Question

If A+, B+, AB+, and O+ are compatible with anti-K and anti-E, what would be compatible in a minor crossmatch? Which units would be incompatible?

For convenience here is my initial question:

A patient needs 2 units of blood. The blood typing showed the patient to be AB pos. An antibody screen was positive and the antibodies identified were anti-K and anti-E. List all ABO and Rh units that would be compatible with the patient in a major crossmatch. What special characteristics must these units have in order to be compatible?

Answer 1

For a patient with AB+ blood, compatible units for transfusion should be A+, B+, AB+, or O+ and lack both Kell (K) and RhE (E) antigens. Units containing these antigens would be incompatible due to the patient's anti-K and anti-E antibodies.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a patient with blood type AB+ who has an antibody screen positive for anti-K and anti-E, compatible units in a major crossmatch should not contain the Kell (K) antigen or the RhE (E) antigen to prevent adverse reactions. A patient with AB+ blood is considered a universal recipient for ABO and Rh type; however, they must still avoid blood units with antigens that correspond to their antibodies. Thus, the units that would be compatible for transfusion with this patient are those that are A+, B+, AB+ or O+ and lack the Kell and RhE antigens.

During a minor crossmatch, where the patient's plasma is tested against donor red blood cells, any blood units that contain the Kell or RhE antigens would be incompatible due to the presence of anti-K and anti-E antibodies in the patient's plasma, leading to potential agglutination and harmful transfusion reactions.