Note: Pre-warm SST tube and keep specimens at 37°C until centrifuged. Once centrifuged, the SST and the uncentrifuged EDTA should be transferred to the Blood Bank laboratory ASAP kept at 20-25C.
GENERAL NOTES
APPLICATION: For investigation of problems with blood grouping, compatibility testing and investigation of a positive direct antiglobulin test.
Autoimmune haemolysis or infection with mycoplasma can induce the patient to produce antibodies which agglutinate RBCs at 4°C (ie, cold agglutinins), as well as some lymphomas and infectious mononucleosis.
Initially, a screen is performed, if this is positive a titre is then performed.
INTERPRETATION: Thermal amplitude and specificity is of clinical significance in relation to the risk of in vivo haemolysis.
