IMMUNOLOGY AND BLOOD BANKING Cell washing: is the process of removing non-
TERMINOLOGIES cellular substances like proteins, antibodies, and
Blood Banking: refers to the process of collecting,
separating, and storing blood.
Serology: is the scientific study of blood serum.
Immunology: is a branch of biology that is
concerned with the process by which all living
organisms defend themselves against infection.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome):
a life-threatening disease caused by a virus and
chracterized by the breakdown of the body’s
immune defenses.
Allergen: any substance that causes an allergy.
Allergy: an inappropriate and harmful response of
the immune system to normally harmless
substances
Anaphylactic shock: is a life threatening allergic
reaction characterized by a swelling of body tissues
including the throat, difficulty breathing, and a
sudden fall in blood pressure.
Antibody: is a soluble protein molecule produced
and secreted by B cells in response to an antigen.
Antigen: is any substance that is recognized by the
immune system when introduced into the body.
Autoimmune Disease: a disease that results from
the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s
own tissues.
B-cell: are small white blood cells that are derived
from the bone marrow and will develop into plasma
cells.
Blood donor: the one who donates blood.
Blood recipient: the one who receives the blood
donated by the donor.
Blood typing: the process of identifying the
patient’s blood type.
Bone Marrow: is the soft tissue located in the
cavities of the bones that produces all blood cells.
electrolytes from the whole blood.
Cell: is the basic unit of life.
Centrifuge/Serofuge: is a machine used to spin
specimens such as blood and solutions in order to
separate solid and liquid substances.
Coagulation: is the process by which a clot is
formed.
Decantation: is the process of removing the liquid
portion from a centrifuged solution by pouring.
Dengue: is a disease caused by the dengue virus.
Erythrocytes: also known as red blood cells. These
carry the oxygen throughout the body. These also
contain antigens on its cell membrane that
determine a person’s blood type.
Granulocytes: These are white blood cells that are
filled with granules containing potent chemicals that
allow the digestion of cells and the production of
inflammatory reaction. Examples are neutrophils,
eosinophils, and basophils.
HDN (Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn): is a
blood disorder that occurs when the blood types of a
mother and baby are incompatible.
Hepatitis A: is a disease wherein the liver is
inflamed which is caused by the Hepatitis A Virus
that is trasmitted through the fecal-oral route. This
has an incubation period of 2-6 weeks.
Hepatitis B: is a disease wherein the liver is
inflamed which is caused by the Hepatits B Virus that
is transmitted via blood and body fluids. This has an
incubation period of 2-6 months.
HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus): the virus
that causes AIDS.
Hypersensitivity: refers to the excessive and
undesirable reactions produced by a normal immune
system.
Immunity: it is the ability of an organism to resist
disease.
Immunocompromised: is a condition wherein the
immune system is weakened and the patient is
vulnerable to infections.
Immunoglobulin: a family of large protein
molecules, also known as antibodies.
Immunosuppresion: this is the inactivation of
immune responses, for instance, by giving drugs to
prevent transplant rejection.
Leukocytes: also known as white blood cells.
These protect the body from microorganisms and
foreign objects. These include Monocyte,
Lymphocyte, Eosinophils, Basophils, and
Neutrophils.
Lymph nodes: are small bean-shaped organs of
the immune system that are distributed widely
throughout the body and are linked by lymphatic
vessels.
Lymphatic organs: are organs of the immune
system where lymphocytes develop and
congregate. They include bone marrow, thymus,
lymph nodes, spleen, and various other clusters of
lymphoid tissue.
Macrophages: are phagocytes that developed from
monocytes.
Natural killer cells: are large granule-filled
lymphocytes that take on tumor cells and infected
body cells.
Phagocytes: are large white blood cells that
contribute to the immune defenses by ingesting
microbes or other cells and foreign particles.
Plasma cell: are large, antibody-producing cells
developed from B cells that produce antibodies.
Plasma: is the liquid portion of uncoagulated blood
that contains clotting factors.
Platelet Concentrate: also known as Platelet
Transfusion. This is used to prevent or
treat bleeding in people with either a low platelet
count or poor platelet function.
Platelets: are granule-containing cellular fragments
critical for blood clotting and sealing off wounds.
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen): is a protein
produced by the prostate gland. This can be used for
the determination of prostate cancer.
Rheumatoid arthritis: a autoimmune disorder
wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks the
joints.
Serological tests: are blood tests used to look for
antibodies in the blood.
Serum: is the liquid portion of coagulated blood that
does not contain clotting factors.
Stem cell: are undifferentiated biological cells that
can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide
to produce more stem cells.
T-cell: are small white blood cells that develop from
the thymus. They participate in immune defenses
and secrete lymphokines.
Thymus: is a primary lymphoid organ where T
lymphocytes proliferate and mature.
Transfusion: the process of transferring blood or
blood components from one person (the donor) into
the bloodstream of another person (the recipient)
Transplant: is a medical operation in which a part of
a person's body is replaced with the same organ but
from another person (donor).
Tumor: is an abnormal growth of cells that serves
no purpose.
Type A: is a blood type with A antigens on its
surface.
Type AB: is a blood type with A and B antigens on
its surface.
Type B: is a blood type with B antigens on its
surface.
Type O: is a blood type with H antigens on its
surface.
Typing sera: a reagent used in the determination of
a patient’s blood type.
Vaccine: a substance that contains antigenic
components from an infectious organism.
Water bath: is a machine used to incubate
solutions.
Whole Blood: blood with all its components.
Hematological terminologies
Hematology (Haematology) – the study of blood. It
involves the study of blood cells and coagulation. It
includes the study of diseases associated with the
blood, as well as the reaction of the formed elements
to the presence of disease.
Agglutination – clumping of cells
Aggregation – in blood coagulation, it is the
clumping of platelets together in the formation of a
platelet plug
Anisochromia – variation in hemoglobin content of
red blood cells
Anisocytosis – increased variation in size of red
blood cells
Anticoagulant – substance that prevents clot
formation; in vivo, includes natural anticoagulants
such as Heparin, Antithrombin III, and Proteins C
and S; ex vivo, substances that are added to a blood
sample that inhibit clot formation either by binding
with calcium, precipitation of calcium, inhibition of
thrombin, or removal of fibrin
Apoptosis – programmed cell death; process of
ordered removal of organelles and cells
Arterial tap – process of blood collection by
accessing an artery
Basophil – white blood cell morphologically
characterized by coarse blue-black granules that
obscure the view of the nucleus; involved mainly in
mediating allergic response
Blast – early stage of differentiation of a blood cell
as it transitions from stem cell to a mature cell. It is
normally confined to the bone marrow and is the
earliest recognizable stage of a blood cell using Light
Microscopy.
Blood Film – aka Peripheral Blood Smear; a stained
smear of a drop of blood that, when viewed through
a microscope, produces additional morphologic
information about the blood cells
Bone Marrow – soft tissue found inside hollow
bones responsible for production of blood cells.
Cellularity – expression of the amount of blood cells
within the bone marrow
Chemotaxis – movement of white blood cells
toward or away from the source of a chemical
gradient
Clotting factors – aka Proclotting Factors or
Procoagulants; specialized proteins that, when
activated, form an interplay that effects coagulation
Coagulation – aka clot formation or clotting;
process of clot formation through the interaction of
specialized proteins in plasma culminating in the
conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin
Coagulopathy – hereditary or acquired abnormality
of blood coagulation
Complete Blood Count (CBC) – test performed in
the hematology laboratory that determines red blood
cell count, white blood cell count and differential
count, platelet count, hemoglobin concentration and
hematocrit of a patient
Cytopenia – a reduction in number of one or more
cell types in the blood
Deoxyhemoglobin – aka reduced hemoglobin;
hemoglobin that is not carrying oxygen
Dyserythropoiesis – abnormal red blood cell
development
Ecchymosis – (pl: ecchymoses); bruising caused
by leakage of blood from blood vessels
EDTA – ethylenediaminetetraacetate / -tetraacetic
acid; most common anticaoagulant used for
hematological studies, especially for CBC
Embolus – a blood clot that migrates through the
blood stream and lodges into another vessel,
causing blockage of blood flow
Eosinophil – white blood cells morphologically
characterized by bilobed nuclei and coarse orange
granules; involved mainly in anti-helminthic immune
response and regulating allergic response
Erythrocytes – aka red blood cells; cells that
contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen through the
blood
Erythropoietin – glycoprotein hormone produced
by the kidneys in response to tissue hypoxia; targets
red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow to
stimulate proliferation and maturation
Fibrinolysis – process of dissolution of the clot
effected by the action of plasmin (fibrinolysin)
Hematoma – accumulation of blood in the tissues or
cavities of the body
Hematocrit – relative expression of the amount of
red blood cells in relation to the amount of whole
blood in a sample (in vitro) or total body fluids (in
vivo)
Hematopoiesis / Hemopoiesis – involves the
production, development, differentiation, and
maturation of blood cells in a blood-forming organ or
tissue
Hemoglobin – oxygen-binding protein found within
red blood cells
Hemolysis – inappropriate destruction of red blood
cells
Hemorrhage – Excessive bleeding leading to
leakage of blood from the vessels to the surrounding
tissues and brought about by a breakdown of
hemostasis
Hemostasis – process of arresting blood flow to a
site of vessel injury; also, the system that keeps the
blood in a fluid state under normal conditions
Hypoxia – lack of oxygen experienced by the
tissues; physiologic stimulus for production of red
blood cells
Leukocytes – aka white blood cells; blood cells that
are involved in the body’s immune response
Lymphocytes – smallest of the white blood cells;
morphologically characterized by a round nucleus
and scanty sky blue cytoplasm; involved in anti-viral
immune response and antibody production
Macrophages – Phagocytes found in tissues
Monocytes – white blood cells morphologically
characterized by a round or irregularly-shaped
nucleus and agranular light blue cytoplasm;
considered as professional phagocytes of the blood;
develop into macrophages in the tissues
Neutrophils – white blood cells morphologically
characterized by multilobed nuclei and neutral (lilac
or purple) staining of the cytoplasm; involved mainly
in anti-bacterial immune response and inflammatory
response
Oxyhemoglobin – hemoglobin with oxygen bound
to it
Peripheral blood – blood that is contained within
the circulatory system
Peripheral puncture – aka capillary puncture;
process of blood collection via skin puncture
Petechiae – red pinpoint-sized hemorrhages of
small capillaries in the skin or mucus membranes
Phagocytosis – process of engulfment and
destruction of foreign and unwanted material (such
as bacteria or senescent red blood cells)
Phlebotomy – process of blood collection
Plasma – liquid portion of unclotted blood or
anticoagulated blood
Serum - liquid portion of clotted blood
Supravital stain – dyes employed in staining
cellular elements while the cell is inits living state
(eg. New Methylene Blue, Brilliant Cresyl Blue)
Thrombocytes – aka platelets; cellular elements
that are involved in promoting hemostasis
Thrombosis – inappropriate or pathological
formation of a clot in an artery or vein
Thrombus – blood clot that usually develops in a
deep vein of the body
Venipuncture – process of blood collection via
intravenous access
Wright stain – a type of Romanowsky stain; most
common stain used for studying blood cell
morphology

Blood Banking

This is the area of laboratory medicine that deals

with preparation of blood and blood components;
selection of appropriate, compatible components for
blood transfusion.

Karl Landsteiner

“Father of Transfusion Medicine”

Rh negative mom <3 Rh positive dad
“Father of Blood Banking”

ABO Blood Grp: TYPE A, B, AB, O

Rh Blood Grp: + or -

BLOOD TYPING

ABO Blood grp:

Type A, B, O – discovered by Karl Landsteiner in

1900

Type AB – discovered by Descatello & Sturle in

1902

Rh blood grp was discovered by Landsteiner

together with his assistant, Weiner. It was named
from the animals where it was first discovered –
Rhesus macaque monkeys. Hence, it was called
RH blood grp.

Forward Typing – to determine the blood type of an

individual

Reverse typing – for checking results of Forward

Typing

Blood Typing could be done thru Tube method or

Slide method