Jump to content

What do you call an 'unidentified' antibody?


kirkaw

Recommended Posts

Greetings,

This may be just semantics, but I am wondering what you call an antibody that does not have an identified specificity. This could apply to plasma that has demonstrated reactivity in the antibody screen but not the antibody panel or for plasma whose reactivity does not fit a pattern (and all clinically significant antibodies are ruled out).

One of our techs calls these 'HLA antibodies' or 'HTLA antibodies' but I tend to call them nonspecifics. I have heartburn over calling these something that I am not sure they are.

Anyone else have thoughts on this terminology? Does it really matter?

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have a mnemonic that displays in the medical record: "antibody of undetermined specificity".

 

My medical director was averse to the idea of using 'non-specific' because there may be a specificity that we simply aren't able to identify. We also chose against 'Inconclusive'. I'm curious of how other people approach this subject. Semantics definitely matters in this context.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our reference lab uses "Antibody of undetermined specificity. All common clinically significant antibodies ruled out." We've adopted this phrase for use here. If the antibody is reactive with solid phase but not with PeG, I will add that it is a solid phase reactive antibody of undetermined specificity, etc. etc. If I get one or two reactive cells total on the antibody screen and ID panels I may add the comment that the antibody may be directed against a low incidence antigen.

 

For OB patients I also add the comment that the clinical significance of the antibody is unknown. We do send some of the OB cases to reference for workups (though usually not the solid phase only examples) - occasionally they will ID a specific antibody directed against a low incidence antigen which allows a more informed report as to clinical significance.

Edited by AMcCord
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Since all antibodies have a specificity, we don't use the old term 'non-specific'.  If we don't know 'its name', we report one of the following as applies to the workup:

  • Cold Antibody: Undetermined Specificity
  • Cold Auto-Antibody: Undetermined Specificity
  • Warm Auto-Antibody: Undetermined Specificity
  • Antibody Detected: Too Weak to Identify at this Time
  • Possible HLA/HTLA Antibodies
  • Antibody Detected: No Identification at this Time
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Advertisement

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.