LabQ 2026 Clinical Laboratory: Transfusion Medicine Faculty/Authors
Randy Frazier, MLS(ASCP)CM Atlanticare Regional Medical Center Atlantic City, New Jersey
CMLE Credit: 2.0Estimated Completion Time: 2 hour
Format: Online Educational Activity and Post Exam
Instructions
To claim CMLE credit for the exercise, do the following:
Faculty DisclosuresThe faculty have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
Technical Considerations
Release Date: 3/31/2026 Review Date:Expiration Date: 12/31/2028
recognize the clinical signs and laboratory indicators of a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR), including jaundice, falling hemoglobin, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), indirect hyperbilirubinemia, and low haptoglobin;
explain the immunologic mechanisms underlying DHTRs, with emphasis on anamnestic antibody responses and the role of common alloantibodies such as anti-E, anti-K, and anti-Jka;
evaluate the limitations of routine serologic testing, including the potential for negative direct anti-human globulin test (DAT) and undetectable antibodies at the time of transfusion, and understand when to refer specimens to an immunohematology reference laboratory;
discuss the importance of extended red cell antigen matching and comprehensive transfusion histories, particularly in females of childbearing age or patients with recent pregnancy or transfusion exposure; and
outline appropriate management strategies for DHTRs, including supportive care, transfusion avoidance when possible, and monitoring for resolution of hemolysis.