The Not-So-Usual Suspects

Question 1

Why would the not-so-usual suspect not be on the antigram?

Answer 1

1. Antibodies occur so infrequently in the patient population that the possibility of encountering one is sooooooo low.
2. Some are clinically insignificant or have unknown clinical significance.

Question 2

What do you know about enzymes and chemicals in relation with the removal of antigens?

Answer 2

Chemicals - destabilize bonds that either break IgM antibodies or antibodies and antigens that are bonded to the cell.

Enzymes can enhance, depress, or destroy, or have no effect on antibody reactivity by cutting amino acids chains in the antigens.

— Don’t memorize these—
Ex of chemicals: DTT (Disulfide), Glycine HCl (hydrogen), Chloroquine, Diphosphate.

Ex of Enzymes: Bromelin (pineapple), Ficin (figs), Papain (papaya), Trypsin(porcine gut).

Question 3

When clinically significant red cell antibodies are detected… red cell components shall be _____ for transfusion that do not contain the corresponding _______

Answer 3

prepared, antigen

Question 4

For Diego:

Is it clinically significant?
What are the major antigen?

What are the antithetical antigens for Diego?

Answer 4

-Clinically significant
-Di^a is high in South American Indians

• Chemical and enzyme resistant
  -Band 3
• Di^a/Di^b, Wr^a/Wr^b