well yes and no. It would depend what the test was. The typical test not offering controls would be an antibody screen. As most of these are negative or positive with only some of the cells, this acts as its own control. Where you would need to perform a 'negative' control is if all screening cells are positive. This would be done by carrying out an auto-control with the panel. If that is positive too, however, you still won't know, in the absence of any other information, whether the patient has a true auto-antibody or whether the patient is reacting because of the potentiator in the AHG / diluent.
For antigen testing, a must however, especially if tested in an IAT or with enzymes