Warm autoantibody interference remains one of the most complex challenges in immunohematology, often resulting in false-positive red cell phenotyping that can compromise transfusion safety. This presentation examines the technical causes of misphenotyping such as panreactivity, sensitized red cells, and overlooked patient history, including recent transfusions that may lead to the inappropriate selection of antigen-positive units. Such errors pose serious risks, particularly for patients of childbearing age, where misphenotyping can result in the transfusion of non-phenotype-matched blood, increasing the likelihood of alloimmunization and the potential for hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in future pregnancies. While molecular genotyping remains the gold standard for accurate phenotype determination, routine reliance on it may delay patient care, especially in settings where it is not readily available or financially feasible. This session focuses on practical serologic approaches, including thorough history review, critical technical decision-making, and the use of chemical treatments to resolve serologic interference and improve phenotype reliability.
The session underscores the vital role of blood bank professionals in recognizing diagnostic pitfalls, reviewing transfusion history, implementing best practices, and applying appropriate technical procedures to address phenotyping challenges in the presence of autoantibody interference ensuring accurate, timely, and safe pre-transfusion decisions that directly support patient care.
This session offers 1.0 CME/CMLE credit.