Clinical application of a flow cytometric direct antiglobulin test.

Background: The clinical application of flow cytometric direct antiglobulin test (FC-DAT) has rarely been evaluated for patients with various diseases including immune and nonimmune hemolytic anemia.

Study Design And Methods: Blood samples from 380 patients with a variety of diseases were studied using the tube direct DAT and FC-DAT. The results of tube DAT and FC-DAT were compared.

Two novel Jk(null) alleles derived from 222C>A in Exon 5 and 896G>A in Exon 9 of the JK gene.

Background: Polynesian Jk(null) is well known for its mutation as Intron 5 g>a at the 3' splice acceptor site. After sequencing analysis, however, it was noticed that only three of eight samples with the Jknull phenotype carried typical homozygous Polynesian Jk(null) mutation. Five others were noted to be unreported heterozygous Polynesian Jk(null) mutation.

A Novel Ael allele derived from a unique 816insG in Exon 7 of the ABO gene.

The ABO blood group system is the most important blood group system in transfusion medicine. In addition to the major A, B and O alleles, many rare alleles with weak expression of the A or B antigens on RBCs have been defined. We report here the molecular analysis of a novel A(el) allele.

Y-chromosome short tandem repeats analysis to complement paternal lineage study: a single institutional experience in Taiwan.

Background: Highly polymorphic autosomal short-tandem-repeat (STR) analysis can be useful in most kinship testing. Y-chromosome-specific STRs, in contrast, have been increasingly applied for the verification of equivocal paternal genetic transmissions.

Study Design And Methods: A total of 338 unrelated males were first typed for the 9-loci Y-STR European minimal haplotype (minHt).

Unappreciated HLA antibodies in adult immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Background/purpose: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease. Platelet refractoriness is frequently seen in patients with ITP. Platelets express platelet-specific antigens and human leukocyte antigens (HLA).

Screening for platelet antibodies in adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a comparative study using solid phase red cell adherence assay and flow cytometry.

Background: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder caused by antiplatelet autoantibodies. In this study, we compared 2 methods for screening serum platelet antibodies in patients with ITP.

Methods: A total of 44 adult patients were clinically classified with ITP.

Revisiting of preoperative blood ordering policy--a single institute's experience in Taiwan.

Background: If unnecessary blood orders can be reasonably waived, it will reduce both workload and financial expenditure. A review of the surgical blood ordering practice is, therefore, mandatory.

Methods: Routine preoperative blood orders were retrospectively audited.

A novel cis-AB allele derived from a unique 796C>A mutation in exon 7 of ABO gene.

Background: The cis-AB phenotype is very rare, and only three genotypes that correspond to specific ABO allele changes have been reported. Cis-AB01 involves the A102 allele with a nonsynonymous substitution G803C in exon 7, whereas cis-AB02 and cis-AB03 involve different nonsynonymous substitutions A796C and C700T, respectively, on the B101 allele background. The nucleotide substitutions give rise to a change of the respective glycosyltransferase, resulting in varying bifunctional AB transferase activities.

HLA-DR typing by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primers in paternity disputes.

Background: HLA-DR typing was generally performed by serology before. HLA-DRB1 typing can be achieved by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP).

Methods: In this study, primers for "low-resolution" HLA-DR typing by PCR-SSP were synthesized upon our request by a company in Taiwan.

PCR with sequence-specific primer-based simultaneous genotyping of human platelet antigen-1 to -13w.

Background: Accurate human platelet antigen (HPA) typing is important for patients with diagnosis of alloimmune thrombocytopenic syndromes and provision of HPA-matched blood components for these patients.

Study Design And Methods: Thirteen sequence-specific primers (SSPs) designed on the basis of known published polymorphisms for HPA-1 to HPA-13w, respectively, were employed for simultaneous HPA genotyping. All PCR amplifications were carried out with identical cycling conditions in 96-well plates containing primer mixtures.