Blood Bank Lab Glossary

Question 1

Absorption

Answer 1

Removal of an unwanted antibody

Question 2

Adsorption

Answer 2

Providing antibody with corresponding antigen, antibody attaches to antigen, removes antibody from serum

Question 3

Affinity

Answer 3

Bond between single antigen and combining site on antibody, a binding constant

Question 4

Agglutination

Answer 4

Clumping of RBC’s or other particulate from interaction of antibody with corresponding antigen

Question 5

Agglutinin

Answer 5

Antibody that agglutinates cells

Question 6

Agglutinogen

Answer 6

Substance that stimulates production of agglutinin, acts as antigen

Question 7

Allele

Answer 7

One of two or more genes that can occupy a specific locus on a chromosome

Question 8

Allo-

Answer 8

Prefix indicating differences within a species (alloantibody = antibody from one individual against RBC’s of another)

Question 9

Amorph

Answer 9

Gene that doesn’t produce detectable antigen, silent gene

Question 10

Antenatal

Answer 10

Occurring before birth

Question 11

Anti-A1 lectin

Answer 11

Anti-A1 serum produced from seeds of plants, reacts with A1 cells (Dolichos biflorus)

Question 12

Anti-B lectin

Answer 12

Anti-B serum produced from seeds of plant, react with B cells (Bandeiraea simplicifolia)

Question 13

Antibody Screen

Answer 13

Testing patient’s serum with group O reagent red cells to detect atypical antibodies

Question 14

Anti-H lectin

Answer 14

Anti-H produced from seeds of plant (Ulex europaeus)

Question 15

Antihuman globulin test (AGT)

Answer 15

Check presence or absence of RBC's by immunoglobulin G and/or complement
Use xenoantibody (rabbit) to act as bridge between sensitized cells

Question 16

Antihuman sera

Answer 16

Antibody produced in rabbits or other animal that is directed against human immunoglobulin and/or complement, can be polyspecific or monospecific

Question 17

Antiserum

Answer 17

Reagent source of antibody, like commercial antiserum

Question 18

Antithetical

Answer 18

Antigens that are product of allelic genes

Question 19

Autologous control

Answer 19

Testing patient’s serum with their own cells in effort to detect autoantibody activity

Question 20

Avidity

Answer 20

Strength with which a multivalent antibody binds to a multivalent antigen

Question 21

Biphasic

Answer 21

Reactivity occurring in two phases

Question 22

Chimera

Answer 22

Individual who possesses a mixed cell population

Question 23

Cis position

Answer 23

Location of two or more genes on the same on the chromosome of a homologous pair

Question 24

Codominant

Answer 24

Pair of genes in which neither is dominant over other, both are expressed

Question 25

Coomb's serum

Answer 25

Antihuman serum

Question 26

Dosage

Answer 26

Phenomenon where antibody reacts more strongly with a RBC carrying a double dose (homozygous) than a RBC with single dose (heterozygous) of antigen

Question 27

Elution

Answer 27

Cells coated with antibody are treated so that Ag/Ab bonds disrupted, freed antibody collected and tested to identify its specificity

Question 28

Enzyme Treatment

Answer 28

RBC's incubated with enzyme soltuion that cleaves some antigens and exposes others

Question 29

Ficin

Answer 29

Proteolytic enzyme from fig

Question 30

Genotype

Answer 30

Individual's genetic makeup

Question 31

Hemolysin

Answer 31

Antibody that activates complement leading to cell lysis

Question 32

Heterozygous

Answer 32

Possessing different alleles at given locus

Question 33

Homozygous

Answer 33

Possessing a pair of identical alleles

Question 34

In vitro

Answer 34

Outside of body, in laboratory

Question 35

In vivo

Answer 35

Inside of living body

Question 36

Isogglutinins

Answer 36

Isoantibodies (anti-A, anti-B, anti-A,B) which are expected to be found in serum

Question 37

Lectin

Answer 37

Proteins present in plants which bind to carb determinant and agglutinate RBC's through surface sugars

Question 38

Low ionic strength solution (LISS)

Answer 38

Reduces ionic strength of suspending medium which increases affinity of antigen for its corresponding antibody to increase sensitivity

Question 39

Major crossmatch

Answer 39

Compatability testing using recipient serum and donor RBC's

Question 40

Minor crossmatch

Answer 40

Compatability testing using recipient RBC and donor serum

Question 41

Monoclonal

Answer 41

Antibody derived from single ancestral antibody-producing cell

Question 42

Phenotype

Answer 42

Outward expression of genes | On blood cells serologically demonstrable antigens constitute phenotype

Question 43

Prozone

Answer 43

Incomplete lattice formation caused by excess antibody compared to antigen, causes false negs

Question 44

Xeno-

Answer 44

Prefix indicating different species