by Joe Chaffin | Mar 21, 2016
Glossary IgM IgM (“Immunoglobulin M”) is the second or third most abundant antibody in circulation (after IgG and often, IgA). This antibody is composed of five individual antibody “monomers” bound together by disulfide bonds. Since each...
by Joe Chaffin | Mar 21, 2016
Glossary Para-Bombay Phenotype This rare ABO-related phenotype is described as being an “H-deficient secretor.” Those with Para-Bombay cannot make H antigen on their red blood cells (and can’t make RBC-bound A or B antigen), but unlike those with the...
by Joe Chaffin | Mar 22, 2016
Glossary T Activation T activation is the most common acquired polyagglutination, especially in children and infants. It is caused by removal of portions of glycophorin A and B chains on the surface of the red blood cell with exposure of “cryptantigens.”...
by Joe Chaffin | Mar 12, 2016
Glossary H Gene The H gene encodes an enzyme that is required in the expression of the H antigen on the surface of red blood cells. Translation of the active allele, H, of the FUT1 gene results in formation of the enzyme known as α-1,2-fucosyltransferase (H is...
by Joe Chaffin | Mar 12, 2016
Glossary G Antigen G is a combination antigen in the Rh Blood Group System found on red cells containing either D or C antigens. Given the high frequency of D antigen expression (85% of whites, 92% of blacks, 99% of asians), it shouldn’t be surprising that the...
