Question about antibodies

[caligas]

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let’s say you have a trauma patient going for a non emergent but potentially blood surgery. Their Hb is 9 and pre op just drew blood for cross matching. Nobody had bothered to do so earlier so you don’t have antibody screen back. Patient has never had a transfusion.

What are the chances they have antibodies that would delay obtaining blood?

 

[echolab]

Less than 1%, according to this study.

 

[bocciball]

Probably less than 0.1% in the general population and less than 0.5% in patients known to have antibodies in the past. See Use of Uncrossmatched Erythrocytes in Emergency Bleeding Situations | Anesthesiology | ASA Publications which has been accepted for publication but is not in print yet.

 

[caligas]

Thanks. This one addresses be issue of prior transfusion. More than half had that or pregnancy. Still some risk (less than 1%) of getting into the case and not being able to get blood.

Frequency of unexpected antibody and consideration during transfusion