Safe and effective blood transfusion requires the combined efforts of blood transfusion services, biomedical scientists and clinicians to ensure the highest standards are applied to all the systems in a complex process from ‘vein to vein’. This chapter provides a…
Erythrocytes Red cell antigens Since Landsteiner’s discovery in 1901, that human blood groups existed, a vast body of serological, genetic and biochemical data on red cell (blood group) antigens has been accumulated. More recently, the biological functions of some of…
Anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapy is given to prevent formation or propagation of thrombi. Anticoagulant drugs, unlike fibrinolytic agents, have little if any effect on an already-formed thrombus. There are five main classes of drugs that require consideration: 1. Coumarins and…
Introduction to thrombophilia Investigations to identify an acquired or inherited thrombotic tendency are most frequently carried out in patients who develop venous or arterial thrombosis at a young age, in those who have a strong family history of such events…
Components of normal haemostasis The haemostatic mechanisms have several important functions: (1) to maintain blood in a fluid state while it remains circulating within the vascular system; (2) to arrest bleeding at the site of injury or blood loss by…
Radioactive isotopes must be distinguished from nonradioactive isotopes of the same element. The radioactive forms are usually referred to as radionuclides or radioisotopes. These terms are interchangeable and in this chapter, the latter term is used. Methods using radioisotopes have…
Acknowledgement The authors would like to acknowledge Kathryn Moss for her contribution to the HIV monitoring section. Principles of flow cytometric immunophenotyping The primary methods for immunophenotyping in the haematological setting are immunocytochemistry (described in previous editions of this book)…
Acknowledgement The major contribution of the late Dr David Swirsky to this chapter in previous editions of the book is gratefully acknowledged. Erythrocyte cytochemistry Siderocytes and sideroblasts Siderocytes are red cells containing granules of non-haem iron. They were originally described…
The haemoglobin molecule Human haemoglobin is formed from two pairs of globin chains each with a haem group attached. Seven different globin chains are synthesised in normal subjects; two, ε and ζ, are characteristic of the embryo and contribute to…
Assessing the likelihood of acquired haemolytic anaemia Haemolytic anaemia may be suspected from either clinical or laboratory abnormalities. Suggestive clinical features include anaemia, jaundice and splenomegaly. Other relevant clinical features that should be sought are a history of autoimmune disease,…