A patient types as AB positive and has ordered two units of blood. Which should be set up for the major crossmatch from the available inventory?

A patient types as AB positive and has ordered two units of blood. Which should be set up for the major crossmatch from the available inventory?

• A. A-positive units
• B. O-positive units
• C. B-positive units
• D. Call another blood supplier for type-specific blood

Answer: (A)

When conducting a major crossmatch for a patient with an AB positive blood type, the most compatible units to set up for transfusion are A-positive units. This is because individuals with AB blood type can receive blood from any ABO type (A, B, AB, or O) without the risk of ABO incompatibility. However, it is generally preferable to match the Rh factor when possible, and since the patient is positive for the Rh factor (Rh+), A-positive units are particularly suitable. Choosing A-positive units ensures that the patient receives erythrocytes that are structurally compatible with their own blood type and reduces the risk of hemolysis or other transfusion reactions caused by incompatible blood types. While O-positive units are often considered as universal donors for Rh-positive transfusions, they do not fully match the A antigen present in the patient’s blood, making A-positive units the ideal choice for a more specific match. B-positive units, while they may be compatible with AB-positive individuals, are not as preferred as A-positive units due to the presence of the B antigen, which the patient’s immune system might recognize as foreign and may trigger an immune response. Calling another blood supplier would extend the time before transfusion and likely delay critical

When conducting a major crossmatch for a patient with an AB positive blood type, the most compatible units to set up for transfusion are A-positive units. This is because individuals with AB blood type can receive blood from any ABO type (A, B, AB, or O) without the risk of ABO incompatibility. However, it is generally preferable to match the Rh factor when possible, and since the patient is positive for the Rh factor (Rh+), A-positive units are particularly suitable.

Choosing A-positive units ensures that the patient receives erythrocytes that are structurally compatible with their own blood type and reduces the risk of hemolysis or other transfusion reactions caused by incompatible blood types.

While O-positive units are often considered as universal donors for Rh-positive transfusions, they do not fully match the A antigen present in the patient’s blood, making A-positive units the ideal choice for a more specific match. B-positive units, while they may be compatible with AB-positive individuals, are not as preferred as A-positive units due to the presence of the B antigen, which the patient’s immune system might recognize as foreign and may trigger an immune response. Calling another blood supplier would extend the time before transfusion and likely delay critical