The use of the antiglobulin ‘gel‐test’ for antibody detection

Abstract

SUMMARY. Four antibodies used routinely in‐house for the assessment of antiglobulin reagents (anti‐Fyb, anti‐Jka, anti‐S) were tested in parallel using tube and antiglobulin ‘gel‐test’ low ionic strength antiglobulin techniques. In the latter the red cells are centrifuged following incubation through a dextran matrix incorporating an anti‐human globulin reagent. The results show that the antiglobulin ‘gel‐test’ was less sensitive than the tube technique in the detection of these difficult antibodies.