CLS 790 Blood Bank Lab Terminology

Question 1

prefix indicating differing species. For example, a xenoantibody is an antibody produced in one species against an antigen present in another species. Synonym is hetero-.

Answer 1

xeno-

Question 2

incomplete lattice formation caused by an excess of antibody molecules relative to the number of antigen sites, resulting in false-negative reactions.

Answer 2

Prozone

Question 3

the outward expression of genes ( e.g. a blood type). On blood cells, serologically demonstrable antigens constitute the phenotype, except those sugar sites that are determined by transferases.

Answer 3

Phenotype

Question 4

antibody derived from a single ancestral antibody-producing parent cell.

Answer 4

Monoclonal

Question 5

compatibility testing procedure using recipient’s red cells and donor’s serum.

Answer 5

Minor crossmatch

Question 6

compatibility testing procedure using recipient’s serum and donor red cells.

Answer 6

Major crossmatch

Question 7

proteins present in plants (usually seeds), which bind specifically to carbohydrate determinants and agglutinate erythrocytes through their cell surface of oligosaccharide determinants.

Answer 7

Lectin

Question 8

Also called isoantibodies,the ABO antibodies anti-A, anti-B, and anti-A,B, which are expected to be found in serum.

Answer 8

Isogglutinins

Question 9

inside the living body.

Answer 9

In vivo

Question 10

outside the living body, as in a laboratory setting.

Answer 10

In vitro

Question 11

possessing a pair of identical alleles.

Answer 11

Homozygous

Question 12

possessing different alleles at a given locus.

Answer 12

Heterozygous

Question 13

an antibody that activates complement, leading to cell lysis.

Answer 13

Hemolysin

Question 14

an individual’s actual genetic makeup.

Answer 14

Genotype

Question 15

a proteolytic enzyme derived from the fig.

Answer 15

Ficin

Question 16

a procedure in which red blood cells are incubated with an enzyme solution that cleaves some of the membrane’s glycoproteins, then washed free of the enzyme, and used in serologic testing. Enzyme treatment cleaves some antigens and exposes others.

Answer 16

Enzyme treatment

Question 17

a process whereby cells that are coated with antibody are treated in such a manner as to disrupt the bonds between the antigen and antibody. The freed antibody is collected in an inert diluent such as saline or 7% albumin. This antibody serum then can be tested to identify its specificity using routine methods. The mechanism to free the antibody may be physical (heating, shaking) or chemical (ether, acid), and the harvested antibody-containing fluid is called an eluate.

Answer 17

Elution

Question 18

a phenomenon whereby an antibody reacts more strongly with a red cell carrying a double dose (homozygous inheritance of the appropriate gene) than with a red cell carrying a single dose (heterozygous inheritance) of an antigen.

Answer 18

Dosage

Question 19

a pair of genes in which neither is dominant over the other; that is, they are both expressed.

Answer 19

Codominant

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Cis position

Question 21

an individual who possesses a mixed cell population.

Answer 21

Chimera

Question 22

reactivity occurring in two phases.

Answer 22

Biphasic

Question 23

the strength with which a multivalent antibody binds to a multivalent antigen.

Answer 23

Avidity

Question 24

testing the patient’s serum with his or her own cells in an effort to detect autoantibody activity.

Answer 24

Autologous control

Question 25

a reagent source of antibody, as in a commercial antiserum.

Answer 25

Antiserum

Question 26

an antibody prepared in rabbits or other suitable animals that is directed against human immunoglobulin or complement, or both; used to perform the antihuman globulin or Coomb’s test. The serum may be either polyspecific or monospecific.

Answer 26

Antihuman serum / Coomb's serum

Question 27

test to ascertain the presence or absence or red cell coating by immunoglobulin G or complement, or both; uses a xenoantibody (rabbit antihuman serum) to act as a bridge between sensitized cells, thus yielding agglutination as a positive result.

Answer 27

Antihuman globulin test (AGT)

Question 28

a reagent anti-H produced from the seeds of the plant Ulex europaeus.

Answer 28

Anti-H lectin

Question 29

testing the patient’s serum with group O reagent red cells in an effort to detect atypical antibodies.

Answer 29

Antibody Screen

Question 30

a reagent anti-B serum produced from the seeds of the plant Bandeiraea simplicifolia.

Answer 30

Anti-B lectin

Question 31

a reagent anti-A1 serum produced from the seeds of the plant Dolichos biflorus ; reacts with A1 cells but not with A subgroups.

Answer 31

Anti-A1 lectin

Question 32

occurring before birth.

Answer 32

Antenatal

Question 33

a gene that does not appear to produce a detectable antigen; a silent gene.

Answer 33

Amorph

Question 34

prefix indicating differences within a species (e.g., an alloantibody is produced in one individual against the red cell antigens of another individual).

Answer 34

Allo-

Question 35

one of two or more different genes that may occupy a specific locus on a chromosome.

Answer 35

Allele

Question 36

a substance that stimulates the production of an agglutinin, thereby acting as an antigen.

Answer 36

Agglutinogen

Question 37

an antibody that agglutinates cells.

Answer 37

Agglutinin

Question 38

the clumping together of red blood cells or any particulate matter resulting from interaction of antibody with its corresponding antigen.

Answer 38

Agglutination

Question 39

the bond between a single antigenic determinant and an individual combining site. A measure of the binding strength of an antibody for its epitope; a binding constant.

Answer 39

Affinity

Question 40

providing an antibody with its corresponding antigen under optimal conditions so that the antibody will attach to the antigen, thereby removing the antibody from the serum: often used interchangeably with absorption.

Answer 40

Adsorption

Question 41

removal of an unwanted antibody.

Answer 41

Absorption

Question 42

a type of potentiating medium in use for serologic testing. Reducing the ionic strength of the red cell suspending medium increases the affinity of the antigen for its corresponding antibody such that sensitivity can be increased and incubation time decreased. LISS contains glycine or glucose in addition to saline.

Answer 42

Low ionic strength solution (LISS)

Question 43

referring to antigens that are the product of allelic genes (e.g. K and k).

Answer 43

18. Antithetical