BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY /

MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

COURSE OUTLINE IN IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY

Course Title: IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY

Course Credit: 4 units (3 units lecture and 1 unit laboratory) – CHED Memorandum 13 s. 2017

Contact Hours: Lecture: 3 hours per week (54 hours)

Laboratory: 3 hours per week (54 hours)

Placement: 3rd Year, 2nd Semester

Pre-requisites: Hematology 1/ Cytogenetics

Course Description:
The course deals with the concepts and immunologic principles of different blood group specific red cell
antigens and antibodies and their applications in transfusion practices. It also deals with mechanisms of
blood typing and crossmatching, antihuman globulin testing, detection and identification of antibodies,
screening of donors for blood donation, blood collection techniques, preparation of blood components and
blood products, their storage and disposal with emphasis on quality systems. Theoretical and direct
clinical experience offered in the theories and principles of blood banking with emphasis on the
instruction of technical procedures used in the country and international standards.

Course Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and analyze critical measures that ensure accurate and reliable pre-analytical,
analytical, and post-analytical processing of patient and donor samples to prevent errors
during different phases in blood processing;
2. Demonstrate the different immunohematologic principles employing current
technologies;
3. Develop dexterity in blood specimen handling and processing in different exercises in
blood banking;
4. Identify sources of biohazard, and employ safeguards as outlined by safety regulations;
5. Apply the principles of proper collection, processing, preservation, storage, distribution
and disposal of blood components;
6. Apply critical thinking skills in correlating discrepancies and compatibility test results
with certain clinical conditions;
7. Apply the principles of patient and donor confidentiality, data security, and biosecurity;
8. Analyze and interpret the results of the quality assurance/quality control in the
performance of Immunohematology tests;
9. Exhibit the role of the medical technologist working in the transfusion services unit
especially in the accurate diagnosis and treatment strongly considering the ethical
practice of the profession
Course Topic Outline:

I. Introduction
A. Basic Immunology
a. Antigen
b. Antibody
c. Antigen-antibody reactions
B. Red cell membrane

II. ABO Blood Group system

A. Discovery
B. Importance in transfusion practice
C. Landsteiner’s rule
D. Inheritance
E. Development of ABH antigens
F. Serologic properties of the ABO antibodies
G. Secretor status of the ABH antigens
H. ABO subgroups
I. Blood typing technique
J. Blood typing discrepancies

III. Rh Blood Group System

A. Discovery
B. Rh nomenclature
C. Inheritance
D. Serologic properties of the Rh antigens and antibodies
E. Rh typing
F. Weak D
G. Causes of false (+) and false (-) in Rh typing
H. Clinical significance

IV. Minor blood group systems: Features, phenotypes, antigens and antibodies, Inheritance, Clinical
Significance (Clinically significant and insignificant)
A. Lewis
B. Ii
C. P
D. MNSs
E. Lutheran
F. K/k
G. Duffy
H. Kidd
I. Other Minor blood group: Chido-Rodgers, Xga, Bg, Colton, Scianna, Diego, Sda, Milton, HTLA
Cartwright, Gerbich, Knops, Indian, Dombrock, Cromer, Ok, Raph, John-Milton Hagen, I
Globoside Gill Rh-Associated Glycoprotein FORS JR LAN Vel CD59 Augustine

V. Pre-Transfusion Testing
A. Antiglobulin Test (AGT)
1. Preparation of AHG reagent (Monospecific and Polyspecific)
2. Principle of Direct AHG
3. Applications
4. Principle of Indirect AHG
5. Applications
6. Coombs control check cells
7. Factors affecting the AHG tests
B. Ab screening and Identification
1. Purpose of antibody screening and identification
2. Screening and panel red cells
3. Paper workshop of Ab screening and identification interpretation
C. Crossmatching
1. Purpose
2. Phases of Major and minor crossmatch
 3. Types of crossmatch
4. Causes of incompatible crossmatch

VI. Blood donation:

A. Types of blood donors/ donation
B. Purpose of blood donor screening
C. Criteria of blood donors
D. Donor phlebotomy and processing of donor’s blood.
E. Donor reactions / Post-Phlebotomy care
F. Transportation of donor’s blood

VII. Blood Component Preparation and Therapy

A. Method of preparation
B. Requirement for preparation
C. Anticoagulant used
D. Shelf life
E. Storage requirement
F. Indications and use
G. Quality control requirements
H. Usual dosage

VIII. Transfusion practice

A. Types and purposes of transfusion
B. Transfusion reactions
1. Immunologic
2. Non immunologic
3. Immediate
4. Delayed
C. Diseases transmitted by transfusion

IX. HDFN and AIHA

A. Pathophysiology
B. Antibodies associated
C. Diagnostic serologic tests
D. DAT
E. Rosette Testing/Kleihauer-Betke test/ RhoGAM
F. Cold agglutinin test

X. Quality management (structure, set-up/ equipment) Laboratory Information

System/LIS)

Official Textbook : Harmening, Denise M. Modern Blood Banking and Transfusion Practice.
Book Promotion & Service Co., LTD. 6th ed.

Laboratory Manual :
Cardona, C. Martin, G.L., Garcia-Meim, R. (2015). Laboratory Manual in Blood Banking., C&E, 2nd ed.

References :

 AABB Technical Manual: 17th , 18th , 19th ed.

 Blaney, Kathy D. and Howard, Paula R. (2014). Basic and applied concepts of
immunohematology. St. Louis : Mosby Elsevier, 4th ed.
 Howard, Paula R. and Blaney, Kathy D. (2013). Basic and applied concepts of
immunohematology. St. Louis : Mosby Elsevier

 McPherson, R. A. and Matthew R. Pincus. Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management

by Laboratory Methods. El Sevier Saunders. 2011
  Quinley, Eva D. (2011). Immunohematology : principles and practice. Baltimore, MD :
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, c2011.
 Whitlock, Sheryl A. (2010). Immunohematology for medical laboratory technicians. Clifton Park,
NY : Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Safe blood and blood products.: Safe blood donation. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002. [17
August 2012]. http://www.who.int/bloodsafety/transfusion_services/bts_learningmaterials/en/index.html.

 Blood donor selection. Guidelines on assessing donor suitability for blood donation. Annex Geneva: World
Health Organization; 2012. [17 August 2012].
http://www.who.int/bloodsafety/voluntary_donation/blood_donor_selection_counselling/en/ [PubMed]

 Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Rational Use of Blood and Blood Products and Strategies for
Implementation

 American Red Cross. (2007). Practice Guidelines for Blood Transfusion: A Compilation from Recent Peer
Reviewed Literature. 1-64

Applications - Virtual Simulation Laboratory

 “Labster.” Labster, www.labster.com/.

Prepared by:

RICKY D. MARTINEZ Jr. RMT, BB(ASCP)SBB

Special Lecturer/Clinical Instructor
Arellano University
Lead Person-Blood Banking Learning Course Plan

Members:

JOSEPHINE V. CULATON-MILAN, MSMT, RMT

Dean, School of Medical Technology
Lorma College

GREGORIO L. MARTIN I, RMT, MSMT, MPH, PHD

Faculty, Department of Medical Technology
Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Santo Tomas

JUDE ANTHONY C. TRINIDAD, RMT, MSMT

Faculty, College of Medical Technology
Trinity University of Asia