Talk to a consultant (sales)
Sign up for our newsletter
And stay up to date with all the news from Ebram. Don't worry, we won't send spam
What is the difference between Anti-D serum and Rh Control?
In the routine of clinical analysis laboratories and blood banks, reliability and precision in blood typing tests are essential to guarantee patient safety. This process is part of Immunohematology, an area of Hemotherapy that studies the antigens present on red blood cells and the corresponding antibodies, with a focus on compatibility between donor and recipient. In other words, it is the field that investigates how the immune system reacts to blood and is therefore fundamental to avoiding adverse reactions during transfusions.
Ebram's Immunohematology range includes reagents such as Anti-A, Anti-B, Anti-AB, Anti-Human serums, Bovine Albumin 22%, as well as reagents used to investigate the Rh factor, such as Anti-D serum and Rh Control. These last two are widely used in the laboratory routine, and because they have complementary characteristics and applications, they can generate doubts as to their specific functions.
In this article, you'll understand why both are important, how they work and the main differences between them.
Understanding the Rh factor
The Rh factor, also called the D antigen, is a protein present on the surface of red blood cells. People who have this protein are classified as Rh positive (Rh+); those who don't are Rh negative (Rh-).
The correct Rh factor diagnosis is extremely important in two situations:
- Blood transfusions: Rh- people should not receive Rh+ blood to avoid severe hemolytic reactions.
- Pregnancy: When an Rh- mother is pregnant with an Rh+ baby, her body can produce antibodies against the baby's blood. This immune response can seriously compromise future pregnancies, causing hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Anti-D serum
Anti-D serum is a reagent containing anti-D antibodies used to detect the presence of the D antigen on red blood cells. It is essential in:
- Blood typing;
- Screening blood donors;
- Transfusion compatibility assessment;
- Identification of Rh type in pregnant women.
How does it work?
The method is based on agglutination: if the D antigen is present in the sample, a visible reaction occurs between the antibodies of the reagent and the antigens of the patient's red blood cells. In the absence of agglutination, further investigation may be necessary, such as the weak D test, which detects less reactive variants of the D antigen.
Rh control
Rh Control contains the same formulation as Anti-D, except that it does not contain anti-D antibodies and is used as a negative control in tests with Anti-D serum, ensuring that the agglutination observed is specific and true.
Why is it important?
Rh control is essential to rule out false positives, which can occur for a number of reasons:
- Already sensitized red blood cells (autoantibodies);
Nonspecific agglutination;
Contamination.
The expected result with the Rh Control is always the absence of agglutination; if there is agglutination, the result obtained with the Anti-D serum cannot be considered reliable.
Comparison of reagents
| Features | Anti-D serum | Rh control |
| Does it contain antibodies? | Yes, anti-D | No |
| Purpose | Detecting the D antigen | Confirm the reliability of the positive result |
| Positive sample | Clear agglutination | No agglutination |
| Negative sample | No agglutination | No agglutination |
| Type of test | Diagnostic reagent | Negative control |
Presentation and performance
Both reagents are supplied in 10 mL vials, with an estimated yield of 200 tests, considering the use of 1 drop (50µL) of the reagent and 1 drop of the sample per test.
| Product | Presentation | Income |
| Anti-D serum | 10 mL | 200 tests |
| Rh control | 10 mL | 200 tests |
Storage and stability
- Storage conditions: refrigerated between 2-8°C.
- Stability after opening: until the expiry date indicated on the label, provided that good laboratory practices are respected, such as:
- Keep bottles closed out of use;
- Avoid prolonged exposure to room temperature;
- Do not reuse the contents;
- Follow the procedure in the instructions for use.
Advantages of Ebram reagents
Ebram's Immunohematology range brings together the main reagents used in the routine of laboratories and blood banks. Produced nationally, all the products strictly follow good manufacturing practices, guaranteeing a high standard of quality.
Given the importance of immunohematology tests in blood banks, minimum specifications are established for the reagents used. With validated performance, reliable stability and results that exceed these requirements, Ebram's reagents offer safety and precision for blood typing and compatibility routines.
The main parameters evaluated for Anti-D serum reagents are avidity and titration.
Avidity indicates the strength with which the antibody binds to the antigen. The higher the avidity, the stronger and faster this binding, guaranteeing safe and reliable reactions. Ebram's Anti-D has an average reaction time of 21 seconds, less than the maximum limit of 30 seconds required by blood banks.
Titration measures the lowest concentration of antibodies in the serum capable of generating a visible reaction in the laboratory. The minimum requirement is 1:32, while Ebram's Anti-D serum reaches 1:64, demonstrating its high sensitivity and efficiency.
The Rh Control, being a negative control, has no titration or avidity parameters.
To find out more about the products or how to purchase them, contact us through our service channels, staffed by specialists who are ready to answer all your questions: Customer Service 0800 500 2424 | e-mail: [email protected]
Sales department: 11 2291-2811 - e-mail: [email protected]
Share
Check out other content
by
