The sensitivity of antibody detection testing using pooled versus unpooled reagent red cells

Because the sensitivity of antibody detection testing may be reduced when pooled reagent red blood cells (RBCs) are used, the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) prohibits the use of pooled reagent RBCs when performing pretransfusion antibody detection testing. This restriction imposed upon the use of pooled reagent RBCs is based, at least in part, on the belief that pooled reagent RBCs are less likely to detect clinically significant antibodies than are sets of unpooled reagent RBCs. Little data, however, have been published to support this contention. In the present study, the data show a decreased sensitivity for antibody detection when pooled reagent RBCs are used. This reduced sensitivity could result in failure to detect some clinically significant RBC alloantibodies, which might result in the occurrence of overt hemolytic transfusion reactions, especially if an indirect antiglobulin test is not performed at the time blood is crossmatched. Immunobematology 1991;1:16–19.