Bedside-Test

As a bedside test " laboratory studies " are referred to, which can be carried out directly at the bedside and in the figurative sense in the patient vicinity, without sending the sample material in a laboratory. The most important bedside test for blood typing. This mandatory medical action is performed before any blood transfusion to eliminate any possibility of confusion of stored blood. The blood group of the recipient is compared with the stored blood used. The principles of the method are due to Reuben Ottenberg ( early 20th century). The method is therefore bedside test (English: Bedside - bed side ), because it is intended for the execution directly at the bedside.

Expiration

The bedside test is performed on a small cardboard card on which there are three types of test fields, with anti-A, anti-B and anti-D serum. Thus, the blood group AB0 system and the Rhesus factor can be tested. In order to avoid misidentifications, binding colors that are identical to the colors used in laboratories apply to the individual sera: anti-A serum is always colored blue, anti-B serum yellow. The transfusing blood to the laboratory is already predetermined, will be reviewed for documentation purposes in addition to the blood of the recipient. In each of the above fields, a drop of blood comes and means of suitable auxiliary ( typically attached plastic rods) mixed individually. After completion of the test, the test card is covered with an adhesive foil in order to protect the dried reaction mixture prior to flaking ( preservation for archiving ).

Practical example: blood agglutinates positively with blood group A and Rh factor ( " clumps " ) in the field anti-A, anti -B remains unchanged and clumped with anti -D.

Swell

• Care Today publisher Urban & Fischer edition d 2000, S.807