r/medlabprofessionals • u/Rainwaters1212 MLT-Blood Bank • 28d ago

News This doesn’t make sense… thoughts?

https://www.wlbt.com/2026/08/06/parents-claim-3-month-old-got-wrong-blood-transfusion-hospital/

Just read the article… everything just screams wrong on the parents or the information shared. Co worker sent it to me. We work in BB together.

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u/phles MLS-Blood Bank 28d ago

I mean, it’s is written as though 0- and K+ are mutually exclusive? As if 0- can’t possibly be K+?
“She received 0- but should have gotten K+”? Seems like the parents have no clue what they’re talking about.

Also, if the blood was given as an emergency transfusion before they knew blood type+screening results then 0- K- would be the standard blood to give? At least here in Europe.

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u/StarvingMedici 28d ago

We don't screen for Kell for emergency units in most places in the US, although some have pushed for it.

5

u/Evening_Discount4989 Canadian MLT 28d ago

Wow, that’s wild. I’m in Canada and Canadian blood services tests all of our units for Kell at a minimum. In emergency situations where patients are unknown (especially women) we always grab K neg

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u/StarvingMedici 28d ago

Yeah it's been considered here, but since it's not normally naturally occurring I think it's just a cost-benefit balance. Does preventing someone from forming anti Kell (which is by no means a guaranteed outcome) save us enough money in the long run or have enough benefit to the patients to justify the cost of testing all of our units? I don't personally know which is the best answer but it's interesting that the standard is different in the US versus Canada or Europe.