Erythrocyte Antigen Detection via Distinguishable Beads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood transfusion methods face risks due to potential immune reactions between recipient and donor erythrocyte antigens, including severe reactions such as haemolysis, which can be life-threatening, and existing methods are not comprehensive in detecting all antigenic molecules present on erythrocytes.
Innovation Solution
An in vitro method using distinguishable beads to identify antibodies against antigenic molecules carried by erythrocytes, such as HLA system molecules or phosphatidylserine, by binding antibodies or serum complement fractions to erythrocytes in a biological sample, followed by labeling and identification via flow cytometry, allowing for the detection of multiple antigenic molecules simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard blood typing methods are used, then common blood group antigens (ABO, Rh) can be detected, but other antigenic molecules (HLA, phosphatidylserine) carried by erythrocytes are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a universal platform of distinguishable beads that can detect multiple types of antigens (ABO, Rh, HLA, phosphatidylserine) through a single standardized flow cytometry-based methodology, allowing one system to perform multiple detection functions
2Reliability
If comprehensive detection of all antigenic molecules is performed, then transfusion safety is improved, but the complexity of the detection method increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system segments different antigen types by assigning each antigen-specific antibody to a distinct distinguishable bead population, allowing parallel detection of multiple antigens through a single multiplexed assay rather than sequential separate tests
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces distinguishable beads as intermediary carriers that hold antigen-specific antibodies, enabling indirect detection of multiple antigens through a unified flow cytometry platform and simplifying the overall detection architecture
3Productivity
If multiple antigenic molecules are detected simultaneously, then the identification process is accelerated, but the difficulty of analyzing the mixture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs distinguishable beads with different fluorescent properties (analogous to color changes) that can be simultaneously detected by flow cytometry, allowing rapid identification of multiple antigen-antibody interactions through distinct optical signatures without requiring separate analysis steps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables rapid and reliable identification of antigenic molecules on erythrocytes, reducing the risk of transfusion reactions by detecting a wide range of antibodies and antigens, including those not typically considered in standard blood typing, thereby ensuring safer transfusions.
Implementation Method 1
under conditions which allow the antibodies or the activated serum complement fractions present in the sample to bind to the erythrocytes or to the erythrocyte membrane fragments, without agglutination
Implementation Method 2
identifying the group of beads having bound the labelled antibodies or the labelled activated serum complement fractions, thereby allowing the identification of the antibodies against antigenic molecules carried by the erythrocytes, that are present, wherein the analysis of the mixture is carried out by flow cytometry
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for detecting a plurality of antigenic molecules carried by erythrocytes and/or a plurality of anti-erythrocyte antibodies, said antigenic molecules carried by the erythrocytes consisting of antigenic molecules carried not only by the erythrocytes, but also by at least one other cell population, other than the blood group antigen molecules, said method comprising bringing a sample into contact with distinguishable beads, on which are attached a) antibodies specific for said antigens, or b) erythrocytes or erythrocyte membrane fragment.