ABSTRACT
The use of a two-channel AutoAnalyzer II system in the routine screening of antenatal sera is described. A low ionic strength polybrene method has been used to give optimum detection of IgG antibodies, and hence the system provides a valuable early detection of such antibodies in pregnancy. Of 88 Rhesus antibodies initially detected on the AutoAnalyzer only and followed up later in pregnancy, 18 (20.45%) were later detected by manual methods and were considered to be of potential clinical significance, whilst the remainder were detectable by the AutoAnalyzer only and occurred with a similar frequency as AutoAnalyzer only Rh antibodies in non-immunized males. The sensitivity of the method can provide interpretational difficulties, revealing many apparent "non-specific' reactions as well as detecting low levels of specific antibodies of debatable clinical significance. An approach to dealing with these problems without compromising the benefits of the system is discussed.
Subject(s)
Antibodies/analysis , Autoanalysis/instrumentation , Fetal Blood/immunology , Mass Screening/methods , Antibody Specificity , Female , Hexadimethrine Bromide , Humans , Pregnancy , Prenatal Diagnosis , Rh-Hr Blood-Group System/immunologyABSTRACT
The frequency distribution of reverse passive haemagglutination titres for HBsAg in the sera of 78 positive blood donors found furing 2.5-year period closely follows a lognormal distribution curve. This lognormal distribution suggests that the total population of HBsAg-positive donors during this period was approximately 84. The modified Hepatest now in use will be expected to detect 82 of these, and to miss only 1 HBsAg-positive donor in 50,000 screening tests of Manchester blood donors.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens , England , Hemagglutination Tests , Humans , MathematicsABSTRACT
Treatment of human red cells with low concentrations of formaldehyde induces an antigenic change which makes them react very strongly with the anti-N sera found in certain patients treated by haemodialysis. This supports the idea that formaldehyde sterilisation of reusable home dialysers leads to the development of anti-N in these patients' sera. The clinical problems produced by this antibody are discussed together with ways of overcoming them.
Subject(s)
Antibody Formation , Formaldehyde/pharmacology , Graft Rejection , Kidney Transplantation , MNSs Blood-Group System , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Erythrocytes/immunology , Formaldehyde/adverse effects , Humans , Renal Dialysis/adverse effects , SterilizationSubject(s)
Blood Donors , Hepatitis B Antigens , Carrier State , Hepatitis, Viral, Human , Humans , United KingdomSubject(s)
Antibodies , Hepatitis B Antibodies , Hepatitis B/etiology , Transfusion Reaction , Blood Donors , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B/immunology , Humans , SerotypingABSTRACT
Thirty-four healthy blood donors, found to be persistent HBAg carriers, have been investigated by means of serial liver function tests, bromsulphthalein (BSP) retention, and liver biopsy. Thirty-one of the donors had histological abnormalities including one with cirrhosis, three with chronic aggressive hepatitis, and 11 with chronic persistent hepatitis. In 13 biopsies there were focal areas of necrosis in the liver parenchyma. Serial liver function tests revealed abnormalities in each of the donors with cirrhosis or with chronic aggressive hepatitis, in seven of the 11 donors with chronic persistent hepatitis, and in seven of the 13 with focal parenchymal necrosis. The degree of BSP retention was greatest (>11%) in the donors with chronic aggressive hepatitis. The severity of the histological changes was related neither to the titre of the antigen in the serum nor to the presence of autoantibodies.
