What is a significant safety precaution in blood transfusions?

Ensuring compatibility of donor blood is essential for transfusion safety because incompatible blood can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening reactions in the recipient. When a patient receives blood that is not compatible with their own blood type, the immune system may recognize the foreign blood cells as a threat and launch an immune response against them. This can cause hemolysis, where the red blood cells are destroyed, leading to complications such as acute hemolytic reaction, kidney failure, and even death.

The process of blood typing and crossmatching helps identify the ABO blood group and Rh factor of both the donor and recipient, ensuring that the transfused blood is safe and suitable for the patient. This precaution is a pillar of transfusion medicine, significantly reducing the risk of transfusion reactions and enhancing patient safety during blood transfusions.