FREE Medical Laboratory Technician Blood Banking and Transfusion Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient experiences fever, chills, and flank pain 15 minutes after the start of a red blood cell transfusion. The transfusion is stopped immediately. What is the most likely cause of this transfusion reaction?

Accepted Answer

Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction

Answer

The classic symptoms of fever, chills, and flank pain are strongly indicative of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction (AHTR), which is a medical emergency. This type of reaction is most often caused by an ABO incompatibility, leading to rapid intravascular destruction of the transfused red cells. While a febrile non-hemolytic reaction involves fever and chills, flank pain is not a typical symptom. Allergic reactions usually present with urticaria and itching, and TACO is characterized by respiratory distress due to fluid overload.

Question 2

Which of the following blood components must be prepared from a whole blood donation within 8 hours of collection to maintain optimal levels of all coagulation factors?

Accepted Answer

Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)

Answer

Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) must be separated from whole blood and frozen, typically within 8 hours of collection, to preserve the labile coagulation factors, particularly Factor V and Factor VIII. Processing after this timeframe results in a product called Plasma Frozen within 24 hours (PF24), which has reduced levels of these factors. PRBCs, platelets, and cryoprecipitate have different processing timeframes and requirements.

Question 3

An ABO discrepancy is observed in a 75-year-old patient. The forward typing shows A positive, while the reverse typing shows no reaction with A1 cells or B cells. What is the most likely cause of this discrepancy?

Accepted Answer

Weak or missing antibodies

Answer

The discrepancy shows a lack of expected anti-B antibodies in the reverse typing. In elderly patients, antibody production can decrease, leading to weak or missing isoagglutinins. A subgroup of A would likely show a weaker reaction with anti-A, and potentially an anti-A1. A cold autoantibody would typically cause extra agglutination. A recent transfusion with group O blood would not eliminate the patient's native anti-B.

Question 4

A Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) is performed to detect which of the following?

Accepted Answer

In-vivo sensitization of red blood cells with antibodies or complement

Answer

The Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT), or Direct Coombs test, is used to detect red blood cells that have been sensitized with antibodies or complement in the body (in-vivo). This is a key test in the investigation of hemolytic transfusion reactions, hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), and autoimmune hemolytic anemias. The Indirect Antiglobulin Test (IAT) is used to detect unexpected antibodies in patient serum (in-vitro sensitization).

Question 5

To prevent alloimmunization to leukocyte antigens in chronically transfused patients, which blood product modification is most effective?

Accepted Answer

Leukoreduction

Answer

Leukoreduction is the process of removing white blood cells (leukocytes) from a blood component. This is the most effective method for reducing the risk of febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions and alloimmunization to HLA antigens, which are present on leukocytes. Irradiation prevents transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, while washing removes plasma proteins to prevent allergic reactions.

Medical Laboratory Technician Exam Practice Test

Medical Laboratory Technician Exam Practice Test

FREE Medical Laboratory Technician Blood Banking and Transfusion Questions and Answers