Immunology, Serology, and Blood Banking

• • Immunology : study of immune system (prevents the establishment if infection in the body)
  • Study of molecules, cells, tissue, organs and systems whose function is to recognize and dispose of harmful substances or foreign substances. 
  • Study of desirable and undesirable consequences of the immune system. 
• • Serology : study of Antigen-antibody reactions
  • Study of non-cellular components of the blood called serum.
  • Samples used in Serological Test:
  • Serum-most commonly used
  • CSF
  • Urine
  • Stool
• When to use Serology?

  1. Unable to culture infectious agents.
  2. Confirmation of etiologic ID.
  3. Diagnosis of immunologically-related disorders.
  4. Determine immune status.
• Antigens

  • Also known as “foreign substances”.
  • Stimulate the immune system.
  • Substances that induce or elicit an immune response.
  • Substances that induce or elicit the production of antibodies.
• Antibodies 

  • Also known as immunoglobulins.
  • One of the major substances produced by the immune system that will block harmful antigen.
  • Functions:
  • Cell toxicity
  • Neutralization
  • Opsonization
• Overview of Serological Test : Agglutination and Precipitation
• • Agglutination - Antigens involved are particulates.
• • Precipitation - Antigens involved are soluble antigens.
• VDRL - Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test

  • Only use for screening for syphilis, uses heated serum
  • Principle: flocculation
• ELISA - Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay

  • also known as Enzyme Immunoassay
  • measures enzymatic reactions
  • Uses enzymes as labels
  • Enzyme labels:
  • Highly stable
  • Extreme specificity
  • Cannot be altered by inhibitors
• Rapid Plasma Reagin

  • Only use for screening for syphilis, uses unheated serum
  • Principle: flocculation
• Fluorescent Immunoassay

  • uses fluorescent compounds known as fluorophores or fluorochrome as labels
• Radioimmunoassay

  • uses radioactive substances as label
• Role of the Immune System

  • Defending the body against infections.
  • Recognizing and responding to foreign antigens.
  • Defending the body against the development of tumors.
• Immunity

  • the condition of being resistant to infection.
  • the recognition of foreign substances and subsequent production of antibodies to these substances.
  • can be classified as either innate or acquired.
• Innate Immunity


  Mechanisms involved are non-specific, pre-exist the invasion of foreign agents, components are pre-formed, non-adaptive, have a standardized magnitude of response, lacks immunologic memory
• Adaptive Immunity


  Mechanisms involved are specific, inducible, diverse, have immunologic memory
• Blood Banking

  • Refers to the collection, processing, typing and storage of whole blood and other blood products.
  • Also known as Immunohematology.
  • Study of immunologic principles applied in blood group specific antigens and antibodies.
  • It also deals with mechanism of blood typing and crossmatching, detection and measurement of antibody titers, screening of donors for blood donation, bleeding techniques, proper labeling, storing and disposal of blood emphasis on quality assurance.
• • Forward or Direct Typing : 
  • Detection of antigens on patients RBC using known commercial antisera.
• • Reverse or Back typing : 
  • Detection of antibodies in serum of patients with known commercial RBCs.
  • To check if the blood type of the forward is correct.
• Four Types of Blood Banking 

  • Allogeneic Donation
  • Directed Donation
  • Autologous Donation
  • Apheresis Donation
• • Allogeneic Donation - Involves donation of blood for the use of general public
• • Directed Donation - Involves donation of blood use of specific patient
• • Autologous Donation - Donate blood for your own use in the future
• • Apheresis Donation - donate specific component of blood
• Six Steps in Donor Screening and Collection

  1. Registration.
  2. Health or Medical History.
  3. Physical Examination.
  4. Phlebotomy.
  5. Post-donation Care.
  6. Serological Testing of donor's blood.
• Physical Examination

  • Weight
  • Minimum weight requirement is 50kg/110lbs.
  • There should be 10.5mL/kg to be donated
  • Maximum amount of blood for blood bag is 525mL
  • Anticoagulant present is 63mL
• Physical Examination

  • Temperature
  • Required temperature is not > 37 C or 99.5 F
• Physical Examination

  • Blood Pressure
  • Systole: not < 180mmHg
  • Diastole: not <100mmHg
• Physical Examination

  • Pulse Rate
  • Use the index finger or the middle finger or both
  • Count in 1 full minute
  • Normal Value : 50-100 or 60-100 bpm
• Physical Examination

  • Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
  • Standard Method: cyanmethemoglobin
  • Screening Test: Copper Sulfate Solution
  • If the blood SINK within 15 secs: >12.5g/dL (accept)
  • > If the blood FLOAT within 15 secs.: <12.5g/dL (DEFER)
• • Whole Blood : blood collected before separation into components
• • Components : parts of whole blood that are separated
• • Closed System : a sterile system of blood collection
• • Open System : when the collection is exposed to air, decreasing expiration date
• • RBC
  • Stored: 1-6 C
  • Transport: 1-10 C (place inside the ice box)
• • Whole Blood (Fresh Whole Blood Cells)
  • Stored: 1-6 C
  • Transport: 1-10 C (place inside the ice box)
• • Platelets 
  • Stored: 20-24 °C (room temperature w/ constant agitation)
• • Fresh Frozen Plasma
  • Stored: 1-6 °C
  • Transfused within 24 hours
• • Cryoprecipitate 
  • Stored: -18 °C for 1 year