Immunohematology Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Immunohematology and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| References Alba MA. Clinical Immunohematology Laboratory Manual. Albuquerque, NM: UNM Health Sciences Center; 2008.Brecher MF, Leger RM, Linden JV, Roseff SD, eds. Technical Manual 15th ed. Bethesda, Md. AABB; 2005.Harmening DM. Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practices. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: F.A. Davis Company; 2005. | View Page |
| Description of Specialties (1) Specialists in microbiology perform testing to diagnose and stop the spread of infectious organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Specialists should be able to isolate and identify a wide variety of these organisms. Testing procedures include direction examination and antigen detection methods.
Specialists in serology and immunology measure antibodies to infectious organisms. Specialists should be familiar with all serology techniques (except those specific to immunohematology). This specialty includes all lab procedures performed in the specialty of histocompatibility.
Specialists in hematology must be able to identify and evaluate cells in blood and bone marrow and identify disorders of these cell. Specialists should be familiar with routine and special tests to determine the number, morphology, and function of cells in body fluid. | View Page |
| Description of Specialties (2) Specialists in immunohematology perform all testing prior to blood transfusions and work to prevent transfusion infections. They also investigate any post-transfusion reactions. This specialty includes all lab procedures performed in the specialty of histocompatibility. Specialists in clinical chemistry analyze body fluids such as blood, urine, and spinal fluid to determine the chemical makeup, including the amount of carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, and trace elements. The special covers urine microscopics and chemical evaluation of the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, and other vital organ systems. This specialty also covers all testing performed in the specialties of radioassay and blood gas analysis. Specialists in blood banking can perform all immunohematology testing as well as testing from the specialties of clinical chemistry, hematology and serology/immunology that relates to donor blood. Clinical laboratory personnel who are licensed in the specialties of immunohematology, clinical chemistry, hematology, and serology / immunology may perform all tests in the blood banking specialty. | View Page |
| Clinical laboratory personnel who are licensed in the specialties of immunohematology, clinical chemistry, hematology, and serology / immunology may perform testing in the specialty of blood banking. | View Page |
| Specialists in radioassay, blood banking, and histocompatability may perform all tests associated with immunohematology, clinical chemistry, hematology, and serology / immunology. | View Page |
| Understanding the "rule of three" In immunohematology textbooks, the "rule of three" is sometimes presented as follows:1. If a patient plasma or serum gives positive results with a minimum of three antigen-positive cells and negative results with a minimum of three antigen-negative cells, concluding that the serum contains an antibody directed against the antigen has a p value of 0.05.2. Therefore, a p value of 0.05 requires at least three positives and three negatives.The first statement is correct but second statement is a misinterpretation of the p value.Three positives and three negatives are required to identify an antibody with a p value of 0.05 ONLY if you have only a 6-cell panel. It does not mean that you always need three positive cells and three negative cells to get p=0.05.For example: A 10-cell panel with eight Jk(a+) cells and two Jk(a-) cells gives a probability of 0.02 if all the positive cells and none of the negative cells react. A 10-cell panel with eight K- cells and two K+ cells gives a probability of 0.02 if all the positive cells and none of the negative cells react. Learning point: You do not need three positive cells and three negative cells to get an acceptable p value of 0.05. | View Page |