Standardization of ABO antibody titer measurement at laboratories in Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Measurement of the ABO antibody (Ab) titer is important in

ABO-incompatible transplantation. However, to the best of our knowledge, no

standard protocol or external survey program to measure the ABO Ab titer has been

established in Korea. We investigated the current status of ABO Ab titer

measurements at various laboratories in Korea and the impact of the protocol

provided to reduce interlaboratory variations in the methods and results of ABO

Ab titers. METHODS: The Korean external quality assessment of blood bank

laboratories sent external survey samples with a questionnaire to 68 laboratories

across Korea for the measurement of ABO Ab titers in May 2012. After 6 months, a

second set of survey samples were sent with a standard protocol to 53 of the

previously surveyed laboratories. The protocol recommended incubation at room

temperature only and use of the indirect antihuman globulin method for the tube

test as well as and the column agglutination test (CAT). RESULTS: Several

interlaboratory variations were observed in the results, technical procedures,

and methods selected for measurement. We found that 80.4% laboratories hoped to

change their protocol to the provisional one. Additionally, CAT showed

significantly lower variation among laboratories (P=0.006) than the tube test.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides baseline data regarding the current status of ABO

Ab titer measurement in Korea. The standard protocol and external survey were

helpful to standardize the technical procedures and select methods for ABO Ab

titer measurement.