Abstract
Previous studies with stored red cells collected into EDTA anticoagulant had shown that commercial polyclonal anti-C, -c, and -E reagents gave acceptable reactions for 60 days, but polyclonal antie reagents reliably detected the e antigen only through 14 days. At that time it was noted that a monoclonal anti-e reacted 3+ to 4+ with red cells that no longer reacted, or reacted very weakly, with the polyclonal anti-e reagents. This observation led to a comparison study of the reactivity of monoclonal versus polyclonal Rh reagents with stored red cells. Monoclonal and polyclonal anti-C, -c, and -E reagents showed comparable reaction strengths, and gave acceptable reactions over the entire testing period. Polyclonal anti-e reagents, which are known to be of lower titer, again did not give reliable reactions with stored cells after 14 days. However, three different monoclonal anti-e reagents were able to detect the presence of the e antigen on stored cells for many weeks. This study showed that the monoclonal anti-e reagents tested are superior to polyclonal anti-e reagents for typing specimens that have been stored for more than 14 days. Immunohematology 1994;10:12.