A preliminary trial of the gel test for blood group serology.

The gel test, first reported in 1988, can be used for most areas of blood group serology, but this report deals specifically with ABO/Rh typing and antibody screening and investigation. The technique is simple and quick to perform and the reading of results is standardised and clean with no false-positive reactions being found in antiglobulin tests. Since gel anti-human globulin tests require no washing and the test cards may be sealed during centrifugation, the system is particularly advantageous for 'loosely bound' antibodies and 'high-risk' samples.