ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was performed to estimate the frequency of red cell antibodies in blood donors (n=1,620,023) and transfusion candidates (SNUH n=12,111, YUMH n=26,665) for last 2 years (2000~2001). The results of the antibody screening and identification tests, the frequency and specificities of antibodies identified compared with blood centers and two hospitals had been used the different test methods each others. METHOD: Blood centers had been used tube and micro-plate method simultaneously with an in house and commercial panels. SNUH had been used micro-plate method using V plate with an in house and commercial panels. YUMH had been used gel agglutination technique (DiaMed ID System : DiaMed, Murten; Switzerland) since 1998. RESULTS: The frequencies of red blood cell antibodies were 0.26% (4,204 / 1,620,023 donor sera ), 0.11% (135 / 12,111 patient sera in SNUH) and 0.48% (128 / 26,665 patient sera in YUMH). Female donors and old ages showed higher frequency of red cell antibodies than male and young ages. Most of antibodies detected in donors were clinically less relevant antibodies such as Anti-Lea and Leb (38.9%), anti-P1 (18.1%), anti-H(IH) (8.4%), anti-M (6.2%) and so on. Clinically significant antibodies including Rh system antibodies (2.0%) were few, and composed only 12% of all the antibodies detected. In patients, clinically relevant antibodies including Rh antibodies (40.4% in SNUH, 71.9% in YUMH) were more frequently observed comparing with in donors. CONCLUSION: Antibodies found in donors were mostly clinically less relevant. Antibody screening method used in blood centers would be standardized. Blood banks using gel technique showed high detection rate of clinically significant antibodies comparing with facilities using other methods.