Which laboratory technique may be used to enhance detection of weak ABO antigens in cancer-related discrepancies?

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Multiple Choice

Which laboratory technique may be used to enhance detection of weak ABO antigens in cancer-related discrepancies?

Enzymatic treatment of red cells can boost detection of weak ABO antigens. Enzymes such as ficin or papain modify the red cell surface by cleaving certain glycoproteins and removing masking factors, which exposes the underlying A and B carbohydrate determinants. In cancer-related discrepancies, antigen density on red cells can be reduced, making agglutination weak or missed; enzyme modification reveals these antigens and yields stronger reactions with anti-A or anti-B antisera, improving typing accuracy. The other options don’t specifically unmask weak ABO antigens in this context.

Enzymatic treatment of red cells can boost detection of weak ABO antigens. Enzymes such as ficin or papain modify the red cell surface by cleaving certain glycoproteins and removing masking factors, which exposes the underlying A and B carbohydrate determinants. In cancer-related discrepancies, antigen density on red cells can be reduced, making agglutination weak or missed; enzyme modification reveals these antigens and yields stronger reactions with anti-A or anti-B antisera, improving typing accuracy. The other options don’t specifically unmask weak ABO antigens in this context.

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