Comparison of antibody elution techniques by enzyme‐linked antiglobulin test

The enzyme‐linked antiglobulin test was used to determine the percentage of antibody removed from sensitized red cells by five elution methods: Rubin ether, xylene, digitonin‐acid, glycine, and heat. Antibodies examined in the study included anti‐D, ‐c, ‐E, and ‐K. With two examples of anti‐D, more antibody was eluted by the Rubin ether method (45.5% average) than the xylene (38%) or the digitonin acid method (35%) (p < 0.05); the glycine (8%) and heat method (15%) were less efficient. With one example of anti‐E and one example of anti‐c, more antibody was eluted by the ether method. The percentage of anti‐K recovery, however, was greater with the digitonin acid method (45%) than with the ether (30%). We found the enzyme‐linked antiglobulin test method useful in the quantitative evaluation of elution procedures. TRANSFUSION1983;23:300–304. 1983 AABB