by Joe Chaffin | Mar 12, 2016
Glossary H Antigen A short sequence of sugars (oligosaccharide) found on many cells in the human body, but especially attached to red blood cell membranes and floating free in plasma and secretions. The H antigen must be made before either A or B antigen (the two main...
by Joe Chaffin | Feb 21, 2016
Glossary AHG Crossmatch The “anti-human globulin (AHG) crossmatch” is a type of serologic crossmatch used in patients who do not qualify for either the computer/electronic or immediate-spin crossmatch. In general, patients with clinically significant...
by Joe Chaffin | Mar 7, 2016
Glossary Allogeneic [Say “al-oh-jin-A-ic”] Literally, “being genetically different although belonging to or obtained from the same species.” In blood banking, allogeneic transfusion is when a donor and a recipient are not the same person (in...
by Joe Chaffin | Mar 8, 2016
Glossary Babesia Babesia is a tick-transmitted protozoan of major concern in the transfusion community as a result of the organism’s ready transmission through transfusion. B. microti and B. duncani (the two main species in the U.S.) are transmitted from mice to...
by Joe Chaffin | Mar 8, 2016
Glossary Chagas Disease A parasitic infection (also known as “American trypanosomiasis”) transmitted by the bite of the completely misnamed “kissing bug” (triatomine or reduviid bug). This nasty bug bites people and then defecates into or near...
