Final answer:
A hemolyzed blood sample used for a crossmatch can lead to inaccurate results and should therefore be replaced with a new, non-hemolyzed sample to ensure patient safety. In emergency situations with severe bleeding, type O blood may be transfused as it is the universal donor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Responding to Hemolyzed Blood Samples in Crossmatching
When faced with a hemolyzed blood sample intended for pre-operation crossmatch, the proper course of action is to first acknowledge that a hemolyzed sample can interfere with accurate blood typing and crossmatching results. Due to the potential for erroneous results and the critical need to ensure patient safety, a new, non-hemolyzed sample should be obtained before proceeding with the crossmatch. Hemolysis can mask the presence of agglutinins, leading to a false-negative result, and may also introduce extraneous substances that could cause misleading reactions in the assay. In circumstances of urgent need when a patient cannot wait for the time it takes to collect a new sample, such as life-threatening hemorrhage, type O blood can be administered as it is considered the universal donor type. However, in the context of the pre-operation situation provided, there is presumably enough time to collect a new, non-hemolyzed sample to ensure compatibility and avoid transfusion reactions.