L1 Introduction

Question 1

Who discovered the circulation of blood?

Answer 1

William Harvey in 1628

Question 2

What was the first successful blood transfusion performed for?

Answer 2

Treatment of postpartum hemorrhage

Question 3

Who performed the first successful transfusion of human blood?

Answer 3

James Blundell in 1818

Question 4

What significant discovery did Karl Landsteiner make in 1900?

Answer 4

The first three human blood groups: A, B, and C (later changed to O)

Question 5

What additional blood type was discovered in 1902?

Answer 5

AB

Question 6

What honor did Karl Landsteiner receive in 1930?

Answer 6

The Nobel Prize for Medicine

Question 7

What development in 1914 improved blood preservation?

Answer 7

Long-term anticoagulants like sodium citrate

Question 8

Where and when was the world’s first transfusion service established?

Answer 8

Barcelona at the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936

Question 9

Who established the first modern hospital blood bank in the United States?

Answer 9

Bernard Fantus in 1937

Question 10

What issues arose from contaminated blood products given to hemophiliac patients?

Answer 10

Infections from hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV

Question 11

What factors contributed to the ‘Blood Scandal’ in the UK?

Answer 11

Imported blood plasma from high-risk donors, lack of screening, plasma pooling, paid donations, poor oversight

Question 12

What was a major consequence of the ‘Blood Scandal’ in the UK?

Answer 12

Public outrage and official government inquiries

Question 13

Fill in the blank: Hemophiliacs often require clotting factor concentrates, especially _______ and IX.

Answer 13

Factor VIII

Question 14

True or False: Tests for HIV and Hepatitis C existed before the 1990s.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

What is a major risk associated with plasma pooling?

Answer 15

High infection risk if even one donor was infected

Question 16

What was a significant issue with paid blood donors?

Answer 16

Higher risk of infections, particularly among prisoners

Question 17

What ongoing inquiry is related to the ‘Blood Scandal’?

Answer 17

The Infected Blood Inquiry

Question 18

What was a consequence of slow regulatory responses during the blood scandals?

Answer 18

Inadequate understanding of emerging diseases like HIV/AIDS

Question 19

What are blood group antigens?

Answer 19

Proteins, glycoproteins, or glycolipids on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs)

Blood group antigens are inherited genetically and determine blood type.

Question 20

Why are some blood group antigens considered clinically important?

Answer 20

They can cause immune reactions if incompatible blood is transfused

This can lead to haemolytic transfusion reactions.

Question 21

What are some clinically important roles of blood group antigens?

Answer 21

• Immune destruction of RBCs in allogeneic transfusion
• Foeto-maternal incompatibility
• Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia
• Organ transplantation
• Genetic, forensic and anthropologic investigations

These roles highlight the significance of blood group antigens in medical practice.

Question 22

What defines a blood group system?

Answer 22

Products of alleles at a single locus or closely linked loci

Examples include ABO and Rh systems.

Question 23

How many blood group systems are described in humans?

Answer 23

Up to 39 blood group systems

This results in 350-400 possible antigens.

Question 24

What are naturally occurring blood group antibodies?

Answer 24

Antibodies that develop without an obvious stimulus

They contrast with immune antibodies that develop due to transfusion or pregnancy.

Question 25

What is the primary function of plasma cells?

Answer 25

To secrete antibodies ## Footnote Plasma cells represent activated B lymphocytes.

Question 26

What is a transfusion reaction?

Answer 26

Lysis of red cells coated with antibodies or clearance by macrophages ## Footnote This can occur if transfused blood is incompatible.

Question 27

What are the seven roles of the IBTS Transfusion Centre?

Answer 27

* Recruitment, selection and retention of blood donors * Blood collection * Blood grouping * Component preparation * Microbiological screening * Quality assurance of product * Issue of product to hospital blood banks ## Footnote These roles ensure the safe and effective use of blood products.

Question 28

What is a Hospital Blood Bank?

Answer 28

A specialized laboratory responsible for blood collection, testing, storage, and distribution ## Footnote It supports patient care with blood and blood products.

Question 29

List some specific roles of a Hospital Blood Bank.

Answer 29

* Blood typing * Crossmatching * Antibody Screening * Storage of blood products * Issuing of blood products * Managing blood inventory * Hemovigilance and safety ## Footnote These roles are crucial for ensuring blood safety and proper usage.

Question 30

True or False: Blood group antigens can trigger strong immune reactions.

Answer 30

True ## Footnote Some antigens are considered more immunogenic than others.

Question 31

Fill in the blank: Blood group systems can be defined as the products of alleles at a single locus or _______.

Answer 31

closely linked loci ## Footnote This definition encompasses systems like ABO and Rh.