Technologist in Blood Banking (BB (ASCP)) Practice Test 2025 - Free Blood Banking Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

Electrophoresis is a technique typically used for separating macromolecules based on their size and charge, rather than for directly identifying blood group antigens. In blood banking, the identification of blood group antigens is primarily focused on detecting specific antibodies or antigens, which can be better achieved through methods like agglutination assays, molecular techniques such as PCR, or ELISA.

Agglutination assays involve mixing blood samples with specific antisera and observing for clumping, which indicates the presence of certain antigens. Molecular methods like PCR enable the detection of specific gene sequences associated with blood group antigens, enhancing accuracy in blood typing. ELISA is also useful for quantifying antigens or antibodies in a sample, providing a reliable means of blood group identification.

In contrast, while electrophoresis can provide information about the overall protein composition in a sample and is useful for research and analysis of proteins, it does not specifically identify blood group antigens effectively in routine blood bank testing. Hence, it stands out as a technique that is not typically used for the direct identification of blood group antigens.