What corrective action should be taken when rouleaux causes positive test results?

When rouleaux formation leads to positive test results, it indicates that there are increased proteins in the serum, often due to conditions like multiple myeloma or chronic inflammatory diseases, which causes red blood cells to stack together. This stacking may mimic agglutination in certain tests, leading to misleading positive results.

To correct this, performing a saline replacement technique is appropriate. This technique involves diluting the sample with saline, which helps to disperse the red blood cells and reduce or eliminate the effect of rouleaux. By restoring the sample to a more normal state, the true results can be obtained, allowing for accurate interpretation.

In contrast, other methods such as autoabsorption, running a panel or performing an elution are not aimed specifically at addressing the issue of rouleaux formation. Autoabsorption is more relevant in dealing with specific alloantibody identifications, while running a panel or performing an elution are used in different contexts for identifying antibodies or resolving specific reactivity in serological tests but do not address the artifact caused by rouleaux. Thus, the saline replacement technique effectively targets the underlying issue of rouleaux and allows for the completion of testing with accurate results.