A comparison of a low ionic strength saline medium with routine methods for antibody detection.

Antibody detection studies were undertaken in order to compare a low ionic strength (LIS) medium with a conventional albumin-fortified isotonic medium. Tests were performed in parallel with both media at room temperature and at 37 C. A 30mM NaCl solution was used as the LIS medium and in this study this enhanced antibody reactions without causing nonspecific reactions. The LIS medium detected all of more than 50 Rh and more than 75 non-Rh antibodies after 15 minutes of incubation. Often 30 to 60 minutes of incubation were required to detect these antibodies by the routine method. Several antibodies that were detected with the LIS medium after 15 minutes of incubation were either undetected or had given a nonspecific pattern of activity after 60 minutes incubation in the routine medium. When an antibody was present, the LIS medium invariably gave stronger, more clear-cut results. It is concluded that the LIS medium is generally more sensitive than a conventional medium in detecting antibodies since such a medium will detect clinically significant antibodies after only 15 minutes incubation as well as detect antibodies missed by a conventional medium. An antibody detection system utilizing this medium has obvious applicability to a hospital transfusion service.