Skip to content
Medical Technology (MTLE)

Blood Banking

"RMT in the making! Blood Transfusion. Safety is paramount! Every drop counts!"

1. ABO Blood Group System 🅰️🅱️

Blood Type Antigen on RBC Antibody in Plasma Can Donate To Can Receive From
AAAnti-BA, ABA, O
BBAnti-AB, ABB, O
ABA and BNoneAB onlyALL (Universal Recipient)
ONoneAnti-A, Anti-BALL (Universal Donor)O only

2. Rh Blood Group System 🔴

Rh D Antigen

  • Rh Positive: D antigen present (85% of population)
  • Rh Negative: D antigen absent (15% of population)
  • Anti-D antibodies are acquired (IgG), not naturally occurring

Hemolytic Disease of Newborn (HDN)

  • Rh- mother + Rh+ fetus = Risk of sensitization
  • IgG anti-D crosses placenta, attacks fetal RBCs
  • Prevention: RhoGAM (Anti-D Immunoglobulin) at 28 weeks and within 72 hrs after delivery

3. Pre-Transfusion Testing

Steps in Compatibility Testing

  1. Patient ABO/Rh typing (forward and reverse)
  2. Antibody screening (Indirect Coombs)
  3. Crossmatch - Patient serum + Donor cells

Coombs Test (Antiglobulin Test)

  • Direct (DAT): Detects antibodies on patient RBCs (autoimmune hemolytic anemia, HDN)
  • Indirect (IAT): Detects antibodies in patient serum (antibody screening, crossmatch)

4. Transfusion Reactions 🚨

Acute Hemolytic (ABO Incompatibility)

  • Fever, chills, back pain, hypotension
  • Hemoglobinuria (red/brown urine)
  • STOP transfusion immediately!

Febrile Non-Hemolytic

  • Most common reaction
  • Fever, chills (no hemolysis)
  • Caused by WBC antibodies

Allergic

  • Urticaria, itching
  • Reaction to plasma proteins
  • Treat with antihistamines

TRALI (Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury)

  • Respiratory distress within 6 hours
  • Pulmonary edema (non-cardiogenic)
  • Leading cause of transfusion deaths

💡 Board Exam Tips - Blood Banking

  • O- = Universal Donor (RBCs), AB+ = Universal Recipient
  • Direct Coombs = antibodies ON cells, Indirect = antibodies IN serum
  • FIRST action for any transfusion reaction: STOP THE TRANSFUSION

Test Your Knowledge! 🧠

Ready ka na ba? Take the practice quiz for Blood Banking to reinforce what you just learned.

Start Practice Quiz 📝

📚 More from Medical Technology (MTLE)