Laboratory Science Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Rh antigen is the most clinically significant and is the basis for Rh-positive/Rh-negative typing?
- C antigen
- E antigen
- D antigen (Correct answer)
- c antigen (little c)
Correct answer: D antigen
The D antigen is the most immunogenic Rh antigen and determines whether a person is classified as Rh-positive or Rh-negative.
Question 2: What is the maximum allowable storage time for fresh frozen plasma (FFP) stored at -18°C or below?
- 6 months
- 1 year (12 months) (Correct answer)
- 2 years (24 months)
- 3 months
Correct answer: 1 year (12 months)
FFP stored at -18°C or below has a shelf life of 1 year; once thawed, it must be transfused within 24 hours.
Question 3: The weak D test is performed primarily to:
- Confirm ABO typing in emergency situations
- Identify anti-D antibodies in patient serum
- Detect weak expression of the D antigen in apparently Rh-negative individuals (Correct answer)
- Determine donor suitability for platelet apheresis
Correct answer: Detect weak expression of the D antigen in apparently Rh-negative individuals
Weak D testing identifies individuals with reduced or qualitatively different D antigen expression, preventing misclassification as Rh-negative.
Question 4: Leukoreduction of blood products is performed primarily to:
- Remove viral pathogens from donor blood
- Extend the shelf life of red blood cell units
- Prevent bacterial contamination during processing
- Reduce febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions and CMV transmission risk (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Reduce febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions and CMV transmission risk
Removing donor white blood cells reduces febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions caused by donor leukocyte antigens and cytokines, and decreases the risk of CMV transmission.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of irradiating blood products before transfusion?
- Inactivate viral pathogens in plasma
- Extend the shelf life of cellular blood components
- Prevent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD) (Correct answer)
- Sterilize the blood and eliminate bacterial contamination
Correct answer: Prevent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GvHD)
Irradiation inactivates donor T-lymphocytes, preventing them from engrafting and attacking tissues in immunocompromised recipients (TA-GvHD).
Question 6: Which blood group system is the most clinically significant after the ABO system?
- Rh system (Correct answer)
- Lewis system
- Duffy system
- P system
Correct answer: Rh system
The Rh system is the second most clinically significant blood group due to its high immunogenicity and role in hemolytic transfusion reactions and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.
Question 7: What is the maximum volume collected in a standard whole blood donation?
- 250 mL
- 450-500 mL (Correct answer)
- 700 mL
- 1000 mL
Correct answer: 450-500 mL
Standard whole blood donations collect 450-500 mL (approximately one pint or 10% of total blood volume) to ensure donor safety.
Laboratory Science Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine 2
Which Rh antigen is the most clinically significant and is the basis for Rh-positive/Rh-negative typing?