“The patient has a what? An anti-whatever? It’s all Greek to me!

When am I getting blood for this patient? I need it now!”

The challenges and complexities associated with identifying a patient with a red cell antibody are highly variable and unpredictable. They range from the simple — such as an Anti-D, usually identified within 30 minutes to one hour — to patients who have an autoantibody with multiple antibodies “hidden” underneath. In the latter situation, it can take days to complete the antibody identification in order to provide safe blood for transfusion to the patient. Continue reading →