Blood bank

Absorption

temporarily bind Ab to Ag surface (usually RBCs); used to remove specific Abs from a patients plasma

Agglutination

Ab binds to free RBCs and form a precipitate, clumping (0-4+)

Apheresis

blood removed from donor, specific product is extracted and remainder is returned to patient

Autoantibodies

Ab formed by the patient that attack the patient’s RBCs

Alloantibodies

Ab formed by the patient that attack the donor’s RBCs;

ABO group

Ag expressed on RBC surface

Rh group

“+” or “-” (express Rh Ag or not)

Whole blood

contains RBCs, WBCs, plasma, and plasma proteins (~1 month shelf life, refrigerated)

Packed RBCs

RBCs concentrated (40-d shelf life, refrigerated); treat anemias

Platelets

thrombocytes critical to blood clotting (5-d shelf life, RT); treat malfunctioning platelets or low platelet levels

Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)

blood without cells but with clotting factors (1-y shelf life, frozen); burn victims, factor deficiencies, shock, bleeds

Fresh liquid plasma

plasma portion of whole blood that has been separated & stored without being frozen (5-d shelf life beyond expiration of source)

Cryoprecipitate antihemolytic factor (Cryo)

plasma with concentrated plasma proteins including clotting factors (1-y shelf life); indicated Von Willebrand factor (vWH) deficiency & hemophilia

Red cell/Forward/ABO Rh grouping

determine patient’s blood group and Rh type by testing their RBCs against known Abs; mix donor RBCs with anti-A,-B,-Rh Abs

Ab screen

detect unexpected Abs; patient plasma mixed with manufactures RBCs with known Ag

Major crossmatch

determine patient’s blood group & Rh types by testing their RBCs against known Abs; mix donor RBCs & recipient’s plasma

Direct antiglobulin test (DAT)

detect unexpected Abs; mix patient RBCs with anti-human globulin & observing for agglutination

Massive transfusion

determine patient’s blood group & Rh type by testing their RBCs against known Abs; extreme trauma