antikroppsprofil

Antikroppsprofil, or antibody profile, refers to the set of antibodies present in a person’s serum that react with antigens on red blood cells or other target antigens. In medical practice it is most closely associated with transfusion medicine and obstetrics, where identifying clinically significant alloantibodies helps prevent adverse reactions and disease in the fetus.

The profile is established through an antibody screen and, if positive, an antibody identification process. Initial screening uses a panel of reagent red blood cells to detect the presence of unexpected antibodies. If antibodies are detected, a more detailed panel with cells that have known antigen compositions is tested to determine the specificity of the antibodies. The resulting antibody profile lists the identified specific antibodies (for example against common blood group antigens) and their titers or strength.

Clinical use centers on compatibility and risk assessment. In transfusion medicine, knowledge of the antibody profile guides the selection of antigen-negative donor blood to reduce the risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions. In pregnancy, maternal antibodies that cross the placenta can cause hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn; identifying these antibodies informs monitoring and management strategies, including potential intrauterine or neonatal care plans.

Limitations include the possibility of missing rare antibodies, autoantibodies, or antibodies that only react under certain conditions. The interpretation of an antibody profile must consider clinical history, the possibility of multiple antibodies, and the antigenic background of the patient and donor populations.