I know that you should type a patient for the antigen when you have identified an antibody. Example patient has anti-Cw. But a lot of places do not carry the full range of antisera.

So you send it out to be typed and ask for antigen negative units?

Do you not antigen type the patient and find crossmatch compatible?

First, I do not see the connection between antigen typing the patient and the decision to select antigen negative blood.

Antigen typing

It is always better to type the patient for the antigen where the antibodies are directed against but I do not see the advantage to let this type by an another lab that is not doing the antibody identification. As somebody of a reference lab I hate to test only the antigen while the hospital has done the identification.

Selecting antigen neg units

This is only depended on the fact if you state the antibody as potential clinical relevant, in that case you should order antigen neg units. Im case of an anti Cw is mostly a natural occuring not clinical relevant antibody. But the word "mostly" is here the key, some anti Cw are immune and IgG and can cose red cell destruction therefore we say; antigen neg units.

Peter

Anti-Cw is considered clinically insignificant in the UK and the transfusion service would not routinely supply Cw antigen negative units. I am sure I will be corrected if the above statement is incorrect

Steve

:)

we give crossmatch compatible by gel, do not test for Cw.

Anti-Cw is NOT considered clinically insignificant in the UK and the transfusion service would not routinely supply Cw antigen negative units. I am sure I will be corrected if the above statement is incorrect

Steve

:)

Sorry Steve (but I think that is what you meant anyway)!

Now there is a contradiction in the corrected Steve - post, Malcolm, read it again please...

Now there is a contradiction in the corrected Steve - post, Malcolm, read it again please...

WHOOPS!!!!!!!!!!! I missd the "in" in the "insignificant".

Apologies to all (especially Steve).

Thats fine Malcolm, I have to say I was somewhat confused when I read your response and very grateful to Liz and her response pointing out the contradiction. I was still trying to work out what was wrong - my brain cells being much slower!!!

Steve