Blood Typing
Alternate Names : ABO Blood Typing, Cross Matching, Rh Typing
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Special Considerations
There are many antigens besides the major ones (A, B, and Rh). Many minor antigens are not routinely detected during blood typing. If allowed to go unrecognized, they can initiate a blood transfusion reaction, usually of less magnitude than that of a major blood group incompatibility.
These minor antigens can be detected by cross-matching, which consists of incubating the recipient's serum with the donor's red blood cells (RBCs) in a saline solution followed by the addition of Coombs serum (see Coombs' test - indirect).
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