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

DAT	IAT
In vivo	In vitro
	IgG
	IgG sensitization
	Addition of AHG to agglutinate sensitized cells