Final answer:
Immunohematology involves tests like blood typing, crossmatching, antibody screening, and the direct antiglobulin test, which are crucial for ensuring safe blood transfusions and diagnosing blood-related immune disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Routinely Performed Immunohematological Tests
Immunohematology is a vital branch of laboratory medicine that deals with the study of blood, blood-forming tissue, and the immune response related to blood cells. This field is particularly important in the context of blood transfusions, where matching donor and patient blood types is critical to avoid transfusion reactions.
Blood Typing and Crossmatching
One of the primary tests in immunohematology is blood typing. This involves determining the ABO and Rh blood groups of a patient through the interaction of antigens present on the surface of red blood cells with specific antibodies. The determination of blood type is essential in blood transfusion and organ transplantation.
Crossmatching is another critical test which ensures compatibility between donor and recipient blood. In this test, the recipient's serum is mixed with the donor's red blood cells to observe any agglutination or hemolysis, indicating an immune reaction.
Antibody Screening and Identification
Antibody screening is performed to detect any unexpected antibodies in the patient's blood that could cause adverse reactions in case of transfusion. Following a screen, if antibodies are detected, an antibody identification test is undertaken to identify the specific antibodies present.
Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT)
The DAT is used to determine if there are antibodies bound to the surface of red blood cells in vivo, which can be a sign of autoimmune hemolytic anemia or hemolytic disease of the newborn. Positive results can indicate an immune response against the patient's own red blood cells or sensitization to foreign red blood cells.
Clinical Significance and Interpretation
The results of these tests hold immense clinical significance, guiding clinicians in safe blood transfusion practices, diagnosis of blood disorders, and the management of disease states like anemia. A correct interpretation of immunohematological tests is crucial to avoid transfusion reactions, hemolytic disease, and other complications.