Immunohematology and Genetic Testing (red cells, leukocytes and platelets)
Waseem Anani, MD (he/him/his)
Medical Director
University of Utah, ARUP Laboratories, Utah, United States
Disclosure(s): Velico Medical: Consultant/Advisory Board (Ongoing)
Marisela Marchan, MSTM, MLS(ASCP)SBBcm (she/her/hers)
Manager, Platelet, Neutrophil Immunology Laboratory
Versiti
Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Angela Treml, MD
Medical Director
Medical College of Wisconsin, Medical Science institute Versiti
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Session Desription: Autoantibodies to platelets and red blood cells can be clinically pronounced but serologically difficult to detect. Autoimmune thrombocytopenia can require multiple testing modalities to identify an offending autoantibody, and up to 10% of autoimmune hemolytic anemias are negative by standard direct antiglobulin testing (DAT) methods. Although both are hematopoietic-derived cells, the approaches and technologies used in identifying antibody-coated cells differ. For blood bankers and clinicians, understanding the key features of autoantibodies despite negative testing with standard methods will prompt the appropriate esoteric testing required for a diagnosis.
In this program, the faculty will dive into the complexities of platelet serology and genotyping as well as red blood cell extended DAT methodologies for autoantibodies. A discussion of platelet autoantibodies to glycoproteins IIb/IIIa, Ib/IX, and Ia/IIa and red blood cell autoantibodies that are low affinity IgG, warm reacting IgM, and IgA will highlight the less often observed causes of autoimmune destruction of platelets and red blood cells.