Blood Typing and Crossmatching Health Article

KEY TERMS

ABO blood type—Blood type based on the presence or absence of the A and B antigens on the red blood cells.

Antibody—A special protein made by the body as a defense against foreign material that enters the body. It is uniquely designed to attack and neutralize the specific antigen that triggered the immune response.

Antigen—Anything that causes the body to launch an immune response against that antigen through the production of antibodies.

Blood bank—A laboratory that specializes in blood typing, antibody identification, and transfusion services.

Blood type—Blood categories based on the presence or absence of certain antigens on the red blood cells.

Crossmatch—A laboratory test done to confirm that blood from a donor and blood from the recipient are compatible.

Gene—A piece of DNA, located on a chromosome, that determines how traits such as blood type are inherited and expressed.

Immune response—The body's attack against an antigen that it considers foreign to itself. The attack begins with the production of antibodies against the antigen.

Rh blood type—Blood type based on the presence or absence of the D antigen on the red blood cells.

Transfusion—The therapeutic introduction of blood or a blood component into a patient's bloodstream.