This is a set of tests that looks for harmful interactions between your blood and donor blood. The tests are done before a blood transfusion.
Blood typing is the first step. This test finds out if you have blood type A, AB, B, or O. Your blood is also tested to find out if your Rh type is negative or positive. Your healthcare provider needs to know your blood type to select donor blood that’s compatible before doing the crossmatch.
An intermediate step between blood typing and crossmatching is called a recipient antibody screen. This test checks for unexpected antibodies in your blood. If unexpected antibodies are found, this can delay the selection of compatible donor blood.
Crossmatching is a way for your healthcare provider to test your blood against a donor’s blood to make sure they are fully compatible. It’s essentially a trial transfusion done in test tubes to see exactly how your blood will react with potential donor blood.
Why do I need this test?
You may need this test if you need or may need a blood transfusion. For example, you might need a blood transfusion if you have an acute hemorrhage that causes a severe loss of blood.
You may also have this test if you are having certain medical procedures that could have a complication of significant blood loss, such as a cesarean section, a renal biopsy, or heart surgery.
You may also have this test if you:
Have severe anemia or a condition that causes severe anemia, such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, or the effects of chemotherapy for cancer
Have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
Are pregnant, to find out if you are Rh negative or positive
Maybe getting an organ, bone marrow, or tissue transplant
You may have a partial crossmatch if you are in critical need of blood, and your healthcare provider decides that waiting for a full test could be more dangerous for you. If your situation is too urgent to wait for even a partial crossmatch, type O blood may be used. Type O blood is called the universal donor and has the highest probable compatibility with other blood types.
What other tests might I have along with this test?
You may also need an antibody screen.
What do my test results mean?
Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.
This test does not have a “normal” result. The goal of blood typing and crossmatching is to find a compatible blood type for transfusion.
The results of blood typing will tell you if you are type A, B, AB, or O and if you are Rh negative or positive. The results will tell your healthcare provider what blood or blood components will be safe to give you.
If your crossmatch finds no antibodies, you have a very low possibility that your blood type will be incompatible with the donor type.
If your crossmatch comes back positive, it means it’s likely that antibodies were found. In this case, the antibodies must be isolated in a lab to find out how significant they are. Not all antibodies cause donor blood to be incompatible with your type. But when they are, using blood from that particular donor will most likely be ruled out.
How is this test done?
The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand. At SOUTH PUNJAB LAB this test is done by ROCHE ROUTINE CHEMISTRY.
What might affect my test results?
A crossmatch that’s done more than 3 days before a transfusion could have inaccurate results.
