Reducing time to result for blood bank diagnostic testing
View Patent ↗Methods for reducing time to result in blood bank diagnostic testing with an agitation device and a low ionic strength solution are disclosed. Specifically provided are methods for reducing incubation time for antigen-antibody reactions in an immunohematologic assay by subjecting the assay reactants to incubation with agitation and optionally additionally a low ionic strength diluent.
1. A method for reducing time to result in the form of agglutination in immunohematology assays, comprising:
(a) incubating a sample with antigen positive red blood cells (“RBCs”) admixed with a low ionic strength diluent at 37° C. for from 2 minutes to 15 minutes with continuous agitation;
(b) centrifuging the product of the admixture in step (a) in an anti-IgG matrix for 10 minutes; and
(c) reading the result in the form of agglutination.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample is plasma or serum.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the continuous agitation is provided by a mechanical agitation block.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the continuous agitation is provided manually.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the anti-IgG matrix comprises a gel.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the anti-IgG matrix comprises glass beads.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the anti-IgG matrix is disposed in a microtube.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the diluent has a low ionic strength of less than about 0.03 M.