From the Research
A type and screen test is a blood test that identifies a person's blood type (A, B, AB, or O) and screens for unexpected antibodies in their blood, and it is essential for preventing potentially life-threatening transfusion reactions. This test is routinely performed before blood transfusions, during pregnancy, and prior to certain surgeries to ensure safe blood product administration. The test involves two parts: the "type" component determines the ABO blood group and Rh factor (positive or negative), while the "screen" component checks for antibodies that could react with donor blood 1. The test requires a small blood sample, usually drawn from a vein, and results are typically available within a few hours.
Importance of Type and Screen Testing
Type and screen testing is crucial for preventing transfusion reactions that can occur when incompatible blood is given. For pregnant women, this test helps identify potential Rh incompatibility issues that could affect the fetus. No special preparation is needed before the test, and it carries minimal risks beyond those associated with a standard blood draw. According to a study published in 2023, accurate ABO blood typing is a critical requirement for the safety and effectiveness of blood transfusion in clinical practice 1.
Blood Group Systems
The ABO blood group system is the most clinically significant blood group system in clinical blood transfusion, and it is closely related to clinical blood transfusion, transplantation, and neonatal hemolytic disease 1. The Rh blood group system is also important, and it is determined by the RHD and RHCE homologous genes on chromosome 1 1.
Clinical Application
The clinical application of ABO blood typing is essential for preventing transfusion reactions, and it is also correlated with many diseases, such as COVID-19 and malignant tumors 1, 2. A study published in 2025 found an association between A and AB blood type and more severe COVID-19, although the underlying mechanism is not fully understood 2.
Testing Methods
The most common ABO blood group typing methods in clinical laboratories are hemagglutination test and microcolumn gel test, while genotype detection is mainly adopted in clinical identification of suspicious blood types 1. The agglutination method is often used in clinical settings, while genetic and sequencing methods are often used in scientific research 3.