Antibody screening and direct antiglobulin testing using BioVue™ column agglutination technology versus standard tube tests

The BioVue™ column agglutination technology (CAT) was evaluated simultaneously with standard tube test (STT) methodology for use in indirect antiglobulin testing (IAT) and direct antiglobulin testing (DAT). One thousand thirty-five blood specimens were used for the IAT comparison, and 44 blood specimens were used for the DAT comparison. Both polyspecific antiglobulin and anti-IgG antiglobulin reagents were used in the tube testing and the CAT testing. For IAT, specificity was 100 percent for CAT and 99.6 percent for STT; sensitivity was 97.9 percent for CAT and 100 percent for STT. In addition, a 67 percent labor savings was realized with CAT versus STT. Specificity and sensitivity of both methodologies were 100 percent for the DAT. BioVue™ proved to be a reliable and efficient alternative to standard test tube methods for doing IATs and DATs. Immunohematology 1993;9:78.