Blood from someone else that matches yours, usually from a volunteer blood donor. Also referred to as homologous blood.
The process of making an antibody against a foreign antigen.
Abnormally low number of red blood cells in the circulation of the body, threatening adequate oxygen delivery to the tissues, especially under stress or exercise.
Proteins that react with molecules on cells foreign to the body and try to remove them.
A substance that prevents the clotting or thickening of blood.
A foreign molecule that sets off an immune response in the body and causes an antibody to form against it. It is usually expressed on the surface of a cell.
A procedure where whole blood is removed from the body and a desired component is retained, while the remainder of the blood is returned to the donor. Apheresis procedures may be done to collect donations for transfusion or to treat patients for disease.
An anemia caused by deficient red blood cell production by the bone marrow.
The process of making antibodies against one’s self (one’s intrinsic antigens).
Blood drawn from an individual prior to surgery and given back to the same individual when and if a need for transfusion arises.
Automated Blood Component Collection
A special kind of apheresis donation, Automated Blood Component (ABC) Collection allows donors to give only those blood components needed for patient transfusions. The needed blood components are separated while the donor is in the chair. ABC collection can yield all three components (red cells, platelets, and plasma) or a combination (such as red cells and platelets) from just one donor.
Automated Red Cell Collection
Automated Red Cell Collection (2RBC) allows the donor to give two units of red blood cells, instead of just one. The process separates your blood into its components while it is being drawn. Because only red blood cells are being collected, there will be enough for two red cell transfusions. The remaining components are returned to the donor.
See Blood Type.
The most important and well known blood group is ABO. Everyone’s blood falls into one of four groups, or types: A, B, AB or O. The type depends on the presence or absence of certain substances on red blood cells. Blood types are inherited.
The soft tissue located in the cavities of bones which is responsible for blood cell and platelet production.
The treatment of disease by the introduction of cells into the body to grow and replace damaged or missing tissue.
A soft, fat-like substance found naturally in the body.
A virus that may cause flu-like symptoms in the general population, but may cause severe disease in premature babies, bone marrow transplant recipients, and AIDS patients.
Components of Blood
A “part” of blood. Blood is made up of different “parts” or components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and several types of white blood cells. Each component has its own job to do. We can separate blood into components so patients can be transfused only with what they need.
A test performed in the blood bank laboratory to determine if a unit of banked blood will be compatible with a patient who needs a transfusion.
A blood component made by centrifugation of plasma in cold conditions used to treat deficiencies of fibrinogen.
A donation made by a blood donor who wishes his or her unit of blood to go to a specific patient.
Donate / Donation of Blood
To give blood. A blood donation is about one pint. Specific components, such as plasma or platelets can also be donated.
The process by which transplanted cells (for example, after a bone marrow transplant) begin to grow and reproduce themselves within the recipient.
Pertaining to people with origins from different parts of the world.
A clotting factor that stabilizes blood clots.
A protein involved in coagulation. Fibrinogen reacts with other molecules to produce blood clots.
A reaction where transplanted or transfused cells attack the recipient’s own cells.
A type of white blood cell that fights infection.
A measure of the amount of red blood cells in your body.
Of the blood.
A blood specialist.
The molecule in the red blood cell that carries oxygen. Hemoglobin combines with oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the tissues. It is what makes blood red.
The process of clotting.
Inflammation of the liver, caused by infectious or toxic agents and characterized by jaundice, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain.
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)
Antigens present on most cells of the body which are unique to the individual. HLA antigens are important for the body to recognize its own tissues and are important in matching organs and tissues for transplantation.
Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell (HPC)
Also called Hematopoietic stem cell. The “mother” cell which lives in the bone marrow from which all blood-making cells are derived. This type of cell is needed to do a bone marrow transplantation.
Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus
An unusual virus carried in the blood and some other body fluids that is often present for years in infected persons without symptoms but may rarely cause leukemia/lymphoma or nerve disease.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
An autoimmune disease where the body makes antibodies against its own platelets.
A condition brought about by disease or chemotherapy where the individual is highly susceptible to infection.
Irradiated Red Blood Cells
Red blood cells treated with gamma irradiation to inactivate white blood cells which may cause graft-versus-host disease.
Another term for a white blood cell.
Leukocyte-Reduced Blood Components
Blood components for transfusion that have a high percentage of white blood cells removed. The white blood cells cause unwanted reactions such as fever in patients.
With white blood cells removed from blood components in order to prevent certain adverse effects of transfusion such as fever, chills and alloimmunization.
A type of white blood cell that directs the formation of antibodies, and that has memory.
Pertaining to all chemical functions within the body.
Another term for cancer.
Refers to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Refers to transfusion reactions where the red blood cell is not destroyed.
A term for the study of cancer.
A term for disease.
Perioperative Autologous Transfusions (PAT)
The recovery, washing and reinfusion of a patient’s own blood, which has been lost during and after surgery in order to reduce the need for transfusions.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells
Circulating cells that can repopulate the bone marrow after a transplant. They have the ability to make all blood cell lines.
Plasma is the liquid part of blood, generally yellow in color. It is 92% water, 7% protein and 1% minerals. Plasma is the source of gamma globulin, albumin and clotting factors. For transfusion, plasma is used to treat clotting disorders, burn victims and shock. When frozen, plasma lasts one year.
An apheresis procedure where platelets are collected.
Colorless cells whose main function is to control bleeding. Platelets are essential to normal blood clotting. They can be wiped out during treatment for cancer, leukemia, aplastic anemia and other diseases. Platelets in the body have a circulating life span of about 10 days, but platelet components in the blood bank can only be stored for 5 days.
Red cells transport oxygen to body cells and remove carbon dioxide. Red cells contain iron in the hemoglobin. Red cells can be kept for 35-42 days.
Rh Blood Group
Rh is an inherited blood group named after the Rhesus monkey. The most common Rh antigen on red blood cells, D, is expressed by about 85% of blood donors. These individuals are called Rh (or D) positive. Those who lack D are called Rh negative.
Sickle Cell Disease
A disease in which the affected person makes an abnormal hemoglobin. Sickle cell disease is inherited.
A medical procedure using automated cell separation technology to treat patients. A medical device is generally taken to the patient’s bedside (or sometimes the patient is treated as an outpatient) and blood is withdrawn and separated into components in a sterile tubing set. A part of the blood containing harmful elements is removed and the rest of the blood re-combined and returned to the patient. Most commonly the plasma is removed, but sometimes abnormal cells can be removed.
Replacing blood or blood components a body has lost in surgery, through an accident, or as a result of medical treatment such as chemotherapy.
A low platelet count.
A person who has a blood type that is compatible with all other persons; this would be group O, Rh negative for red cell transfusions and group AB for platelet and plasma transfusions.
A person who has a blood type that allows them to receive blood of any ABO or Rh type. This would be AB positive for red cell transfusions and group O for platelet and plasma transfusions.
White Cells (Leukocytes)
The protective cells in the bloodstream. They consist of several types of white cells including granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes and play many functions in protecting the body from infection and attack from other types of foreign cells and molecules.
With origins in the 1950s, Carter BloodCare is one of Texas' largest blood centers, providing 300,000 units of life-saving blood and blood components to patients in North, Central, and East Texas annually.
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