ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Platelet antibody test has been used in the diagnosis and management of immunological platelet disorders and platelet crossmatch. Mixed passive hemagglutination (MPHA) test is a cost-effective, reproducible, easy to perform and convenient method. Anti-IgG coated indicator red cells used for MPHA test have not been made in Korea and those cells have been exclusively donated by Dr. Shibata in Japan. This study was designed to produce domestic indicator cells and to determine its acceptability by comparing to the results obtained with Dr. Shibata's indicator cells. We produced homemade indicator cells by coating human RhD-positive O RBC with human IgG anti-D (check cell) and then coated with rabbit anti-human IgG. METHODS: Sixty three sera from healthy male donors, 58 sera tested positive in platelet suspension immunofluorescence test (PSIFT), and 61 sera tested negative in PSIFT were evaluated by MPHA employing both homemade and Dr. Shibata's indicator cells. RESULTS: The concordance rate between PSIFT and homemade MPHA was 74%. Test results of MPHA with homemade indicator cell showed excellent correlation with Shibata's indicator cell (P=0.002). All of 63 sera from healthy volunteer male blood donors without history of transfusion were tested negative with homemade MPHA method. Test results of MPHA employing homemade indicator cells showed excellent correlation with those of PSIFT (P=2.67x10-8). CONCLUSIONS: Homemade indicator cells we developed in this study were able to replace Dr. Shibata's indicator cells for the MPHA test.