How to Test for ABO Types

The most important thing is that ABO type and we will always do looking forward types. We're only required for pre-transfusion testing to do a direct test or an immediate spin test. The other piece of that that goes right with the ABO type is an RH type for looking for the presence or absence of RHD. So determining whether you're RH positive, you'll have the D antigen present or RH negative and you don't. And then finally we do an antibody detection test or what everybody calls an antibody screen. What we're doing is looking at the patient's plasma to determine if they have any additional antibodies beyond their normal ABO antibodies.