A solid-phase test using antiglobulin and enzyme-enhanced techniques for erythrocyte antibody screening during pregnancy.

We have modified previously described solid-phase tests for erythrocyte antibody screening to develop a method, suitable for antiglobulin- and enzyme-enhanced techniques (SPH-IAT and SPH-ENZ). In this study we compared the SPH tests with an autoanalyzer (AA) technique. The results were more specific with the SPH tests than with the AA. Of 4,234 unselected samples from pregnant women, screen-positive samples were reduced from 96 (2.27%) by the AA, to 56 (1.32%) by the SPH tests. This difference was due to the reduced number of false-positive reactions with the SPH tests, 0.47% compared to 1.44% with the AA. Antibodies detected by the AA and the SPH-IAT and -ENZ were: 9 Rh prophylaxis, 2 anti-c, 1 anti-K and anti-M, and 1 anti-Jka. Antibodies detected only by the SPH tests were 1 anti-K, 1 anti-Le(a) (SPH-IAT and -ENZ), 1 anti-M (SPH-IAT) and 4 anti-Jka (SPH-ENZ). One anti-C, 2 anti-D, 3 Rh prophylaxis and 1 anti-E were detected by the AA and the SPH-ENZ but failed to react by the SPH-IAT. One anti-Le(a) and 8 Rh prophylaxis antibodies were detected by AA only. All clinically important antibodies were detected by the SPH tests. We conclude that the SPH-IAT and SPH-ENZ are screening methods with high specificity that are readily adaptable to larger series of samples from pregnant women and suitable for automated handling throughout the screening and identification process.

Serum levels of CA 19-9 and CA 50 in relation to Lewis blood cell status in patients with malignant and benign pancreatic disease.

Serum expression of the cancer-associated antigens CA 19-9 and CA 50 and their relation to Lewis blood cell status were studied in 26 patients with pancreatic duct carcinoma and 26 patients with pancreatitis. The discriminating capacity between benign and malignant disease was high for both tumor markers. The correspondence between serum levels of CA 19-9 and CA 50 was close irrespective of the Lewis phenotype of the patient. All cancer patients with normal levels of CA 19-9 and CA 50 were of the phenotype Le(a-b-). Knowledge of the Lewis phenotype may therefore add vital information when tumor marker assays are used for diagnosis and monitoring of malignant pancreatic disease.

A semiautomated method for erythrocyte antigen typing on microtitration plates.

We describe a method for erythrocyte antigen typing on U-bottom microtitration plates. This method permitted phenotyping of erythrocytes by an enzyme-enhanced hemagglutination assay simultaneously with an indirect antihuman globulin assay within the same microtitration plate. A robotic sample processor identified the samples, prepared the red cell suspensions and distributed the suspension along with the diluted antisera onto the microtitration plates. The assay results were read and interpreted using a microtitration plate photometer controlled by software specially designed to interpret agglutination reactions. Sample identities and assay results were automatically connected by the computer system and transmitted to a minicomputer system.