Blood donations and blood banking

What tests are performed in blood banking?

A certain set of standard tests are performed in the laboratory once blood is donated, including but not limited to, the following:

• Typing: ABO group (blood type)
• Rh typing (positive or negative antigen)
• Screening for any unexpected red blood cell antibodies that may cause problems in the recipient
• Screening for current or past infections including:
  • hepatitis viruses B and C
  • human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • human T-lymphotrophic viruses (HTLV) I and II
  • syphilis
• Irradiation to blood cells is performed to disable any T-lymphocytes present in the donated blood. (T-lymphocytes can cause a reaction when transfused, but can also cause what is called graft-versus-host problems with repeated exposure to foreign cells.)
• Leukocyte reduced blood has been filtered to remove the white blood cells which contain antibodies that can cause fevers in the recipient of the transfusion. (These antibodies, with repeated transfusions, may also increase a recipient's risk of reactions to subsequent transfusions.)