Cross-matching (or crossmatching) blood, in transfusion medicine, refers to the testing that is performed prior to a blood transfusion in order to determine if the donor's blood is compatible with the blood of an intended recipient. Cross-matching is also used to determine compatibility between a donor and recipient, in organ transplantation. Compatibility is determined through matching of different blood group systems, the most important of which are the ABO and Rh system.
Cross-matching is done by a certified laboratory technologist, in a laboratory. It can be done electronically, with a computer database if a patient has previously been tested, or serologically by way of testing. Simpler tests may be used to determine blood type (only), or to screen for antibodies (only). (indirect Coombs test).
Types of cross-matching
Immediate-spin cross-matching (ISCM)
Immediate-spin cross-matching is an abbreviated form of cross-matching that is faster, less expensive but also less sensitive. It is an immediate test that takes several minutes to do and it can be done at room temperature. Indications for ISCM are dependent on the circumstances of the patient and it can be used in place of a full cross-match or performed as a preliminary test.
Electronic cross-matching is a computer-assisted analysis using data, from the donor unit (where a donor's blood is tested prior to donation) and testing done on blood samples from the intended recipient. This includes ABO/Rh typing of the unit and of the recipient, and an antibody screen of the recipient. Electronic cross-matching can only be used if a patient has a negative antibody screen, which means that they do not have any active red blood cell atypical antibodies, or they are below the detectable level of current testing methods. If all of the data entered is compatible, the computer will print a compatibility label stating that the unit is safe to transfuse.
Cross-matching falls into two categories:
- Major cross-match: Recipient serum is tested against donor packed cells to determine if the recipient has preformed antibodies against any antigens on the donor's cells. This is the required cross-match prior to release of a unit of packed cells.
- Minor cross-match: Recipient red cells are tested against donor serum to detect donor antibodies directed against a patient's antigens. This is no longer required. It is assumed that the small amount of donor serum and antibodies left in a unit of packed cells will be diluted in a recipient.
As the complete cross-matching process takes approximately 1 hour, it is not always used in emergencies.
In the case of an emergency, a type-specific blood to which the recipient has no antibodies, can be requested. It is thought that this lifesaving measure is of more benefit than any risk of an antibody-mediated transfusion reaction. This type of blood has less risk of a serious transfusion reaction because it is both ABO compatible and Rhesus (Rh)-compatible.
Universal donor blood which is both type O and Rh negative, can be given if the recipient's blood group is not known, as may happen in an emergency.
In an emergency, blood grouping can be done easily and quickly in 2 or 3 minutes in the laboratory on glass slides with appropriate reagents, by trained technical staff. This method depends on the presence or absence of agglutination (clumping of red blood cells), which can usually be visualized directly. Presence of agglutination indicates incompatibility. Occasionally a light microscope may be needed. If laboratory services are not available, the bedside card method of blood grouping may be used, where a drop of the intended recipients blood is added to dried reagents on a prepared card. This method may not be as reliable as laboratory methods, which are preferable.
- Nobelprize.org Interactive online game for blood typing and transfusion (Flash Player 5 required)