A Two-Week Short-Term Course on Practical Immunohematology and Blood Banking will be held by the Allied Medical Sciences Faculty, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Aim
-Developing a working knowledge of the principles and procedures of blood bank testing,
-Producing accurate, skilled clinical laboratory workers with strong ethical and professional values,
-Promoting respect and understanding of allied health professionals through renewed understanding of the clinical laboratory technician's role as a member of the allied health care team.
Description
Course involves the theoretical and practical application of blood bank procedures including blood grouping, cross matching, antibody screening and identification. Transfusion indications and reactions will also be covered.
Immunohematology or blood banking is the study of RBC antigens and antibodies associated with blood transfusions. There are more than 230 types of antigens present on the surface of RBCs. The ABO blood group system it is considered the most important antigenic system mostly because the ABO mismatch is potentially fatal. Other major blood group systems are Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, Lutheran, and MNS. For routine transfusions, blood is typed only for ABO and Rh blood group systems. Transfusion of ABO-compatible blood is required at all times. The principle of most immunohematology tests is the antigen–antibody reaction leading to RBC agglutination or hemolysis. If any of these occur, the reaction should be interpreted as positive. Immunohematological tests enable safe blood transfusion as well as prevent undesired immune-related phenomena after transfusion, transplantation and during pregnancy. In other words, immunohematological tests can be grouped into pre-transfusion tests and prenatal tests. Pre-transfusion tests include tests for determining compatibility between blood donors and patients in various blood cell antigenic systems. Patients always receive the blood identical to their own ABO and Rh blood group; only exceptionally it is allowed to transfuse the blood of another blood group. Within the scope of the cross-match test, a certain percentage of patients are identified carrying unexpected erythrocyte antibodies, which dictates further immunohematology tests. Prenatal tests are performed in order to identify incompatible erythrocyte antigens between the mother and fetus. By performing immunohematological and tests, we participate in the preparation of patients for transplantation of individual organs and tissues.
Practical Immunohematology and Blood Banking” is a comprehensive course that includes a series of theoretical and practical sessions of laboratory Immunohematology and Blood Banking procedures.
Main topics
-RBC blood groups
-Blood group typing
-Cross matching
-Antibody screening and identification
-Blood products (indication and contraindication)
-Transfusion reactions
Quality control