What is the purpose of pretransfusion crossmatching?

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Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of pretransfusion crossmatching?

Crossmatching is done to ensure that the donor red blood cells will be compatible with the recipient’s immune system. It tests the recipient’s serum for antibodies and the donor’s red cells for antigens, then mixes them to see if there is agglutination or hemolysis. A compatible result means no harmful reaction is expected, while a positive reaction indicates incompatibility and the unit should not be transfused. The ABO system is the most critical factor—if the recipient has antibodies against donor ABO antigens, a severe, immediate reaction can occur. The crossmatch also helps detect other clinically significant antibodies that could cause problems with transfusion. This is not about measuring donor hemoglobin, assessing stored blood viability, or determining shelf life; those are quality or product attributes, not compatibility testing.

Crossmatching is done to ensure that the donor red blood cells will be compatible with the recipient’s immune system. It tests the recipient’s serum for antibodies and the donor’s red cells for antigens, then mixes them to see if there is agglutination or hemolysis. A compatible result means no harmful reaction is expected, while a positive reaction indicates incompatibility and the unit should not be transfused. The ABO system is the most critical factor—if the recipient has antibodies against donor ABO antigens, a severe, immediate reaction can occur. The crossmatch also helps detect other clinically significant antibodies that could cause problems with transfusion. This is not about measuring donor hemoglobin, assessing stored blood viability, or determining shelf life; those are quality or product attributes, not compatibility testing.

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