2. Lab-Transfusion Laboratory Skills

What are the two important components in blood bank testing?

Antigens and Antibodies.

What is a key safety measure when working with blood?

Treat all specimens as potentially infectious.

What PPE is required in the blood lab?

Safety glasses and other appropriate personal protective equipment.

What do antigens do on red blood cells?

Act like ID markers or flags.

Where are antibodies found?

In plasma.

What happens when an antigen and its matching antibody bind?

Red cells clump together, a process called agglutination.

What is a reagent in the transfusion lab?

A substance added to a tube to cause a reaction.

What are the two types of reagents you will use today?

Antisera and Commercial Red Cells.

What do antisera contain?

Known antibodies designed to react with specific antigens.

What do commercial red cells help to confirm?

Expected antibodies in patient plasma.

What is the importance of labelling tubes before testing?

To ensure identity and to know what question the tube is asking.

What must be included on full patient labelling?

Full patient name, ID number, date of birth, collection date, collection time, phlebotomist initials.

What happens before adding red cells to the testing tubes?

Tubes must be labelled.

How should antisera be written on tube labels?

With a dash (-) indicating antibody/antisera.

What does a control reagent do?

Checks that a reaction is valid and helps identify false positives.

What does Rh control indicate?

Should show no agglutination if valid; if it reacts, Anti-D result cannot be trusted.

What is the purpose of washing red cells?

To remove residual plasma that can interfere with antigen-antibody reactions.

How many times may red cells need to be washed?

It depends on the test; sometimes 1 wash, sometimes 4 or more.

What should good mixing of cells look like before centrifugation?

Red cells should be evenly suspended with no visible clumps.

What is the expected outcome after centrifugation?

A firm red cell button and clear supernatant on top.

What is the optimal concentration for a 3–5% red cell suspension?

3–5% red blood cells in saline.

Why is dilution necessary in blood bank testing?

To ensure the serum-to-cell ratio is correct for reliable agglutination.

What should a properly made 3–5% suspension look like?

Slightly cloudy, translucent red with no clumps.

What is the Goldilocks Principle regarding red cell suspensions?

An optimal amount of cells is needed; too many or too few can cause issues.

What is necessary for accurate centrifugation?

Clean, washed red cells.

What should you check for when finishing your task with cell suspensions?

All tubes must be correctly labelled, similar in appearance, and free of clots or debris.

What is the main goal of today's lab session?

To practice technique, consistency, and confidence in preparing cell suspensions.

What indicates that a test result may be unreliable?

If the red cell suspension is off.

What is the one rule you cannot break regarding tube labelling?

Never place specimen or reagent into an unlabeled tube.

What happens if you forget to mix before checking the concentration?

You may get an inaccurate assessment of the suspension's strength.

What tools will you use to judge the concentration of cell suspensions?

A pipette.