A blood transfusion can cause a number of changes in a patient's laboratory results.
Changes:
(1) dimorphic population in the erythrocyte volume histogram (if the patient's cells are microcytic or macrocytic)
(2) mixed field agglutination in immunohematology testing
(3) reduction or disappearance of a deficiency if replaced by the transfusion
(4) reduction in platelet count in massive transfusion without platelet replacement
(5) prolongation in PT and PTT as well as reductin in fibrinogen in massive transfusion without coagulation factor replacement
(6) misleading genetic tests on peripheral blood (unless blood is leukocyte reduced)
(7) appearance of new antibodies if plasma infused
(8) appearance of new antibodies if alloimmunization occurs
The effects of a blood transfusion can last from a few hours to months depending on how fast the host responds and the transfused material circulates. Red blood cells and immunoglobulin can circulate for up to 3 months.
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