Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) ASCP Practice Exam 2025 – Your Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The main purpose of washing red blood cells is to eliminate anticoagulants and reduce leukocytes. When red blood cells are collected, they are often stored in a solution that contains anticoagulants to prevent clotting. Washing the cells involves rinsing them with a saline solution, which helps to remove these anticoagulants. This step is crucial for certain clinical applications, especially when preparing red blood cells for transfusion in patients who may have had a previous sensitization to foreign antigens.

Additionally, washing reduces the number of leukocytes, or white blood cells, that may be present in the transfusion. Reducing leukocytes is important because they can cause transfusion-related immunomodulation or febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, both of which can occur when leukocytes from donor blood are transfused into a recipient. By effectively minimizing these components, washing improves the safety and efficacy of the transfusion process for patients.