What is the commonly used blood type for making Coombs control cells?

Prepare for the AAB Medical Technologist (MT) Generalist Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to boost your understanding. Get exam-ready now!

The commonly used blood type for making Coombs control cells is O+. This choice is correct because O type blood, especially O+, is considered the universal donor for red blood cells, meaning it can be transfused to individuals of any ABO blood type without the risk of an ABO incompatibility reaction.

Coombs control cells are used in direct and indirect Coombs testing as a part of blood typing and crossmatching procedures. They serve to ensure that the test is working correctly and that any agglutination observed is due to antibodies present in the serum being tested rather than a result of the test method itself. O+ blood type has no A or B antigens on the red blood cells, thus providing a reliable control that can demonstrate the presence of antibodies against those antigens when they are added to the test.

In contrast, other blood types such as A+, B+, and AB+ contain specific antigens that could potentially react with antibodies, making them less suitable for use as control cells in this setting. The absence of A and B antigens in O+ blood makes it the preferred choice for control purposes.

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