What is one of the laboratory duties that a medical assistant would perform regarding blood typing?

Performing blood typing is a specific task that requires knowledge of immunohematology, which is essential for patient care, especially in situations like blood transfusions. A medical assistant is trained to perform various laboratory tests, including blood typing, which involves determining a patient's blood group based on the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of red blood cells.

This task is important as it ensures compatibility between donors and recipients, minimizing the risk of transfusion reactions. Blood typing typically involves using reagents that react with the blood and interpreting the results, which is a critical part of patient management in various healthcare settings.

In contrast, administering vaccines, taking patient histories, and scheduling appointments are important responsibilities but do not involve direct laboratory testing or analysis of blood, which is a key component of blood typing duties.