Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

ABO/Rh Type

ABO/D, ABO/Rh, Type & Group (Blood), Pediatric ABO/Rh Type, Newborn ABO/Rh Type, ABO/Rh Type, Rh (D) typing, ABO Type

Test Codes

ABO Group: EPIC: LAB5269, SOFT: ABO, ABO/Rh Type: EPIC: LAB5270, SOFT: TYPE, Rh Type: EPIC: LAB5273, SOFT: RH

Department

Blood Bank

Instructions

• Specimens used for transfusion purposes must be drawn within 3 days of intended transfusion. Day of collection is Day 0. Tubes drawn for cryoprecipitate, fresh frozen plasma, or platelet transfusions may be more than 3 days old, but must be obtained during the current admission/visit.
• For Pre-admission testing, one must order BOTH ABO/Rh Typing and Red Blood Cell Antibody Screen.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Pink-top EDTA tube, properly labeled. (Minimum Volume: 2.0 mL for ABO/Rh Typing.  If Antibody Screen is also needed, minimum volume is 5.0 mL.)
Also acceptable: (For Nursery Patients) One Pink-top EDTA Microtainer®, properly labeled. (Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL) 

It is extremely important that blood samples are accurately labeled. Inpatient labels must include the following information:

1. Patient's Name: Complete name, last name first. If the patient uses a first initial followed by a middle name, both must appear in proper order on the label.
2. Wrist Band Number:  Include the prefix letters, 4 numbers, and a suffix letter (example: BR1234T). Specimens lacking this complete information cannot be used for blood transfusion purposes.
3. Hospital Identification Number: The  medical record number must be included on the label.
4. Date and Time Collected.
5. Identification of Collector: Employee ID number must be on the sample tube or documented in the computer system.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimen at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) or refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Whole blood at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) or refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Improperly labeled specimens.
• Specimens with inadequate volume.
• Specimens collected in inappropriate collectiontubes.
• Specimens contaminated with IV fluids.
• Grossly hemolyzed samples will be tested only in emergency situations.

In-Lab Processing

Centrifuge the specimen upon receipt in the Laboratory.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 24 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 72 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Specimens are held for a minimum of 7 days.

*Once a sample arrives in Blood Bank, it cannot be shared with other laboratories.

Laboratory

Royal Oak Transfusion Medicine Laboratory (Blood Bank)
Dearborn Transfusion Medicine Laboratory (Blood Bank)

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 2 hours of receipt in the Blood Bank for inpatient requests (without unexpected ABO discrepancies) and within 24 hours s after receipt in the Blood Bank for outpatient specimens.

Test Methodology

Hemagglutination.

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

The ABO system is the most important blood group antigen system in transfusion therapy. ABO and Rh typing is crucial to reduce the risk of transfusion reactions in patients receiving blood and blood components.

CPT Codes

86900 (ABO), 86901 (Rh).

Contacts

Last Updated

10/7/2023