Red Cell Reference Laboratory

Antibody Identification

• CPT Code: To be determined by tests performed

Red blood cell antibody specificity is determined by reacting patient serum with extended panel of reagent red blood cells of known phenotype. The clinical significance of some of the more commonly encountered red cell alloantibodies are summarized in the Clinically Significant Red Cell Antibodies table. Clinically significant alloantibodies (e.g., Rh, Kell, Duffy, Kidd) may be present in patients with hemolytic transfusion reactions or hemolytic disease of the newborn (see DAT table). Autoantibodies usually react with all panel cells (i.e., "panagglutinins"), and are present in the sera of ~80% of patients with warm (IgG) autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Red cell alloantibodies may require several techniques for final identification; the presence of an autoantibody may require a series of absorptions and elutions to determine the presence of underlying alloantibodies.

• Sample Required: 20 ml EDTA and 10 ml clotted sample
• Normal Test Values: Not applicable
• Analytic Time: 48 hours
• Days Test is Set Up: Monday through Sunday