If a suspected anti-D cannot be excluded for anti-C or anti-E, what should the technologist do?

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Multiple Choice

If a suspected anti-D cannot be excluded for anti-C or anti-E, what should the technologist do?

When an antibody that could be anti-D is suspected but you can’t exclude anti-C or anti-E, the priority is to prevent a reaction to the D antigen while also reducing the risk from C or E if those antibodies are present. Giving red cells that lack D antigen avoids exposing the patient to anti-D if it’s present, and using cells that are negative for C and E further minimizes the chance of a reaction if anti-C or anti-E exists. Document that anti-D is present (or suspected) and transfuse with D–, C–, E– (DCE negative) red cells. This approach keeps transfusion moving safely while antibody specificity is confirmed. Transfusing D-positive units would risk an anti-D reaction, stopping transfusion or ignoring the possibility of anti-D are inappropriate.

When an antibody that could be anti-D is suspected but you can’t exclude anti-C or anti-E, the priority is to prevent a reaction to the D antigen while also reducing the risk from C or E if those antibodies are present. Giving red cells that lack D antigen avoids exposing the patient to anti-D if it’s present, and using cells that are negative for C and E further minimizes the chance of a reaction if anti-C or anti-E exists. Document that anti-D is present (or suspected) and transfuse with D–, C–, E– (DCE negative) red cells. This approach keeps transfusion moving safely while antibody specificity is confirmed. Transfusing D-positive units would risk an anti-D reaction, stopping transfusion or ignoring the possibility of anti-D are inappropriate.

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