Search

The application of flow cytometry (FC) is diverse and this powerful tool in used in multiple disciplines such as molecular biology, immunology, cancer biology, virology, and infectious disease screening. FC analyzes a single cell or a particle very rapidly as they flow past single or multiple lasers while suspended in buffered solution. FC has a great impact in the field of transfusion medicine (TM) due to its ability to analyze individual cell population and cell epitopes by sensitive, reproducible, and objective methodologies. The main uses of FC in TM are detection of fetomaternal hemorrhage, diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, quantification of D antigen, detection of platelet antibody, quality control of blood components, for example, residual leukocyte counts and evaluation of CD34-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells in stem cell grafts. In recent years, FC has been implemented as an alternative method for the detection and characterization of red cell autoantibodies in autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Many workers considered FC as a very good complement when aberrant expression of various erythrocyte antigens needs to be elucidated. It has been extensively used in the resolution of ABO discrepancies and chimerism study. FC has also been used successfully in various platelet immunological studies. In the recent past, FC has been used in several studies to assess the platelet storage lesions and elucidate granulocyte/monocyte integrity and immunology. FC analysis of CD34+ stem cells is now the method of choice to determine the dosage of the collected progenitor cells. The technique is vastly used to evaluate residual leukocytes in leukodepleted blood components. We conclude that flow cytometers are becoming smaller, cheaper, and more user-friendly and are available in many routine laboratories. FC represents a highly innovative technique for many common diagnostic and scientific fields in TM. Finally, it is the tool of choice to develop and optimize new cellular and immunotherapeutic trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The following study was conducted to measure the presence of alloantibodies of Rh and other blood group antigens produced due to fetomaternal hemorrhage in all antenatal women as well as those leading to hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn; presenting to a tertiary care center, G.G. Government Hospital, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, between April 2014 and March 2016 (2 years). Materials and Methods: All multiparous women irrespective of their period of gestation or obstetrics history were included whereas those having taken anti-D immunoprophylaxis or with a history of blood transfusion were excluded. Antibody screening and identification were done using Bio-Rad ID microtyping system. Results: Out of total 8920 multigravida females, 8488 were D-antigen positive whereas 432 were D-antigen negative. A total of 126 antibodies among 117 females (1.31%) were found; out of them, 33 were found in D-antigen positive females (0.39%) and 84 in D-antigen negative ones (19.44%) looking at overall frequency of other antibodies such as anti-C: 9, anti-c: 9, anti-E: 13, anti-Cw: 1, anti-M: 5, anti-S: 8, anti-Fya: 3, and anti-D: 78; it was found that anti-D is the most common. Conclusion: The rate of alloimmunization in D-antigen negative women was found to be very high as compared to other studies in western region; hence, strict follow-up of immunoprophylaxis of all Rh D-negative women needs to be taken care of. Apart from this, D-antigen-positive women also show alloimmunization against various antigens giving the prevalence of 0.39%; hence, it should be mandatory that there should be one standard universal protocol for screening of all antenatal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of anti-D immunoglobulin has resulted in a relative increase in the importance of non-D alloimmunization as a cause of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Non-D alloantibodies that are capable of causing severe HDFN include anti-K, anti-E, and anti-c. Anti-c is clinically the most important Rh system antibody after anti-D. Here, we report three cases of neonates presenting with anemia and hyperbilirubinemia with strongly positive direct antiglobulin test who required phototherapy and neonatal exchange transfusion due to non-D antibody in RhD positive antenatal women. Anti-c was common in all the three cases while two cases have one additional non-D antibody. Due to faulty practices, antenatal antibody screening was not done for any case considering the mother's RhD positive status. Hence, antenatal antibody screening should be performed routinely, in all RhD positive pregnant women to reduce the delay in diagnosis and the management of HDFN occurring due to non-D antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]