Isotype-specific detection of ABO blood group antibodies using a novel flow cytometric method

Br J Haematol. 2005 Sep;130(6):954-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05705.x.

Abstract

Several methods to detect anti-A/B antibodies based on haemagglutination and haemolysis have been described. These methods measure predominantly anti-A/B immunoglobulin (Ig)M, whereas anti-A/B IgG and IgG subclasses are less well examined. We established a flow cytometry method (ABO-fluorescence-activated cell sorting; ABO-FACS) to quantify binding of anti-A/B IgM, IgG and IgG subclasses to human A or B red blood cells. Anti-A/B IgM were present in the majority of 120 blood donors, as expected from blood group typing. The sensitivity and specificity of anti-A/B IgM to predict the blood group was 93% and 96% respectively. Anti-A/B IgG was found in 34/38 blood group O samples (89%). Anti-B IgG in blood group A or anti-A IgG in blood group B was present in 4/28 (14%) and 1/28 (4%) samples, respectively, and absent in 26 AB sera. IgG2 was the predominant IgG subclass. The correlation of anti-A/B IgM and IgG in the ABO-FACS with haemagglutination titres was 0.870 and 0.783, respectively (n = 240; P < 0.001) whereas the comparison of ABO-FACS with ABO-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was less significant. In conclusion, ABO-FACS is a valid method to quantify anti-A/B IgM, IgG and IgG subclasses. It opens the possibility of isotype-specific monitoring of anti-A/B antibodies levels after ABO-incompatible solid organ and stem cell transplantation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Donors
  • Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / methods*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Hemagglutination Tests
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Isoantibodies / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin Isotypes
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Isoantibodies