Background
:Unexpected antibodies can cause hemolytic transfusion reaction or decrease the survival of transfused red blood cells. Type and screen is recommended for efficient transfusion, so we perform antibody screening test for pre-transfusion test. In this study, we investigated the frequency and distribution of unexpected antibodies at Yeungnam University Hospital during recent 5 years.
Methods
:We analyzed the results of 28,944 antibody screening test that were performed for preparation of packed red cells from 2002 to 2006. Screening and identification of unexpected antibodies were carried out using a column agglutination method with the DiaMed ID system.
Results
:Unexpected antibodies were detected from 234 samples (0.84%) out of 28,944 samples. After exclusion of samples from same patients, 185 patients had unexpected antibodies. Identification of unexpected antibodies were performed from 108 patients. Antibody that was detected most frequently was anti-E (36.1%), followed by anti-C and anti-Lea (6.5%), anti-c (4.6%), anti-D (3.7%), anti-Jkb (3.0%), anti-Jka, anti-S, anti-Xga (1.9%), anti-e, anti-Fya, anti-M, anti-Jsa and anti-Lub (0.9%). 15 patients (13.9%) had autoantibodies and 20 cases (18.5%) could not be identified by LISS/Coombs method.
Conclusion
:The frequency of unexpected antibodies at our hospital was 0.84%, and the most identified unexpected antibodies were clinically significant. Therefore, antibody screening and identification tests are critical step in pre-transfusion test.