Immunohematology is one of the branches of haematology which was formed to study antigen-antibody reactions and Similar or equivalent in some respects though otherwise dissimilar as they relate to The origination and development of a disease and clinical manifestations of the many blood disorders. A person employed in this field is referred to as an immunohematologist.

Immunohematology refers to the laboratory science of preparing blood and blood components donated by or otherwise acquired from other people for transfusion or use in other medical areas. It is often referred to as “blood banking.”

In immunohematology, specialists are also skilled in selecting appropriate and compatible blood for transfusion to other individuals. The typing of blood is very specific with the four types being A, B, AB, and O. Other factors including an RH factor or not being present, and also by other much minor criteria.

It is also thoroughly tested for a variety of diseases before being put into the general population for diseases and also for antigens against other blood types, a rare occurrence but one that can be deadly for a donor Some people going in for surgery elect to not completely trust immunohematology; there have been extremely rare but news-making cases of blood slipping through immunohematology testing that is infected with HIV, hepatitis, or other blood borne disease.

Instead of accepting blood from a general bank, they instead bank their own blood, and direct physicians to use that blood to give transfusions during their surgery. Medical technologists identify the blood types of a donor’s and recipient’s (or patient’s) blood instances in formulation for blood and blood meronymy therapy. Once compatibility (cross-match) between donor and recipient has been determined and tests for infectious disease are negative, the blood may be transfused.

Immunohematology also includes the assessment for tissue compatibility which is necessary for transplantation. An interesting technique is aphaeresis: withdrawal of a patient’s blood, while outside the body it is treated and then the treated blood is returned to the patient. This procedure is often safer for the patient and used often instead of treatment of the whole body.

Blood donor keyring

What IS A Blood Bank?

A blood bank is a bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusions. History of Blood Banks 1901 Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian physician, whom we see as the most important individual in the field of human Blood, categorized the first three human Blood groups A, B and O. Without this discovery and the subsequent research, there would be no Blood banking. 1936 Bernard Fantus, director of therapeutics at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, established the first Blood bank in the United States, creating a hospital laboratory that can preserve and store donor Blood 1940 Dr Charles Drew, a graduate of McGill University Medical School in Montreal, researched and found a technique for long-term preservation of Blood plasma.

The Formation of Blood Banks

1947 The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) was formed to “promote common goals among Blood banking facilities and the American Blood donating public.” 1950 Carl Walter and W.P. Murphy, Jr., introduced the plastic bag for blood collection. Replacing breakable glass bottles with durable plastic bags allowed for the evolution of a collection system capable of safe and easy preparation of multiple blood components from a single unit of Whole Blood. 1979 An anticoagulant preservative, CPDA-1 was introduced. It decreased wastage from expiration and facilitated resource sharing among blood banks. Newer solutions contain adenine and extend the shelf life of red cells to 42 days.

History of Blood donations with arm

Unfortunately blood products get used at an alarming rate for many, many reasons that the supply is usually far outweighed by the daily demand. If you think you could donate it would benefit all of mankind and you never know. If you find yourself in the scary position of needing blood yourself then accepting it is easier if you have already been contributing to the blood banks. Some people make a few bucks each year actually selling their blood. The truth is the blood is the same and just as welcomed whether it is freely donated or sold to the blood banks.

With health problems like leukaemia a growing role is becoming obvious for umbilical cord blood research as cord blood is playing an important function in treatment of such diseases. Also many other life-threatening blood diseases like lymphoma. Once if you had a bone marrow transplant offered and needed for a treatment for your medical condition, now you may be able to receive a cord blood transplant as a suitable option if available. This choice of using baby blood cord banking facilities is usually up to the Doctor in charge of your case.

Maybe better using cord blood to help

Umbilical blood banking which uses cord blood that is taken from the baby and has such great curing expectations as it contains babies stem cells. In order to use this great resource the removing of the umbilical cord blood is in no way detrimental to the baby. In times gone by this blood would have normally be thrown away and treated as plain old medical waste. Along with research into mesothelioma and many other cancers this type of research is priceless.

The controversy over baby blood cord banking comes about when it is not only stored by public facilities but also by private umbilical blood banking and cord blood services organizations for private use in the future by the rich. The advantage of having cord blood stored Publicly is they are able to accept donations of baby cord blood to be used for anyone in need. Whereas private cord blood banking groups dissimilar to public cord blood banking is not wholly supported by the medical community.

Picture of a vein

The vast majority of the people will not feel any different because of donation, your body will replace the lost fluid with in 24 hrs. The average adult body has 10 to 12 pints, the blood donation equals approx one pint of blood. The periods between donations a blood donor can donate their own blood differs dependent on whichever country they are in at the time of donation.

Donating two units of red blood cells through a similar process doubles the waiting period to 112 days. The people of America are permitted blood donations in large volumes spaced two times a week and in effect are able to donate 80 plus liters of their blood in any given year, whereas the same donor in Japan may only donate every second week and could only donate around 16 liters yearly. Another form of blood donating called aphaeresis which is donating only platelets generally only requires a 72 hour, (3 day), wait before the individual donor can further give blood platelets again. The waiting period between donations can vary greatly for other blood components.

It has been discovered that any blood donating men do may possibly reduce their risk of developing heart disease even though this link has not been firmly demonstrated. It has been found that by donating only one pint of blood in effect causes the donor to expend approximately 625 calories, which is not mentioned here as a diet technique but whatever reason a person may need to donate blood matters not. The mere fact that most blood donors are volunteers who give blood without pay for a community supply shows the importance of this life giving exercise.

Although it is common for members of a family who have someone in their circle that requires a blood transfusion to feel happy to then give blood, they should realize their are many others that require this gift on a daily basis. Therefore give life, give blood to your local blood bank. This can only improve our lives and if we had Society & Culture Directory it would get an “A” from us all for having a caring society and giving culture.

Give blood before you ride in these