To all Blood Bankers:

This question is related to the use of diluent to make 2% suspension of RBC for Antibody Titeration.

Is any one using 22% Albumin to make 2% RBC suspension for Antibody Titration?

If so, How is the suspension made?

The 16th edition AABB Manual does not specify to use albumin. In the14th edition AABB Manual, albumin was allowed to make a suspension. When technical manual does not specify the albumin, I presume only saline can be used. (My old policy,written by former supervisor, has suspension made by albumin)

I validated the SOP by using Albumin and normal saline to make the 2 % suspension and albumin gave one titer lower than the saline.

Reference the SOP 16th Edition AABB Technical Manual page # 938-939.

Thank you in advance for all the input.

Urvashi MLS (ASCP)

Blood Bank Manager at JCMC

I use 6-8% albumin (which I make from 22%).

I use saline, because I think albumin can give strengthen to the reacrion.( I can't understand Urvashi's test that saline is strong than albumin)

Edited October 20, 201212 yr by shily
spelling error

David, Are you using 6-8% albumin to make red cell suspension? Aren't you using reagent red cells from the vial? Do you wash it then make suspension with 6-8% albumin???

I use 6-8% albumin (which I make from 22%).

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I agree to your comment.

I use saline, because I think albumin can give strengthen to the reacrion.( I can't understand Urvashi's test that saline is strong than albumin)

David, Are you using 6-8% albumin to make red cell suspension? Aren't you using reagent red cells from the vial? Do you wash it then make suspension with 6-8% albumin???

Duh - I use a dry button of cells. The albumin is used as the diluent for the ab.

Originally Posted by shily

I use saline, because I think albumin can give strengthen to the reacrion.( I can't understand Urvashi's test that saline is strong than albumin.

Explanation for the above comment: Suspension made with Albumin had 20 mins incubation as per old policy and suspension made with saline had 1 hour incubation as per new AABB Tech Manual. I am going to run few patients and see if there is change in reactions between two method.

Thanks to all for the comment.

Urvashi

A year later, I would like to add to this discussion.

I did find a reference in the 1999 and 1985 Technical Manuals instructing the tech to use the same diluent for the RBC

suspension as whatever is used to dilute the antibody.

I too have the remnants of an old SOP which I just recently updated.  I kept the 6% albumin method and one of my techs questioned how to make the RBC suspension. 

For most of our titrations, we will use the AABB-recommended saline method.  The albumin method will only be for rare occasions.