Hematology

Hematology and Immunology

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Immunohematology is known as blood banking as well, is a branch of Hematology which studies antigen-antibody reactions and similar phenomena as they relate to the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of blood disorders. People working in this field are noted to as an immuno-hematologist. Their usual duties include cross-matching, blood typing and antibody identification. This area is dealing with preparing blood, blood components etc. for transfusion and assortment of more compatible components for blood transfusion. People might be immunized to RBCs due to prior exposure to RBCs of other persons, mostly through pregnancy or transfusion. Red blood cells have antigens on them. If a woman is pregnant with a foetus or an individual is transfused with blood that holds antigen which does not match with recipient or mother, this may cause formation of antibodies against blood antigen in the individual. These antibodies may then destroy RBCs which possess the antigen if further transfusions are required. This is why all blood banks go for screening of potential blood recipients for unexpected antibodies and they then select only that blood which lacks offending antigen. The formation of these antibodies is a rare occurrence, approximately 0.1-3% of the general population