Acquired B Phenomenon

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The page below is a sample from the LabCE course ABO Typing Discrepancies. Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

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Acquired B Phenomenon

Conditions associated with the production of bacterial enzymes can result in modification of the immunodominant A group sugar (N-acetyl-D-galactosamine) into a structure that highly resembles the B group sugar structure (D-galactose). When this happens, monoclonal anti-B reagents will strongly agglutinate this structure, resulting in false-positive B reactions. This will disappear once the clinical condition is resolved. An example of the acquired B phenomenon is shown in Table 8.
Table 8. Results from Patient with Acquired B Condition.

Anti-A Anti-BA1 cellsB cells
Patient Results4+1+04+
This ABO discrepancy can be resolved by testing patient plasma with patient red blood cells. Patients who are truly group A, without any true B antigen, will demonstrate a negative auto control (Table 9). Since there is no B antigen present on the patient's red cell and there is anti-B in patient plasma, no agglutination should form.
Table 9. Resolved Results from Patient with Acquired B Condition.
Patient Red Cell Patient PlasmaResulting Reaction
Patient State/Reaction A antigen (no B antigen) Anti-BNegative
An alternative resolution method would be to lower the pH of the anti-B reaction; acquired B does not react at a low pH.