Alvedia

Crossmatching

A crossmatch should always be performed when recipient has been previously transfused or when there is a story of a transfusion reaction.
The major and minor crossmatch are performed to assist in providing compatible red cell products and possibly alleviating adverse reactions to transfusion.
Two different tests reveal the presence of antibodies in the serum :
The major crossmatch: recipient’s serum, donor’s erythrocytes. It is performed to detect antibodies in the recipient’s serum that may agglutinate or hemolyse the donor’s erythrocyte. In case of a positive result, there is a risk of transfusion reaction : the donor has to be changed.
The minor crossmatch: recipient’s erythrocytes, donor’s serum. It is performed to detect antibodies in the donor’s plasma directed against recipient erythrocytes. In case of a positive result, it is recommended to change donor.

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