Loss of enzyme-sensitive antigens due to the presence of leukocytes, neomycin sulfate, and LISS

Previous studies have shown that RBCs with residual WBCs stored in LISS and neomycin sulfate develop characteristics associated with enzyme-treated RBCs. During a mass screening program to antigen type donor RBCs, we observed that the Fy^a antigens on a RBC sample from an in-house panel became non-detectable with anti-Fy^a after incubation overnight in Diluent 2 from Micro Typing Systems, Inc. (MTS, Pompano Beach, FL). In response to this observation, we initiated an investigation to determine the cause. Tests were performed according to the manfacturer’s instructions in MTS neutral gel cards or gel cards containing anti-IgG. We found that a reduction or loss of the Fy^a, Fy^b, and M antigens occurs when RBCs were prepared from samples containing residual WBCs (as a source of enzymes) and subsequently incubated in media containing neomycin sulfate and LISS. We showed that the effect did not occur in the absence of neomycin sulfate. RBC antigens can be altered in LISS if they have first been exposed to neomycin. We recommend restricting the use of RBCs suspended in MTS Diluent 2 to the day of dilution (as indicated in the package insert) if preparing reagent RBCs from sources that were not leukoreduced and were stored in the presence of neomycin.