Is there any significant reason to perform an auto control when performing antibody identifications in Gel or tube testing 37C to AHG methods? Once an antibody has been tentatively identified, we always test the patient's red blood cells for the corresponding antigen. Antigen typing of the patient's cells would tell us if we are dealing with an allo or auto antibody, so performing an auto control as part of the antibody identificaton seems unnessary to me. (Of course, an autologous control is necessary when performing a cold panel.)
