View source for Immunity in Transfusion Science

Transfusion involves the study of immunohematology, which is the interaction of blood-related antibodies and antigens in patients. In transfusion medicine, the immune response is chiefly humoral

* Involves B lymphocytes, which may recognize foreign antigens and produce antibodies as part of an immune response
* Humoral immunity involves immune system related fluids, such as antibodies, complement, etc.

=== Protein & Carbohydrate Antigens ===
There are two main antigen types, protein and carbohydrate.

* Protein antigens are coded directly, and are integrated into the red cell membrane
* These are unique, and well-developed at birth
** Rh
** Kidd
** Diego, GIL, Colton, Kx, etc.
* Carbohydrate antigens are modified by the addition of sugars and are produced on the surface of the RBC
* These can be similar to other non-self antigens (e.g., from bacteria, pollen, etc.) and are not well-developed at birth
** ABO
** H
** Lewis
** I and Ii

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|IgG
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|IgG sensitization
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|Addition of AHG to agglutinate sensitized cells
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