ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The application of gel test to routine immunohematologic works brought on easier interpretation of results and better quality control over conventional tube method. Under the current Korean medical insurance system however, it is very difficult to apply gel test to all routine immunohematologic works because of high cost. We tried to assess its applicability to irregular antibody screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antibody screenings of 2,005 sera from transfusion-scheduled patients were carried out using DiaMedTM LISS/Coombs gel card. Antibody identifications of screen-positive or screen-negative but incompatible cross matched sera were done by conventional tube method firstly, and then by DiaMedTM LISS/Coombs gel test or DiaMedTM NaCl/Enzyme gel test in the cases of negative results for conventional tube method. RESLUTS: Total 34 irregular antibodies (8 warm and 26 cold antibodies) were screened by gel test. For warm antibody screening, the reactivity of LISS/Coombs gel test was much higher than that of conventional tube method, and for cold antibodies, tube method or NaCl/Enzyme gel test revealed better reactivity. CONCLUSION: Antibody screening by LISS/Coombs gel test alone appears to be enough for detecting clinically significant warm antibodies.