SLP assay: a rapid assay for detection of red blood cell antibodies in the serology of pregnancies.
A rapid manual test for the detection of red cell antibodies called SLP assay has been developed and compared with the sensitivity of the antiglobulin assay. Acid-soluble proteins (SLP) from human leukocytes cause aggregation of human red blood cells. SLP represents a group of proteins consisting of 5 fractions of different positively charged macromolecules, which are able to reduce the negative charge of the red cells. Reduction of the negative charge results in a nonspecific hemagglutination of different strengths, depending on the SLP fractions used. This hemagglutination can be reversed by neutralizing the SLP with heparin. In the case of blood group-antibody-mediated aggregation the hemagglutination is nonreversible despite neutralization with heparin and remains stable for several hours. Because of the high sensitivity of the SLP assay all blood group antibodies from the IgM type as well as from the IgG type are detectable even in low concentrations. The sensitivity of the SLP assay is comparable to the antiglobulin assay.