In this thesis we deal with two aspects of alloantibody assays: (i) test characteristics
and (ii) performance of tests in different patient populations. The first part of this
thesis focuses on the technical aspects of antibody detection guided by the following
questions:
1. Is a technique using standardized antigens (ELIHLA) as sensitive as techniques
using panel cells (LCT, LIFT, PIFT) and are the results of these 4 different
techniques related?
2. Are the results of a technique that detects IgG bound to transfused platelets in vivo
(IVBI-PIFT) related to those of an in vitro technique using panel cells ( crossmatchPIFT)
or using standardized platelet antigens (ELIHLA)?
3. Is binding of IgG to transfused platelets in vivo related to poor platelet recovery?
4. Can the visual scoring method of the IVBI-PIFT reliably be objectivated by a
mathematical method of histogram subtraction?
The second part of the thesis deals with the predictive value of alloantibody tests on
platelet recovery of random platelet transfusions in a non-selected patient population
and of HLA-matched platelet transfusions in a heavely selected patient population. In
some of the studies non-immunological factors jeopardizing the survival of platelets
were taking into account too. These value of alloantibody assays were studied by the
following questions:
1. What is the prevalence of immune and non-immune causes of platelet transfusion
failures in a non-selected patient population?
2. Which alloantibody tests and what non-immune causes are best related to platelet
transfusion failures in a non-selected patient population