recalcification method.