Immunohematologic Diseases
- Ethel Patten, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
IN 1900, Karl Landsteiner discovered that sera from some of his laboratory workers would agglutinate red blood cells from certain other laboratory workers. This observation led to the discovery of the ABO blood group system and greatly improved the success of blood transfusion. Until 1945, when Coombs, Mourant, and Race developed the antiglobulin test, it was possible to detect only "complete" agglutinating antibodies, most of which are IgM. However, the antiglobulin test permitted the detection of "incomplete" IgG antibodies and led to the discovery of the Rhesus (Rh), Kell, Kidd, Duffy, and other blood group systems (Table 14-1).
The antiglobulin test forms the basis of the crossmatch, the antibody screening procedures, and the diagnostic tests for autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Antibodies directed against IgG and complement are prepared by immunizing rabbits with purified human globulin. The anti-human globulin (Coombs' serum) causes agglutination of red blood cells coated with IgG antibody or
