Determination of AB0 and RhD blood group is mandatory test for every unit of blood collected from a donor, as well as for transfusion recipients and pregnant women. Blood group determination is typically performed using serological methods, which are based on the agglutination reaction, where antibodies cause the clumping of red blood cells that express the corresponding antigen on their surface. These tests can be carried out on microtiter plates, gel cards, in test tubes, or using rapid testing devices (cassettes, plates).
Within the master thesis, we validate the OABD-402 rapid test by Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co., Ltd. (China) according to the manufacturer's validation protocol for determining AB0 and RhD blood groups. The research aim is to determine whether the rapid test can be implemented in clinical practice. This was done by comparing the rapid test results with results of routine testing performed by trained employee at the Slovenian Institute for Transfusion Medicine on the immunohematological analyzer Erytra, manufactured by Grifols (Spain). A total of 520 samples were included in the study, of which 401 were from blood donors, 102 from patients, and 17 from newborns. In selecting the samples, we followed the manufacturer’s criteria, which are based on the decision of the commission regarding common technical specifications for in vitro diagnostic medical devices. The data obtained during testing with the rapid test were first recorded in an Excel spreadsheet, followed by the entry of routine test data.
In 4 samples, there was a mismatch in the AB0 blood group determination during the first rapid test. After repeating the test, the result matched the routine test on the immunohematological analyzer Erytra; however, for the accuracy calculation of the test, we considered the initial results. The most likely cause of the mismatch is human error, but other causes, mainly related to sample characteristics as indicated in the rapid test instructions, are also possible. Based on our results, the calculated accuracy of the OABD-402 rapid test for AB0 blood group determination is 99.23%, and for RhD antigen determination, it is 100%. The high accuracy of the rapid test indicates that it can be implemented in clinical practice. Rapid bedside tests are important in transfusion examinations and procedures, as they provide additional safety in patient identification.
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