S. Seidl

Prevalence of Irregular Red Cell Antibodies and Their Significance in Blood Transfusion and Antenatal Care

Abstract. The antibodies encountered in random collectives of 55,350 recipients, 16,643 pregnant women, and 1,307 mothers of babies with hemolytic disease are listed. Antibody screening was performed in all specimens using the same technique (albumin‐antiglobulin test), a limited number of selected sera was investigated also by the auto‐analyzer.

The role of formaldehyde in the formation of haemodialysis-associated anti-N-like antibodies.

Abstract. In the sera of 68 (20.9%) of 325 haemodialysis patients, a specific cold agglutinin, cross‐reacting with anti‐N, was detected. Each patient showing this anti‐N‐like antibody used a formaldehyde‐sterilized dialyser. By contrast, the antibody was not found in any of the 73 patients using a non‐formaldehyde‐sterilized dialyser. The results of transfusion experiments indicate an in vivo haemolytic activity of the antibody. In vitro, formaldehyde pretreatment of erythrocytes increased the agglutinability of the cells by the anti‐N‐like antibody. This effect could be prevented when the MN receptor of the red cells was exposed to neuraminidase. Trace quantities of formaldehyde inevitably enter the patient during dialysis when a formaldehyde‐sterilized dialyser is used. It is postulated that this in vivo formaldehyde exposure might interact with the MN receptor of the red cells, rendering it immunogenic, and thus induce the formation of the haemodialysis‐associated anti‐N‐like antibody.

ABH Receptors and Red Cell Survival in a ‘Bombay’ Blood

Abstract. A Bombay blood group was detected in a 12‐year‐old Turkish girl with the rare Lewis type Le (a‐b‐). When using several phytohemagglutinins and Helix agglutinins (extracts from albumin glands of different snails), no ABH substances were detectable. However, after RDE treatment cryptantigens were demonstrable with anti‐HLa (Laburnum alpinum), anti‐BHEe (Evonymus europaeus), anti‐AHp (Helix pomatia), and anti‐TAh (Arachis hypogaea). Similarly, by application of the indirect fluorescence antibody method, only cryptantigens were detectable by anti‐BHEe, anti‐AHP, and anti‐TAh. Therefore, it was assumed that in Bombay cells only the surface antigenic sites are absent, whereas the cryptantigens are present. Survival studies with autologous transfused 51Cr‐labelled cells showed a normal lifespan (51Cr T/2 26d).

Anti-HTLV-III Screening of Blood Donors

Abstract. In a survey on 82,383 blood donor specimens from Hessen, West Germany, the observed percentage of repeatedly positive HTLV‐III/LAV antibody ELISA results was 0.2%, but only 0.018% were confirmed by Western blot, immunofluorescence assay or radioimmunoprecipitation assay. These data are consistent with larger epidemiological data compiled from other German blood banks and suggest a high degree of nonspecific false‐positive results; one of the causes for false‐positives are HLA‐DR4 antibodies, which react in the HTLV‐III/LAV test. Epidemiological data on 127 dialysis patients and 1,153 prison inmates are presented.

Viral hepatitis markers in Thai blood donors.

Abstract. 1,410 voluntary blood donors from Bangkok were investigated by radioimmunoassay for HBsAg, anti‐HBs, anti‐HBc, HBeAg, anti‐HBe and anti‐HAV. An HBsAg carrier state was observed in 10.7% of whom 42.1% were HBeAg positive and 40.2% had anti‐HBe. Antibody prevalences (except anti‐HBe) rose with increasing age. The occurrence of hepatitis markers did not vary significantly between donors living along the canals and those living in the Greater Bangkok area.

Anti-ce (anti-f) in a CDe/cD- Mother, as a Cause of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn

Abstract. Anti‐ce (f) as a cause of haernolytic disease of the newborn was detected in the serum of a mother having the genotype CDe/cD‐.

Detection of Hepatitis B Antigen in Blood Donors by Radioimmunoassay and Three Reverse Passive Haemagglutination Techniques

Abstract. In a comparative study 5,569 sera from voluntary donors were tested simultaneously for hepatitis B antigen by three reverse passive haemagglutination (RPHA) techniques (Auscell®, Hepanosticon®, Hepatest®) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA) (Ausria II). Among the three RPHA methods, no significant differences could be found as far as sensitivity is concerned. The percentage of positive sera detected by these RPHA methods varies from 0.43 to 0.56%. Eleven sera were detectable only by Ausria II. Except for two, all these sera had low counts per minute in the RIA.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibody Screening in Blood Donors from India, Nigeria and Thailand

Abstract. Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (LAV/HTLV‐III) antibodies in 3 blood donor populations from India (n=1,000), Nigeria (n=500) and Thailand (n=650; sampling in 1982) with a sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA; Abbott) yielded seropositivity rates of 0.5, 2.2 and 1.7%, respectively. Two EIAs with control antigens prepared from uninfected cell cultures (‘ELAVIA’, VIRGO), a recombinant Escherichia coli DNA EIA (‘ENV/CORE’), Western blot, an immunofluorescence assay and a radio‐immunoprecipitation assay confirmed none of the EIA‐reactive specimens as truly positive. The lack of specificity of the screening test was also attributable to monochromatic evaluation of the test trays at 492 nm only, and to reactivities against determinants of H9 cells used to grow HIV (HLA antibodies).

A five-bag system for washing fresh and frozen erythrocytes and their preservation.

Abstract. A five‐bag system was developed and tested. It allows to wash red blood cells three times under sterile conditions starting from whole blood and to store them by addition of a PDG preservation solution at 4°C for 2 weeks. In vitro and in vivo tests were performed. The system may be used also to wash and preserve prefrozen red blood cells.