Screening for alloantibodies in the serum of patients receiving platelet transfusions: a comparison of the ELISA, lymphocytotoxicity, and the indirect immunofluorescence method

BACKGROUND: For screening of alloimmunization in patients repeatedly receiving platelet transfusions, different tests are used, none of which is the standard. Here we describe a comparison of four tests most commonly used for detection of alloimmunization in a group of nonselected patients receiving platelet transfusions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In 99 patients with hematologic malignancies who received platelet transfusions, 192 random serum samples were tested in the ELISA, the lymphocytotoxic test (LCT), the lymphocyte immunofluorescence test (LIFT), and the platelet immunofluorescence test (PIFT). Results of all tests were compared. RESULTS: The results of all tests were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.005). ELISA and LIFT were more often positive than LCT and PIFT. ELISA and LIFT showed the best correlation (chi-square test 63.7, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ELISA, the least time-consuming test, detects alloimmunization as often as LIFT and more often than LCT and PIFT.