For those of you who may be working in a Reference Lab and have access to a frozen Anti-Vel sample.....

We performed a Type and Screen 2 days ago on a patient who has a historical Anti-Vel. We used Ortho Panel A (GEL) Lot# VRA184 to perform the work-up. All cells were reactive except cell 8 (X2). There were no transfusion orders so we did not send it out to see if it was the Anti-Vel reacting, or, possibly multiple antibodies (though we do have a complete phenotype on the patient and could have tested a phenotypically matched cell to see if it was reactive or not).

Anyway, I contacted Ortho to let them know they may want to test that cell so that donor does not continue to be wasted as a panel cell (if in fact it is Vel Negative). But just out of curiousity, if any of you do have frozen Anti-Vel; and do carry that panel; and do choose to test this "just because," I would love to know the answer!

Thanks,

Brenda Hutson, CLS(ASCP)SBB

Ortho should have the ability to test the SMIM1 gene, to see whether or not it is normal.  That would tell them.