[Antibody determination and differentiation using papain treated test erythrocytes in the gel centrifugation technique (ID-Microtyping System)].

For one year we have used the gel centrifugation method (ID-Microtyping System, Fa. Diamed, FRG) in our routine laboratory for antibody screening. The two-stage papain test in the gel centrifugation system revealed some interesting phenomena: 1) In some cases the sensitivity of the papain gel test is higher than that of all other methods in the gel centrifugation method or in the tube centrifugation method. 2) There are reactions which seem to be directed against the patient's own antigens (in the Rhesus or Kidd system), but there are no positive direct antiglobulin test and no clinical signs of hemolysis. 3) Some sera show reaction patterns which seem to have a distinct specificity, but they cannot be adjoined to any of the antigens in the manufacturer's antigenogram. Further declarations in the worksheet of the panel would be desirable.