Supervisory Candidate Examination

This is the sample examination I made for the senior-most staff and candidates. This is really a projective exercise. How far can you go with this? The candidate must specify what additional information he/she needs to complete the assessment.

Name: Badge #:

Date of Exam:

Answer the following questions:

What is the ABO blood type in each of the following results:

Anti-A	Anti-B	Anti-A,B	A1 cells	B cells	O Cells	ABS	Type?
0	4+	3+	0	0	0	0
3+	0	3+	1+	4+	0	Neg
3+	1+	3+	0	3+	0	Neg
Weak	0	2+	0	4+	0	Neg
0	0	0	4+	4+	4+	Pos, all cells
Weak	0	0	4+	4+	4+	Pos, all cells
0	4+	3+	4+	2+	0	Pos, SCIII
Mf	0	0	0	4+	0	Neg

ABS = antibody screen; mf = mixed field reaction

Assume that all reactions are the same by both the tube and gel methods.

In the above table, list any discrepancies in each of the testing panels. Describe what additional tests or information, if any, are required to resolve the type.

What is ABO and D typing in each of the following results?

Anti-A	Anti-B	Anti-D	D-control	A1 cells	B cells	O cells	ABS
4+	4+	4+	3+	4+	4+	4+	Pos All cells

Anti-A	Anti-B	Anti-D	D-control	A1 cells	B cells	O cells	ABS
0	0	4+	2+	4+	4+	0	0

Anti-A	Anti-B	Anti-D	D-control	A1 cells	B cells	O cells	ABS
0	0	4+	2+	4+	4+	2+	2+

Using anti-D antisera, explain the difference in reactivity you expect between R1R1 and R2R2 cells.

Describe at least two antibody specificities associated with a mixed field reaction.

Describe the discrepancy noted in the following gel reaction and provide a differential diagnosis for the possible cause(s).

Describe when to use Diluent 1 versus Diluent 2 with the Diamed gel cards.

There is a critical staffing shortage so you are working the bench when emergency, class I blood is released (O-positive to a 25 year old male victim of a car accident). You receive the specimen and obtain the following set of results:

Anti-A—0, Anti-B—0, A1 cells—4+, B cells—4+, ABS—3+ in SCI/II/III

What actions will you take now? What blood type will you release for subsequent RBC requests? Be explicit!

An extended phenotype is ordered and Diamed Profile I-II-III cards are used. The following results are obtained on Profile Card III:

M	N	S	S	Fya	Fyb
0	0	0	0	0	0

Interpret these results.

Describe the rationale for the prophylactic use of E-c- cells in a patient only showing anti-E.

A patient develops pain at the infusion site with back pain while a unit of packed RBCs is being transfused. The following results were obtained in the subsequent workup:

Pretransfusion DAT: negative

Post-transfusion DAT: negative

Hemolysis Check—post-transfusion sample—strongly positive

Hemolysis check—pre-transfusion sample—negative

Clerical Check—OK

Pretransfusion ABO/D: B-positive—reverse typing normal

Post-transfusion ABO/D: B-positive—reverse typing normal

Returned unit ABO/D: B-positive

Repeat crossmatch—compatible

Give possible reasons for these findings. What further investigations would you do?

Interpret the following panels:

48 year old female with septic arthritis and severe anemia (Hgb 6.9 g/dl) and positive autocontrol 2+ (Polyspecific 2+, IgG 2+, C3d nil) and negative antibody screen:

The eluate panel results follow:

Please give your interpretation of the findings. Be sure to specify other information you may require if any.

71 year old female with aortic stenosis admitted for surgical correction, blood type AB positive, antibody screen 2+ positive in all 3 cells, autocontrol negative, no history of recent transfusions.

Extended phenotype is:

C+E+c-e+K-k+Kpa-Kpb+Fya+Fyb-Jka-Jkb+Lea+Leb-P1+M+N-S+s-Lua-Lub+