Crossmatching

Crossmatching is a pretransfusion test that checks whether a recipient’s plasma reacts with donor red blood cells. It helps identify incompatibility before transfusion.

Antiglobulin test: A laboratory method that detects antibodies or complement attached to red blood cells using antiglobulin reagent. The antiglobulin phase detects clinically significant antibodies bound to donor cells.
Blood transfusion: The transfer of blood or blood components into a person’s circulation. Crossmatching is performed to reduce risk before a transfusion.
Serologic crossmatch: A laboratory compatibility test that physically mixes recipient plasma with donor red cells and checks for reactions. This is the direct test described by the concept’s definition.
Hemolytic transfusion reaction: An immune-mediated destruction of transfused red blood cells caused by incompatibility between donor cells and recipient antibodies. A major hazard crossmatching is designed to prevent is acute immune hemolysis.
Indirect antiglobulin test: A test that detects free antibodies in plasma by incubating it with red cells and adding antiglobulin reagent. It is the common serologic method for detecting recipient antibodies that may react with donor cells.
Blood group: A classification of blood based on inherited antigens on red cells or other blood components. Blood-group antigens are the targets whose incompatibility crossmatching seeks to detect.
Major crossmatch: A compatibility test combining recipient plasma with donor red cells to detect recipient antibodies against them. It names the principal plasma-to-donor-cell comparison in pretransfusion testing.
Transfusion-associated circulatory overload: A transfusion complication in which excess circulatory volume causes pulmonary edema and respiratory distress. It illustrates a serious transfusion risk that compatibility testing cannot prevent.
ABO blood group system: A blood group system defined chiefly by A and B antigens on red cells and corresponding antibodies in plasma. ABO incompatibility can cause severe reactions and is checked as part of compatibility testing.
Red blood cell antibody: An antibody directed against an antigen on red blood cells, often formed after transfusion or pregnancy. Recipient antibodies can bind donor red cells and produce a positive crossmatch.

Linked from 8 pages