Advances in granulocyte test methodologies

Abstract

AbstractAlloantibodies to human neutrophil antigens (HNA) are involved in clinical conditions such as neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NAN), autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) and transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI). For the diagnosis of these conditions, the detection of the causative antibody is essential. Presently, the use of a combination of granulocyte agglutination assay (GAT) and granulocyte immunofluorescence test (GIFT) for the screening of granulocyte antibodies, followed by the determination of antibody specificity by the monoclonal antibody‐specific immobilization of granulocyte antigens (MAIGA) is recommended by the ISBT Working Party on Granulocyte Immunobiology. In Japan, the mixed‐passive hemagglutination (MPHA) assay, a method originally developed for the detection of anti‐platelet antibodies, was adapted for the testing of anti‐granulocyte antibodies. Although various technologies are available, presently, no one of the methods alone is able to detect all clinically relevant antibodies, thus their combination is important, and the development of new methodologies is desired. In this review, we describe the presently available classical methods for anti‐granulocyte antibody detection, including GIFT, GAT, MAIGA and MPHA, and also the new technologies, especially focusing on the advantages and problems of the different methods.