ABO and Rh(D) blood typing on the PK 7200 with ready-to-use kits

The performance of ready-to-use kits was evaluated on the PK 7200 blood grouping system. The Olymp Group (kit 1) and Olymp Group II (kit 2) containing anti-A, -B, -AB, and -D reagents were tested for first and second determinations of A, B, and D antigens. More than 500 RBC samples, including several variant ABO and D phenotypes, were evaluated for specificity, repeatability, reproducibility, and sensitivity. Specificity was tested with well-characterized reagent RBCs. Repeatability was established by at least 12 assays per run with three reagent RBCs, and reproducibility was established on one run per day for 5 days. No discrepancy was observed in ABO and D determinations with either kit. In repeatability, three discrepancies were found with group A and B RBCs with kit 1. In reproducibility, no discrepancies were observed. The kit 1 anti-A reagent detected A₃ but not A_x RBCs and anti-AB detected both. A B₃ RBC was detected by both kits. Among eight weak D phenotypes, six were positive with kit 1. With kit 2, only one of five weak D phenotypes was detected. Immunohematology 2003;19:54–56.