Type and Screen Blood Testing
Yes, a type and screen (T&S) test will determine your ABO and Rh(D) blood type. This is the fundamental first component of the type and screen procedure, which includes both blood typing and antibody screening 1, 2, 3.
What the Type and Screen Includes
The type and screen consists of two distinct components:
- Blood typing (ABO/Rh): Determines your specific blood group (A, B, AB, or O) and Rh status (positive or negative) 1, 3
- Antibody screening: Tests your serum for unexpected antibodies that could cause transfusion reactions 2, 3
How It Works
- The test identifies which antigens are present or absent on your red blood cells, establishing your ABO and Rh(D) type 3
- ABO typing is confirmed through "reverse grouping" that detects expected isoagglutinins (naturally occurring antibodies) 3
- The antibody screen uses reagent red blood cells to detect any unexpected antibodies in your plasma that could react with donor blood 2, 4
Clinical Effectiveness
- The type and screen is 99.99% effective in preventing transfusion of incompatible blood when the antibody screen is negative 2, 4
- If unexpected antibodies are detected (occurring in approximately 3.75% of patients), additional crossmatching with specific donor units is required before transfusion 1
- The screening reagent red blood cells can detect 96.11% of clinically significant antibodies 4
When Crossmatching Is Not Required
- If your antibody screen is negative, blood can be released for transfusion without full crossmatching in most elective surgical situations 1, 2
- An immediate spin procedure (quick compatibility check) is typically performed before releasing blood, which verifies ABO compatibility and detects high-titer antibodies against rare antigens 2
The type and screen has become the standard pretransfusion testing policy because it safely identifies your blood type while efficiently managing blood bank resources 5.