Final answer:
In the blood bank section of the lab, specialists perform tests to measure the pH, type the blood, and screen for diseases. They also prepare and manage blood donations and ensure safety and compatibility through cross-matching before transfusions. Agglutination tests with specific antibodies are used to determine a patient's blood type, which is crucial for safe transfusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the blood bank section of the lab, a blood bank technology specialist performs various important tasks. They conduct routine and special tests on blood samples, such as measuring the pH, blood typing, and screening for diseases. The blood typing process involves adding specific antibodies to the blood sample to determine the presence of antigens, resulting in agglutination if the corresponding antigen is present. For instance, if a patient's blood agglutinates with anti-B serum, the patient's blood type includes the B antigen. Furthermore, these specialists manage blood donations, ensuring safety and compatibility prior to a blood transfusion through a process known as cross-matching.
When a lab technician collects a blood sample in a glass tube, they may let it rest for about an hour to obtain serum – which is plasma without the clotting factors. During this time, clotting occurs and the cellular elements are separated from the clear serum. Tests can then be performed on this serum for various diagnostic purposes, including checking for the levels of substances like glucose.
Determining blood type accurately is critical to ensure a safe transfusion. Blood type is identified through specific tests where a sample is mixed with anti-A and anti-B antibodies, observing for agglutination. If a patient's sample agglutinates with both, the blood type is AB. In emergencies, where there's no time for full typing or cross-matching, type O blood, known as the universal donor type, can be transfused because it lacks A and B antigens, minimizing the risk of adverse reactions.