A positive antibody screen--an encounter with the Augustine antibody.

An antibody screen is performed on the blood of patients who may require blood transfusion. If an antibody is detected, it must be identified to avoid transfusing the patient with blood that contains the corresponding antigen. Antibody screens are also performed as part of a prenatal profile to detect antibodies that may cause hemolytic disease of the newborn. In this article we report the detection of a unique antibody to an antigen of high incidence, the anti-Augustine antibody. We describe problems that may occur when this antibody is encountered, including its identification and obtaining suitable transfusion products for the patient. A brief historical review of the clinical significance of this antibody is included in the article.