title: Guidelines for compatibility testing in hospital blood banks. A joint publication of the British Society for Haematology and the British Blood Transfusion Society.
abstract: The aims of this report are to present minimum guidelines for antibody screening and compatibility testing. In view of the high incidence of antibody detection failures found in recent international external proficiency trials, the Working Party does not advocate the omission of the anti-human globulin (AHG) test in the compatibility procedure for patients with negative antibody screens until such time as blind test trials demonstrate a much higher standard of test performance. The approach of these guidelines is mainly advisory, although details of important principles and techniques are given. The design of procedures for emergency situations is particularly difficult as, in the overall interests of the patient, sensitivity may have to be compromised. In this situation two pitfalls must be avoided--the issue of ABO incompatible blood because of inadequate and rushed procedures on the one hand, and failure to supply blood before the patient becomes irreversibly shocked on the other. An element of flexibility must therefore be allowed which requires a high level of training and an understanding of the clinical situation.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000379:methods*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D006285:Health Planning; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies