On May 7, 2026, the Pathology Interest Group hosted "Type and Screen: Demystified," an event designed to introduce medical students and Pathologists’ Assistant students to the "type and screen" (T&S), a pre-transfusion test used to determine ABO and Rh blood type and screen for atypical antibodies. One of the most essential tests in clinical medicine, T&S is performed before surgeries or procedures with a risk of bleeding to help ensure that any necessary blood transfusions are safe and compatible.
Under the guidance of Associate Professor Jessica L Poisson, MD, MMCi, the session covered the fundamentals of blood typing, clinical reasoning for ordering a type and screen, and the mechanisms behind these commonly used laboratory tests.
Students had the opportunity to type their own blood, with one student remarking, "This is what I thought medical school would be like!" Blending historical context with current clinical practice, Poisson walked the group through the rationale for ordering various blood products and the potential reactions that can occur when testing errors are made.
By the end of the event, first-year students had not only learned about a critical hospital test but had watched their own blood type appear before their eyes. This experience reinforces the importance of blood typing in patient care and exposes students to a dimension of clinical pathology rarely emphasized in traditional medical education.
Eight medical students and one pathology assistant student attended the event, which was organized by Pathology Interest Group leaders Jon Messerschmidt, a Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) student, and Ashley Cummings, with support from their faculty mentor, Professor of Pathology Andrea Deyrup, MD, PhD.
The focus of the Duke Pathology Interest Group is to foster student interest in pathology. It hosts events that showcase the wide scope of pathology practice, including laboratory tours, brain‑cutting sessions, FNA workshops, and more. Additionally, the group partners with the preclinical instructors to create review sessions on pathology topics. If you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to be involved, please contact our E-board or faculty mentor listed below.
Current E-board: Jonathan Messerschmidt (Email)
Faculty mentor: Andrea Deyrup, MD, PhD (Email)