What is the purpose of antigen typing patient cells prior to a major crossmatch?

Antigen typing patient cells prior to a major crossmatch serves several critical purposes, and confirming antibody identification is one of the key aspects. When a patient's serum is tested against donor red blood cells, identifying the presence of any unexpected antibodies is essential in determining compatibility for transfusion. By performing antigen typing on the patient's cells, the laboratory can ascertain which specific antigens are present or absent, aiding in the identification of any corresponding antibodies.

This process is crucial for confirming whether the antibodies detected in the patient's serum are indeed targeting specific antigens on the donor red blood cells. If the patient's cells show the antigens that the detected antibodies would react against, it confirms the specificity of those antibodies and helps inform the clinician about the potential for transfusion reactions.

While facilitating donor selection, preventing transfusion reactions, and reducing the need for serological testing are also important aspects in transfusion medicine, they stem from the accurate identification and confirmation processes that antigen typing supports. Specifically, confirming antibody identification ensures that the appropriate precautions can be taken to ensure patient safety during transfusion.