Quantitative Differential Agglutination Method Using the Coulter Counter to Measure Survival of Compatible but Identifiable Red Blood Cells1

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Abstract
The method described here using a centifuge and Coulter Cell Counter for the quantitative differential agglutination of human red cells uses commercial and anti-A anti-B antisera for the ABO system, and for the Rh system a commercial anti-D serum, a low ionic strength solution and an anti-human IgG antiserum. This Coulter Counter method was compared with the Technicon AutoAnalyzer method which utilizes bromelin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and anti-A, anti-B and anti-CD [citrate dextrose] antisera, and found this new method to be the simpler of the 2. The nonagglutinable count with the Coulter Counter was 1.07% for A1 red cells, 2.26% for A2 cells, 1.06% for B red cells, and 1.78% for Rh-positive red cells, results similar to those seen with the Technicon AutoAnalyzer. Results with the Coulter Counter method were consistently accurate whether the ACD [acid citrate dextrose] red cells were studied on the day of collection, after 10 days of 4.degree. C storage, or after 4.degree. C storage for up to 6 days followed by cryopreservation with 40% (w/v) glycerol at -80.degree. C, thawing and washing. In this study, red cell samples obtained from recipients who had received compatible but identifiable donor red cells were frozen with 40% glycerol and stored at -80.degree. C for 10 mo., thawed and washed. Survival measurements on these washed previously frozen red cells were similar to the values in liquid-stored red cells.