Final answer:
Firstly, try to reassure and persuade a patient who refuses a blood draw. If unsuccessful, note the refusal and consult the nurse. In the blood type test scenario, agglutination with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies is normal and signifies an AB blood type.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first course of action when a patient refuses to allow you to draw blood is to try to gently and calmly assure and persuade the patient. If the patient still refuses, then you should note the refusal on the requisition and return to the lab. Reporting it to the patient's nurse is also advisable, as the nurse may have more information on the patient's medical history and the potential reasons for refusal. It is essential to respect patient autonomy and their right to refuse medical procedures. Under no circumstances should an assistant hold the patient down while you draw the blood, as that would be unethical and illegal.
In preparation for a scheduled surgery, if the patient's blood agglutinates with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, this would be a normal response and indicates that the patient has AB blood type. The presence of agglutination with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies shows that the patient's blood contains both A and B antigens, which is characteristic of the AB blood type.1