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Hi all, I'm still a relatively new blood banker and was wondering if you all would be willing to shed some light on the different methods of blood banking? We currently use solid phase but will be switching to gel next year. I have some questions regarding each method but also wanted to see what seasoned techs have experienced with them. Solid-phase: Incubation @ 37 with potentiator Wash AHG Read Pros: Sensitive Cons: Question: Won't pick up on clinically insignificant cold autos because of less exposure to cold temperature during the process? Or is it due to something else? Good to use with insignificant cold auto if you don't want to pick them up on screen? ______ Gel: Incubation @ 37 on top chamber, with potentiator? No washing Spinning down through the matrix containing AHG Pros: Very sensitive Cons: Will pick up insignificant colds due to the chamber temperature and matrix can catch IgM? Rouleaux Notes: IgM remains as there's no washing _______ LISS Tube (skipping IS phase): Incubation at 37 with LISS Reading (for strong IgM or IgG) Wash (removing unbound Abs) Add AHG Read (for IgG) Pros: Not too sensitive, not too weak Cons: Won't pick up weak antibodies Question: Won't pick up insignificant warm because LISS isn't strong enough? (Such as weak warm auto) Good to use when not wanting to pick up warm auto on screen? ________ PEG Tube: Read at IS (for IgM) Add PEG, incubate at 37 (30min inc. might pick up insignificant Abs?) Wash Add AHG Read (for IgG) Pros: Strong than LISS Cons: Please feel free to share any thoughts or experience.

Just curious if anyone else has run into this and has some insight. Ortho Gel 0.8% Screening Cells, 3 cell screen. VSS548 Expires 6/25/13. Lot in use as of 5/28/13. We've had half a dozen positive antibody screens that were positive in the 2 cell, w+ through 2+, where the panel was either negative or identified antibodies to low frequency antigens (Cw and Kpa). The first one occurred the day the lot was used. Thanks !