Red cell agglutination is found on a blood film. Select the best course of action

a. Report the morphology and all automated results.
b. Warm the blood, and rerun it though the automated cell counter.
c. Warm the blood, and make a new blood film.
d. Perform a cold agglutinin test.

ANS: B
When red cell agglutination is noted on a blood film, the blood should be warmed to 37° C for 15 minutes and the automated analysis of the specimen repeated while the blood is warm. This patient most likely has a cold agglutinin, and it will disassociate from the red cell membrane and agglutination reverse when the specimen is warmed. Valid results can thus be obtained.