Final answer:
Compatibility testing ensures the transfused blood is safe by confirming ABO and Rh types and screening for other antibodies, preventing adverse reactions or death. Testing protects against harmful agglutination caused by immune reactions to incompatible blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
Importance of Compatibility Testing
Compatibility testing is of utmost importance in transfusion medicine for several reasons. Primarily, its significance lies in avoiding adverse reactions, which can range from minor allergic reactions to fatal outcomes such as hemolytic transfusion reactions or even death. Compatibility testing includes procedures such as ABO and Rh typing, antibody screening, cross-matching, and antiglobulin tests to ensure that the donor blood is compatible with the recipient's blood.
The pretransfusion blood testing procedure involves using commercially prepared antibodies against A, B, and Rh antigens to confirm both the unit's blood type and the patient's blood type. Any discrepancy between the donor and recipient blood types can cause the recipient's immune system to react against the transfused red blood cells, leading to agglutination (clumping), which is harmful and potentially life-threatening.
In addition to ABO and Rh antigens, red blood cells possess numerous other antigens. The presence of antibodies against these antigens may cause adverse reactions, so an antibody screen test is used to detect any such antibodies in the patient's serum. This test ensures that the patient is not making antibodies against antigens outside the ABO or Rh systems and is critical for patients with a history of multiple pregnancies or transfusions.
Therefore, the correct answer to why compatibility testing is important is: B) To avoid adverse reactions, even death, from transfusion.