Comparison of antibody elution techniques by enzyme‐linked antiglobulin test

Abstract
The enzyme-linked antiglobulin test was used to determine the percentage of antibody removed from sensitized red cells by 5 elution methods: Rubin ether, xylene, digitonin- acid, glycine and heat. Antibodies examined in the study included anti-D, -c, -E and -K. With 2 examples of anti-D, more antibody was eluted by the Rubin ether method (45.5% average) than the xylene (38%) or the digitonin acid method (35%) (P < 0.05); the glycine (8%) and heat method (15%) were less efficient. With 1 example of anti-E and one example of anti-c, more antibody was eluted by the ether method. The percentage of anti-K recovery, however, was greater with the digitonin acid method (45%) than with the ether (30%). The enzyme-like antiglobulin test method was useful in the quantitative evaluation of elution procedures.