dheathco

Whether or not the screening cells will detect antibodies to hybrid glycophorin antibodies depends on what particular screening cells are being employed. The use of screening cells that include putative GP.Mur cells occurs in some parts of Asia but not in others. When they are included they have not usually been genotypically identified so there is no absolute guarantee on their identity. Remember that at best they will almost certainly be heterozygous for the mutation. What we do know is that examples of these antibodies have been implicated in severe transfusion reactions and severe HDFN. My colleagues and I have reviewed all the known cases in the literature and our review article is scheduled for publication in the April edition of Transfusion Medicine Reviews. Regards Damien Heathcote Technical Services Manager CSL Biotherapies IH Melbourne, Australia

Yes it would be nice to know if the patient is A1B or A2B. If they are A2B then an RT Saline panel would be useful ie use the same technique as you found the initial reaction with A2 cells with.

I have written two posters - one is an antibody poster and the other is a matching antigen poster. Each is about 2 foot by 3 foot so you do need some wall space to put them up. We had them checked by Geoff Daniels at the IBGRL so they are very accurate ! They are by far the most detailed antibody/antigen posters ever produced (even if I do say so myself). If anyone is interested in getting hold of this set just email ih@csl.com.au with your name and mailing address and we will send them to you from Down Under ! Damien Heathcote Technical Services Manager CSL Biotherapies Immunohaematology Melbourne, Australia.

Well in a way they are all correct ! Glucose is provided to support red cell metabolism and provide energy to the red cell. Red cells metabolise by anerobic glycoysis which uses glucose as its substrate and produces ATP. ATP is used by the cell to maintain its membrane pumps and keep haemoglobin reduced, without ATP the cell will swell and burst. Thus to keep red cells in good condition for transfusion (and to enhance their viability in the recipient) we need to keep them metabolically alive. A byproduct of glycolysis is 2,3-BPG (previously known as 2,3-DPG) which is the most abundant phosphated molecule in the red cell and plays a major part in the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen. We have known for many years that if you need a marker for the 'health' of stored red cells that levels of 2,3-BPG correlate well with 'healthy' red cells and that the longer you keep levels high the better. Unfortunately you can't just add more glucose to get more ATP because glycolysis is capped at how fast it can proceed. In the development of storage solutions the CP2D or 'double dextrose' formulas did increase the length of time that 2,3-BPG levels could be kept elevated for but levels of glucose higher than this don't increase it any further. One of the strategies to keep 2,3-BPG levels higher for longer has been to add addenine which can enter the glycolytic pathway halfway down and stimulate additional 2,3-BPG production. Sorry for the complex reply !

I like it - but then it was my idea ! If we get really carried away we could call antibodies to: High Frequency LOUDs = Anti-Screeches Low Frequency LOUDs = Anti-Rumbles or Anti-Thunders Damien

We have produced two posters - an antigen poster and an antibody poster. They are the most comprehensive posters available and were checked by Geoff Daniels from IBGRL in the UK. If you PM me your details I will send you a set. Damien Heathcote CSL Bioplasma Immunohaematology Melbourne, Australia