What is the main purpose of an autologous transfusion?

An autologous transfusion is primarily about using a person’s own blood for transfusion purposes, typically collected prior to a surgical procedure. This process is designed to avoid complications such as the risk of contamination and blood incompatibility, which are critical factors in ensuring patient safety.

When blood is transfused, one of the major concerns with traditional transfusions is the potential for transmitted infections or immune reactions due to differences between the donor's and recipient's blood types. By using autologous transfusion, these risks are significantly minimized as the blood being used is already known to be compatible and free of contamination concerning the recipient.

This understanding underscores the importance of both mitigating the risk of contamination (which could occur in standard transfusions even with screening) and avoiding incompatibility issues by ensuring that the blood is perfectly matched since it is sourced from the patient themselves. Therefore, the main purpose of an autologous transfusion aligns with the rationale given in both options B and C, making the option that includes both correct.