Two (2) Lavender (EDTA), 4mL and

Two (2) Red serum vial/tube, 10 mL tubes

Sample should be obtained no more than 3 days (up to 96 hours) prior to testing.

In certain circumstances, additional blood may be requested to complete testing. If the patient has a known antibody, collect and submit 2-3 4mL EDTA whole blood tubes for testing.

Lavender:

Immediatley following collection, mix sample by inverting 8 - 10 times to prevent clotting.

Labelling instructions:

Excellian sites:
Tube must be labeled with the patients first and last name and Excellian MRN, date and time of collection and phlebotomist’s A#

Non-Excellian sites:
Tube must be labeled with the patient's first and last name and date of birth, date and time of collection and phlebotomist’s initials.

Submit all tubes unspun

Two (2) Lavender (EDTA), 4mL tubes and

Two (2) Red serum vial/tubes, 10mL

Refrigerated - 3 days (96 hrs)

• Improper label (unlabeled or mislabeled)
• Hemolysis

Column-agglutination

Agglutination

Negative

If positive:

• Specifictiy of the alloantibody (ies) will be stated.
• The patient's red blood cells may be typed for the corresponding antigens or as an aid to identificaton in complex cases.

Alloantibodies can be naturally occuring or arise after exposure to foreign red blood cells (RBC) via transfusion or pregnancy. In some people, the alloantibodies may be capable of RBC destruction or cause destruction of fetal RBC in utero. It is important to identify the antibody specificity in order to assess its capability of causing clinical harm and, if necessary to avoid the antigen on transfused RBC.

Autoantibodies react against the patient's own RBC as well as the majority of cells tested. Autoantibodies can be clinically beinign or can hemolyze the patient's own RBC, such as in cold agglutinin disease or automimmune hemolytic anemia.