Immunoperoxidase versus specific red cell adherence in detection of ABO(H) antigens on normal urothelium. Double-blind study.

In this study we compared the sensitivity of SRCA for detecting A, B, O(H) blood group antigens on the urothelial surface of normal renal pelvis, ureter, and bladder to that of immunoperoxidase staining via the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method. In all, forty-three mucosal specimens from 23 patients were compared. There was little difference between SRCA and immunoperoxidase for the detection of A and of B antigens. H(O) antigen was detected in 94 per cent of the blood group O patients using immunoperoxidase while only 46 per cent were detected using the SRCA method. We therefore concluded that immunoperoxidase was superior to SRCA in detecting the H(O) antigen not only in normal ureter but also in normal renal pelvis and normal bladder.