Anti-K was detected in a patient's serum 1 year ago in a routine antibody screen. This patient was transfused red cells containing antigen specific for anti-K. Forty-eight hours later the patient began exhibiting signs of a hemolytic anemia. What type of transfusion reaction is present?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a delayed transfusion reaction, which occurs days to weeks after transfusion when pre-existing antibodies in the patient's serum react with transfused red cells. In this case, the presence of anti-K antibodies and the onset of hemolytic anemia 48 hours after transfusion with K antigen-positive red cells indicates a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction.

Anti-K Was Detected in a Patient's Serum 1 Year Ago