Antibody screening

Assay or method which detects antibodies toward non-ABO blood group antigens, primarily alloantibodies such as Kell, Kidd, etc. It tests the patient's serum with reagent red blood cells with known antigens attached to them. An antibody screen is done prior to every blood transfusion to identify which unit(s) of blood will be least likely to cause an antibody response from the recipient of the transfusion.