Antibody screening and direct antiglobulin testing using BioVue column agglutination technology versus standard tube tests.

The BioVue column agglutination technology (CAT) was evaluated simultaneously with standard tube test (STT) methodology for use in indirect antiglobulin testing (IAT) and direct antiglobulin testing (DAT). One thousand thirty-five blood specimens were used for the IAT comparison, and 44 blood specimens were used for the DAT comparison. Both polyspecific antiglobulin and anti- IgG antiglobulin reagents were used in the tube testing and the CAT testing. For IAT, sensitivity was 100 percent for CAT and 99.6 percent for STT; sensitivity was 97.9 percent for CAT and 100 percent for STT. In addition, a 67 percent labor savings was realized with CAT versus STT. Specificity and sensitivity of both methodologies were 100 percent for the DAT. BioVue proved to be a reliable and efficient alternative to standard test tube methods for doing IATs and DATs.