IMMUNOLOGY AND BLOOD BANKING TERMINOLOGIES

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.

Cell washing: is the process of removing non-cellular substances like proteins, antibodies, and 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
“IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY”

 This is the area of laboratory medicine thar delas with preparation of blood and blood components; selection of
appropriate, compatible components for blood transfusion.

Karl Landsteiner

“Father of Transfusion Medicine”

“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.

BLOOD TYPING

• ABO typing

Forward / Direct / Cell typing or grouping = detects _______

Backward / Reverse / Indirect / Serum typing or grouping = = detects ____

• Rh Typing

• Reaction observed: Agglutination (clumping of rbcs)

How does agglutination occurs? ____________________

Forward Typing – to determine the blood type of an individual

Reverse typing – for checking results of Forward Typing

Sample: Serum

Reagent: Known Cells

Blood Typing could be done thru Tube method or Slide method

Which method is easier, faster & more convenient to perform BUT less accurate? __________

Which method is preferred by Blood Bankers due to its accuracy? _______

BLOOD TYPING RESULT (microscopic result)

• Positive result: with Agglutination

• Negative result: No Agglutination

Result of Rh - mother & Rh + father:

The 2nd and the succeeding children is at risk of HDFN (Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus & Newborn) Primary symptom: severe
jaundice

Blood Donation Process

 DONOR INFO
 DONOR INTERVIEW
 (MEDICAL HISTORY)
 DONOR BLOOD TESTING
 ACTUAL DONATION
 COMPONENT PREPARATION
 (ABO,Rh,ABS,infectious Screening)
PRIOR TO BLOOD COLLECTION, the intended
venipuncture site must be cleaned with a scrub solution
containing:

a. hypochlorite

b. isopropyl alcohol

c. 10% acetone

d. PVP iodine complex

PUNCTURE OF NEEDLE

BLOOD DONATION

BLOOD COLLECTED – WHOLE BLOOD

STORAGE OF BLOOD

CENTRIFUGATION