Acid elution of blood group antibodies from intact erythrocytes.

Human IgM and IgG antibodies against blood group antigens (A, B, D, C, c, E, e, Fya, K), autoantibodies and mouse IgM and IgG antibodies against sheep erythrocytes have been eluted from intact human and sheep red cells by glycine-HCl buffer, pH 3.0. The yield of human antibodies was higher with acid than with heat and ether elution, and the contamination of hemoglobin in the eluate was negligible. The acid elution method is very simple and rapid and, therefore, highly suitable for experimental as well as routine immunohematological work.