The Rh(D) RBC Antigen Density Measurement by Flowcytometry / 대한수혈학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUNDS The Rh antigens are important m clinical practice. The classification of Rh phenotype is usually based on the antigen detection done by conventional serologic method, but it has many limitation such as delicate grading of antigen expression. Recently, Flowcytometry has been introduced in immunohematology to detect and quantitate cell bound immunoglobulins to assess blood cell antigens and related antibodies. So, we tried these method to detect Rh(D) antigen and measure its density and evaluated the possibility of clinical usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a flowcytometric analysis for the expression of D antigen in D-positive, negative and weak D group in indirect immune fluorescence assay by using polyclonal antibodies. We measured the intensity of immunofluorescence as a degree of antigen density and analysed the difference of mean channel fluorescence value(MCF) among these groups. RESULTS: Weak D groups had the lower fluorescence than D-positive group, while D-negative sample showed the same fluorecence as negative ntrol. The difference of fluorescence intensity of D antigen between that of C antigen were not observed and were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Flowcytometry appear to be a good tool for antigen density measurement in immunohematologic areas and shows the possibility of application to other aspect.