Blood Transfusion Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions relevant to blood transfusion, safety measures, testing, and reported cases.

Window Period

The time between the donor acquiring an infection and when the test can first detect it, during which the test may be negative but the donor can still transmit infection via blood.

Transfusion-Transmitted Infection (TTI)

Infections that are transmitted from donor to recipient via blood transfusion.

HBsAg

Hepatitis B surface antigen, a protein on the surface of the hepatitis B virus used in testing for HBV infection.

HCV NAT

Hepatitis C Virus Nucleic Acid Test, a test used to detect the presence of hepatitis C virus nucleic acids.

Deferral

A period during which a donor is temporarily not allowed to donate blood due to specific health conditions or risks.

vCJD

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder associated with prion infection, which has led to blood donation bans in certain populations.

Bacterial Infection

A rare but serious complication of transfusion, significantly reduced by sterile collection methods and donor selection.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the immune system to neutralize pathogens like viruses; some may develop as an immune response to vaccinations.

Pathogen Inactivation

Processes aimed at inactivating potential infectious agents in blood products to enhance safety.

Sickle Testing

A test to determine the presence of Hemoglobin S (HbS) in donors, important for preventing complications in patients with sickle cell disease.