Standard operating procedures for compatibility testing are listed in
section 606.151 and must include the following:
19- A method of collecting and identifying the blood samples of recipients to ensure positive identification.
- The use of fresh recipient serum or plasma samples less than 3 days old for all pretransfusion testing if the recipient has been pregnant or transfused within the previous 3 months.
- Procedures to demonstrate incompatibility between the donor's cell type and the recipient's serum or plasma type.
- A provision that, if the unit of donor's blood has not been screened by a method that will demonstrate agglutinating, coating, and hemolytic antibodies, the recipient's cells shall be tested with the donor's serum (minor crossmatch) by a method that will so demonstrate.*
- Procedures to expedite transfusion in life-threatening emergencies. Records of all such incidents shall be maintained, including complete documentation justifying the emergency action, which shall be signed by a physician.
*Because most units are screened by the donor center and the majority of blood components are transfused as Red Blood Cells, the minor crossmatch is rarely performed as a part of compatibility testing for blood components.