According to an antibody screen, which antibody most likely caused a positive result in the panel listing anti-E?

The question is focused on understanding antibody screens and the significance of specific antibodies in the blood typing process. When interpreting the panel results that indicate the presence of anti-E, it is essential to recognize that the antibody screen is designed to detect unexpected antibodies in a patient's serum.

In this context, the presence of anti-E means that the patient has developed an antibody against the E antigen, which is part of the Rh blood group system. This suggests that the antibody is reacting specifically with cells that possess the E antigen, leading to a positive result in the screen.

The other options, while they may represent antibodies against different antigens (anti-A, anti-B, and anti-D), do not correspond to the reaction seen with anti-E. This understanding is crucial because it highlights the specificity of antibodies – each antibody targets a particular antigen. Therefore, when the antibody screen shows anti-E, it is logically inferred that the positive result is caused by the presence of anti-E itself, reflecting the patient's immune response to the E antigen.

This scenario underscores the importance of identifying and understanding the specific antibodies present in blood banks and transfusion medicine, ensuring safe and compatible blood transfusions for patients.