Competency information
Details
Select, perform and interpret specific antibody tests in non-routine or complex cases with red cell alloantibodies. Report results in the correct clinical context, including the implications for transfusion.
Considerations
- Principles, limitations and applications of the following serological tests:
- IAT strictly at 37ºC
- two-stage enzyme
- direct agglutination
- enzyme IAT.
- Serological characteristics of red cell alloantibody specificities, including thermal range and expected reactions with enzyme-treated cells.
- Correlation between serological reactivity and potential clinical significance of red cell alloantibodies.
- Strategies to identify antibodies in complex mixtures of specificities.
- High frequency antigens, strategies for identification of corresponding antibodies and populations where antigen negative individuals are most likely to be found.
- Identifying and reporting antibodies of low clinical significance, including those with no apparent specificity.
- Clinical significance of detecting underlying red cell alloantibodies in patients with autoantibodies.
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 2 | Outcome Select, perform and interpret the results of non-routine additional tests to elucidate alloantibodies in complex cases (mixtures, high frequency, etc.), and liaise with clinicians and blood services regarding transfusion support. |