Immunohematology
Immunohematology covers instruments, systems and reagents for blood group typing, antibody testing and compatibility testing in medical laboratories. It is essential for selecting blood products and supporting pre-transfusion workflows.
Product
Immunohematology
Immunohematology covers instruments, systems and reagents for blood group typing, antibody testing and compatibility testing in medical laboratories. It is essential for selecting blood products and supporting pre-transfusion workflows.
Suppliers
Suppliers enabled for requests
The following suppliers offer products in the “Immunohematology” category. Use the overview to compare suitable companies, brands and related product categories and send a direct request.
Send your request to selected suppliers at the same time. They will contact you without obligation with suitable proposals.
Guide and selection support
Immunohematology provides precise serological and molecular testing of blood group characteristics and unexpected antibodies, supporting the individual selection and release of blood products. Test systems and methods include ABO/RhD typing, antibody screening, antibody identification, crossmatching and direct antiglobulin testing.
Key selection criteria include sample volume, the required level of automation, pre-analytical integration such as LIS connectivity, the test principle, including gel cards, tube methods or solid-phase assays, traceability, quality control requirements and reagent management.
LabFinder provides a user-oriented overview of system variants, automation options and methodological features. This supports procurement decisions for transfusion medicine and blood bank workflows.
Use and benefits
Immunohematology enables serological and molecular blood group determination, detection of red blood cell antibodies and compatibility testing between donor and recipient blood. It is a central part of pre-transfusion testing and supports the selection of suitable blood products for patients. Typical applications include ABO/RhD typing, extended phenotyping, antibody screening, alloantibody identification, crossmatching and the direct antiglobulin test (DAT).
Selection criteria
When selecting immunohematology systems and reagents, important factors include throughput requirements, the level of automation, whether manual, semi-automated or fully automated, and the methodology used, such as tube testing, gel cards, column agglutination, solid-phase assays or molecular typing. LIS interfaces, sample and reagent management, traceability and quality assurance are also central considerations. Available test parameters, including ABO, RhD, extended blood groups and antiglobulin testing, as well as test speed and maintenance requirements, are relevant to both procurement and routine operation.
Variants and measurement principles
Immunohematology analyzers and test systems can be classified by their level of automation, from manual tube methods and semi-automated gel-card or column-agglutination systems to fully automated workstations. Routine methods mainly include column agglutination using gel cards, solid-phase assays and conventional tube testing. Molecular blood group typing, including PCR-based methods, is an additional option for complex transfusion questions or when serological testing is inconclusive. Systems also differ in reagent format, including test cards, integrated reagent modules and single- or multi-test kits.
Calibration and maintenance
Depending on the instrument, routine quality control may include checking control materials, calibrating pipetting systems and maintaining automated components. Maintenance intervals follow the manufacturer's instructions and may include cleaning, replacing consumable parts and software-supported system diagnostics. Documenting and tracking calibration and maintenance activities supports reliable and traceable test results.
Application limits
Immunohematology tests provide serological and molecular findings, but results depend on sample quality, interfering factors such as autoantibodies or previous transfusions, and method-specific limitations. Serological methods may be limited in cases involving rare antigen variants or massive transfusion. Molecular blood group typing complements but does not fully replace serological methods. These systems are not intended for the direct diagnosis of other hematological, immunochemical or coagulation-related conditions.
Search terms and related terms
Immunohematology, immunohematology testing, blood group serology, transfusion serology, blood group determination, blood typing, antibody screening, antibody identification, crossmatch, compatibility testing, serological blood typing, direct antiglobulin test, DAT, gel-card method, column agglutination, solid-phase method, molecular blood group typing, automated immunohematology systems, immunohematology reagent management, immunohematology LIS connectivity, blood group quality control.
Also known as
antibody identification
antibody screening
blood group determination
blood group serology
blood typing
crossmatch
crossmatching
immunohematology testing
red cell antibody screening
transfusion serology
Related categories
Suitable brands
Frequently asked questions
What are the main functions of immunohematology in the laboratory?
Immunohematology is used for blood group typing, detecting antibodies against red blood cells and performing compatibility testing or crossmatching as part of pre-transfusion workflows.
Which test types and methods are used in immunohematology?
Typical methods include tube testing, gel-card or column-agglutination techniques, solid-phase assays and molecular blood group typing using PCR-based methods.
Which criteria are important when procuring immunohematology systems?
Key criteria include the level of automation, supported blood group antigens and test parameters, throughput, reagent and sample management, laboratory IT interfaces and quality control requirements.
What are the limitations of immunohematology systems?
Limitations may arise with samples containing autoantibodies, unusual antigen variants or inconclusive serological patterns. Their scope is also limited to blood group and antibody testing rather than general hematology.
How do immunohematology and hematology differ?
Immunohematology focuses on blood groups, red blood cell antibodies and compatibility testing. Hematology focuses on blood cell counting and evaluation of the complete blood count, using different systems and methods.
For suppliers and service companies
Supplier or service provider in the Immunohematology category?
Do you offer products or services in the Immunohematology category? Present your company on LabFinder and gain visibility in suitable product categories, brands and enquiries.