Blood Banking Reagents: Overview and Applications

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers essential reagents and concepts in blood banking, including antibody types, typing reagents, antiglobulin testing, potentiators, and advanced methodology.

Specificity

The recognition of a specific antigenic determinant and its corresponding antibody by a reagent.

Potency

The strength of a reaction observed during testing.

Monoconal Antibody

An antibody secreted by a single clone of antibody-producing B cells, belonging to one immunoglobulin class ($IgG$ or $IgM$) and recognizing a unique epitope.

Polyclonal Antibody

An antibody secreted by several different clones of antibody-producing B cells, consisting of a mixture of $IgM$ and $IgG$ antibodies that recognize multiple epitopes.

Anti-A reagent

An ABO grouping reagent directed toward A antigen, typically formulated with a blue dye.

Anti-B reagent

An ABO grouping reagent directed toward B antigen, typically formulated with a yellow dye.

D Antigen

The most immunogenetic and important antigen in routine blood banking within the Rh blood group system.

High-Protein Anti-D Reagents

Reagents containing polyclonal antibodies in approximately $20\%$ bovine albumin; they promote false-positive agglutination and require a control.

Low-Protein Anti-D Reagents

Reagents containing monoclonal antibodies ($IgM$) or blends in approximately $6\%$ bovine albumin.

Reverse Group Typing

Also known as ABO serum testing, this procedure uses commercial $A1$ and $B$ red cells to detect ABO antibodies in patient plasma or serum.

Screening Cells

Commercial RBC sets (2 or 3 vials) used in antibody detection tests to identify unexpected antibodies; regulated by the FDA for specific antigens like $D$, $C$, $E$, $c$, and $e$.

Antigram

A profile provided with each lot of screening or panel cells that shows the specific antigen profile for each vial.

Panel Cells

Sets of $10$ or more vials of commercial RBCs used for identifying the specificity of antibodies.

Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT)

An antiglobulin test used to detect $IgG$ or complement bound to red cells in vivo.

Indirect Antiglobulin Test (IAT)

An antiglobulin test used to detect $IgG$ or complement bound to red cells in vitro.

Polyspecific AHG

An antihuman globulin reagent containing both anti-$IgG$ and anti-$C3d$ antibodies.

Monospecific AHG

An antihuman globulin reagent containing either anti-$IgG$ or anti-$C3b/C3d$ antibodies, but not both.

IgG Sensitized Cells

Also known as control cells, these are type O RBCs prepared with $IgG$ antibodies used to confirm negative AHG results.

Low-ionic-strength saline (LISS)

A potentiator containing glycine that increases the rate of antibody uptake and decreases incubation time.

Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)

A potentiator available in $22\%$ or $30\%$ concentrations that reduces repulsion between cells to favor direct agglutination with Rh antibodies.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

A potentiator that removes water molecules to concentrate antibodies around the red cell surface; it requires the use of anti-$IgG$ only.

Proteolytic Enzymes

Reagents such as papain and ficin that remove sialic acid from the red cell membrane to lower zeta potential; they denature antigens like $Fy^a$, $Fy^b$, $M$, and $N$.

Dolichos biflorus

A common lectin used in blood banking with specificity for the $A_1$ phenotype.

Ulex europaeus

A common lectin used in blood banking with specificity for the $H$ antigen.

Vicia graminea

A common lectin used in blood banking with specificity for the $N$ antigen.

Iberis amara

A common lectin used in blood banking with specificity for the $M$ antigen.

Gel Column Agglutination Technology

An testing method using dextran acrylamide gel particles to trap agglutinated cells at the top ($4+$) or allow nonagglutinated cells to the bottom ($0$).

Solid Phase Red Cell Adherence Technology

A microplate-based technique where cells adhering to the sides and bottom of the wells indicate a positive result.