Atypical antibodies, those other than anti-A or anti-B, are sometimes found in the serum of healthy donors and the random patient population. Many of these antibodies are of clinical significance as they may cause decreased red cell survival as the result of Haemolytic Transfusion Reactions, Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn or Auto Immune Haemolytic Anaemia and so identification of these antibodies is essential.

Testing patient’s serum/plasma against a panel of cells, phenotyped for antigens in established blood group systems, can help to identify the antibody(s) detected by antibody screening, because the cells on the panel are arranged to give a definite pattern of reactions against known antibodies. Agglutination or haemolysis of one or more of the cells indicates a positive reaction whereas no agglutination or haemolysis indicates either the absence of antibody activity against the antigens present or the concentration of the antibody is too low to be detected by method being used. The pattern of reactivity is then compared to the antigram provided.

Lorne Identicells are made up of 10 vials which each contain a 2-3% suspension of red cells derived from the blood of a single group O donor. The donor cells have been washed to remove blood group antibodies and then resuspended in a preservative solution containing adenine and inosine to help carbohydrate metabolism and chloramphenicol (0.25 mg/ml) and neomycin sulphate (0.10 mg/ml) as preservatives. Each cell has been selected to represent the most frequently inherited antigens. Less frequently inherited antigens are provided whenever possible.