What absorption technique is used to remove cold (IgM) antibodies, particularly anti-I specificities?

The use of rabbit erythrocyte stroma is particularly effective for the absorption of cold (IgM) antibodies, especially those with anti-I specificities. This technique benefits from the fact that rabbit red blood cells express a high density of antigens that can interact with antibodies in the patient's serum. When the serum containing cold antibodies is incubated with rabbit erythrocyte stroma, the IgM antibodies will bind to the corresponding antigens on the stroma, effectively reducing their presence in the serum. This method is often used in blood transfusion and hemolytic disease cases to shed light on incompatible antibodies.

Understanding the method is fundamental in clinical settings, as removing these antibodies can allow for more accurate blood typings and greater safety in transfusions. Other methods, such as heat treatment and enzyme treatment, serve different purposes in antibody alteration or removal and may not specifically target IgM antibodies, leaving them less effective for this particular situation.