What is the primary reason for performing a 'type and screen' test in blood banking?

A To determine the patient's ABO blood group
B To detect the presence of unexpected antibodies in the patient's serum
C To identify the patient's Rh blood type
D To crossmatch the patient's blood with donor blood
The type and screen test is performed to detect the presence of unexpected antibodies in the patient's serum, which can help identify potential transfusion reactions.
AABB Technical Manual
Hematology Hematology: Blood Grouping and Crossmatching Hematology: Blood Grouping and Crossmatching Easy MEDICAL Confidence: high