Korean J Blood Transfus.  2018 Aug;29(2):159-170. 10.17945/kjbt.2018.29.2.159.

Minimum Specimen Volume Analysis of ABO/RhD Typing and Unexpected Antibody Screening Using an Automated Immunohematology System DAYmate S

• Kim TY
• Shin DW
• Son BH
• Kang JS
• Chung Y
• Ko DH
• Hong YJ
• Kim H
• Park KU
• Han KS

• KMID: 2435674
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17945/kjbt.2018.29.2.159

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Phlebotomy performed for laboratory testing has the potential to cause anemia in newborns and infants. This study investigated the minimum specimen volume required for an automated immunohematology analyzer DAYmate S.
METHODS
Three combinations of tubes were evaluated: I. 6 mL EDTA tube, II. 0.5 mL microtainer (on top of 3 mL EDTA tube), and III. 1 mL sample cup (on top of 6 mL EDTA tube). ABO/RhD cell typing was done using centrifuged red cells; unexpected antibody screening was carried out using plasma, and Type & Screening was conducted using whole blood samples. The lowest specimen volume capable of performing 10 repetitive tests without errors was investigated.
RESULTS
ABO/RhD cell typing could be performed from I. 30 μL, II. 25 μL, and III. 25 μL. Unexpected antibody screening could be performed from I. 170 μL, II. 150 μL, and III. 140 μL. According to the hematocrit levels, Type & Screening could be performed from 30%, I&III 650 μL, II. 800 μL; 40%, I&III 650 μL, II. 900 μL; and 50%, I&III 1,000 μL, II. Testing using specimen volumes below 1,000 μL was difficult.
CONCLUSION
By separating red cells and plasma, pre-transfusion testing of ABO/RhD cell typing and unexpected antibody screening could be conducted with very small specimen volumes using DAYmate S compared to Type & Screening using whole blood. The application of small-sized sample tubes was more competitive and this is expected to be very useful for preventing iatrogenic anemia in neonates and infants less than 4 months old.

Keyword

DAYmate S; Type and screening; Pre-transfusion testing; Neonate; Anemia

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Edetic Acid
Hematocrit
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Mass Screening*
Phlebotomy
Plasma
Edetic Acid