PMLS 2 | LESSON 5

• Blood Bank or Immunohematology

  • performs tests for blood transfusions
  • specimens are collected in red stopper tubes and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tube or EDTA only (note: pink stopper tube are made specifically for blood bank but a purple stopper tube is exactly the same EDTA)
  • strictest attention must be given in patient identification and sample labeling because a mistake can be fatal
• Tests commonly performed in the Blood Bank section

  1. Blood typing
  2. Antibody Screen
  3. Antibody Identification
  4. Compatibility testing Crossmatching
  5. Antiglobulin Test or Coombs' Test- Direct and Indirect Coombs'
  6. Donor recruitment, donor selection
  7. Donor screening
  8. Component Preparation
• Blood typing

  Determines an individual's blood type
• Detects unexpected antibodies


  Antibody Screen
• Determines blood compatibility between the donor and the recipient


  Compatibility testing- Crossmatching
• Detects in vivo or in vitro antibodies


  Antiglobulin Test or Coombs' Test-Direct and Indirect Coombs'
• Evaluates eligibility of possible blood donors

  Donor recruitment, donor selection
• Tests for donor's blood for transfusion transmissible infections


  Donor screening
• Identifies the unexpected antibodies

  Antibody Identification
• Processes whole blood, packed red cells, platelet concentrate, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate

  Component preparation
• Microbiology

  • isolates and identifies the pathogenic microorganisms in samples
  • traditional methods are bacterial culture but modern molecular diagnostics are now employed for faster results
  • specimens tested include blood, swabs, urine, sputum, feces and other body fluids or tissues
  • proper collection & prompt transport to the laboratory is crucial for isolation and identification of microorganisms
  • comprises bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology
• Common tests in Microbiology section

  1. Gram's Stain (GS)
  2. Acid-Fast Bacilli Staining (AFB)
  3. Culture and Sensitivity (C&S)
  4. Ova and Parasite (O & P)
• Detects bacteria and differentiates them in two main groups


  Gram's Stain (GS)
• Detects the acid-fast bacteria

  Acid-Fast Bacilli Staining (AFB)
• Detects the acid-fast bacteria


  Acid-Fast Bacilli Staining (AFB)
• Grows microorganisms and determines antibiotic treatment

  Culture and Sensitivity (C&S)
• detects parasitic infection on stool specimens (most labs in the Ph perform this test in the clinical microscopy section)

  Ova and Parasite (O & P)
• Immunology and Serology

  >evaluates the patient's immune response through the detection of antibody/ies against bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and self-antigens (autoimmunity)

  >samples for this section are mostly serum collected in either red stopper tubes or serum stopper tubes
• Tests commonly done in the Immunology section

  1. Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (ANA)
  2. HIV testing-anti-HIV
  3. Syphilis testing- RPR.
  4. Hepatitis testing- HBsAg, HCV
  5. Typhidot
  6. Anti-Streptolysin O (ASO)
  7. Complement levels
  8. Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
• Detects autoimmune disease

  Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (ANA)
• Screens HIV infections

  HIV testing-anti-HIV
• Detects syphilis infection

  Syphilis testing- RPR
• Detects hepatitis infections

  Hepatitis testing- HBsAg, HCV
• Detects typhoid fever infection

  Typhidot
• Detects Streptococcal infection

  Anti-Streptolysin O (ASO)
• Evaluates the function of the immune system

  Complement levels
• Detects autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

  Rheumatoid Factor (RF)