Final answer:
The assistant should ask the patient if there's anything that could make them more comfortable and if they have had any past issues with blood draws. If a patient's blood sample agglutinates with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, it indicates the patient has type AB blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a medical assistant notices a patient appearing very anxious before a blood draw, it's important to ensure the patient's safety and comfort. A good question to ask would be, "Is there anything I can explain about the procedure, or anything that might make you more comfortable?" This allows the patient to express any concerns and receive reassurance. If the anxiety seems severe, the assistant might also consider asking, "Have you had any fainting spells or dizziness with blood draws before?" to be prepared for potential complications.
Regarding the phlebotomy situation explained in the student's inquiry, if both the anti-A and anti-B antibodies cause agglutination when added to the blood sample, this indicates that the blood type of the patient is AB positive or AB negative. This is a normal response for those blood types because they contain both A and B antigens on the surface of their red blood cells, causing them to agglutinate in the presence of both types of antibodies.