What is a Type & Screen?

Do you know what testing is done on your blood when a doctor orders a type and screen?
     It is actually two tests:
          The Type:
              Determine your ABO and Rh type
                      Look for the A or B antigen on the Red Blood Cell and for anti-A or anti-B in the plasma
                                     This determines your ABO type
                     Look for the D antigen on the Red Blood Cell
                                     This determines if you are Rh positive or negative

         The Screen:
              Look for antibodies to Red Blood Cell antigens that have developed due to exposure to foreign Red Blood Cells through transfusion, pregnancy, or sharing of blood via needles.
              It is interpreted as either Positive or Negative
                      For Positive Antibody Screens, the antibody is identified and future blood transfusions should not have the Red Blood Cell antigen to the identified antibody.


What is meant by Type & Cross?
        This means that the doctor wants the lab to perform a Type & Screen, plus crossmatch Red Blood Cell untis for transfusion.