Acid citrate dextrose (ACD)
An anticoagulant solution: A substance that prevents the clotting or thickening of blood.
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Disease due to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
An acute (sudden onset), rapidly progressing form of leukemia that is characterized by the presence in the blood and bone marrow of large numbers of unusually immature white blood cells that would normally be destined to become lymphocytes. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is also called acute lymphocytic leukemia and is abbreviated ALL.
ALL is the most common cancer occurring in children, representing almost 25% of cancer among children.
Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML)
Acute myeloid leukemia (also known as acute myelogenous leukemia), a quickly progressive malignant disease in which there are too many immature blood-forming cells in the blood and bone marrow. Specifically, the cells are those destined to give rise to the granulocytes or monocytes, both types of white blood cells that fight infections. In AML, these blasts do not mature and so become too numerous. AML can occur in adults or children.
Additive solution (AS)
A solution specifically formulated to maintain beneficial properties of cellular components during storage.
ADSOL
Preservative solution for red blood cells containing sodium chloride, adenine, glucose and mannitol.
Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL)
An adult onset malignancy of mature T lymphocytes (T cells) caused by infection with the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), and characterized by circulating malignant T-lymphocytes, skin lesions, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and spleen), hypercalcemia (high blood calcium), lytic ("punched out") bone lesions, and a tendency to infection. There are four categories of ATL, based on the aggressiveness of the disease -- smoldering, chronic, lymphoma, and acute.
Alloimmunization or alloantibody
The process whereby antibodies are formed which are directed towards antigens from other people, including leukocytes. It is one of the most serious transfusion complications.
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
The professional society for institutions and individuals involved in blood banking.
Anemia
Weakness, fatigue, and paleness resulting from a deficiency of red blood cells or insufficient amounts of hemoglobin molecules within the red cells.
Anticoagulant
A substance that prevents the clotting or thickening of blood.
Antigen
A substance on the surface of red blood cells that elicits an immune response when transfused into a patient who lacks that antigen.
Antibody
Proteins that react with antigens on red blood cells and may destroy transfused red blood cells.
Apheresis
Method of obtaining one or more blood components by machine processing of whole blood in which the residual components of the blood are returned to the donor during or at the end of the process.
Aphersis red blood cells
Red blood cells in anticoagulant or in anticoagulant and storage solution that have been prepared by automated cytapheresis.
Aplastic anemia
An anemia caused by deficient red blood cell production by the bone marrow.
Autologous blood
Blood drawn from one individual to be given back to that individual, or to a genetically identical designee, as the need for transfusion arises.
Autologous donation
Blood drawn from an individual prior to surgery and given back to the same individual when and if a need for transfusion arises.
Autologous transfusion
Transfusion in which the donor and the recipient are the same person and in which predeposited blood and blood components are used.
BB
Blood bank
BC
Blood center
Blood
The fluid which circulates throughout the body carrying nourishment and oxygen to the cells and tissue, and at the same time takes away waste matter and carbon dioxide.
Blood component
Blood is made up of different "parts" or components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and several types of white blood cells. Donated blood is often separated into components so that patients can be transfused only with the "part" of blood needed.
Blood product
Any therapeutic product derived from human blood or plasma.
Buffy coat (BC)
The layer of white blood cells and thrombocytes that exists between plasma and red blood cells after whole blood is centrifuged.
Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL)
The most common form of leukemia in adults, in which the lymphocytes may look fairly normal but are not fully mature and do not deal effectively with infection. The malignant cells are found in the blood and bone marrow, collect in and enlarge the lymph nodes, and may crowd out other blood cells in the bone marrow, resulting in a shortage of red blood cells (producing anemia) and platelets (resulting in easy bruising and bleeding).
Chronic myeloblastic leukemia (CML)
A chronic malignant disease in which too many white blood cells belonging to the myeloid line of cells are made in the bone marrow. Early symptoms of this form of leukemia include fatigue and night sweats. The disease is due to the growth and evolution of an abnormal clone of cells containing a chromosome rearrangement known as the Philadelphia (or Ph) chromosome. Chronic myelogenous leukemia is commonly called CML. It is also known as chronic myelocytic leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia.
Citrate phosphate dextose adenine (CPDA-1)
A preservative-anticoagulant solution used for whole blood collection.
Citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD)
An anticoagulant solution: a substance that prevents the clotting or thickening of blood.
Citrate phosphate dextrose dextrose (CP2D)
An anticoagulant solution: a substance that prevents the clotting or thickening of blood.
Closed system
A system, the contents of which are not exposed to air or outside elements during preparation and separation of components.
Concentrated red cells (CRC)
Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD)
A disease (also known as "Classic CJD") that creates a protein plaque on the brain and eventually leads to a rapid death. It usually occurs in patients over the age of 60.
Cross match
Finding of exact similarities between a patient's blood and a donor's blood. This process involves careful and exacting laboratory tests.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
A virus that infects and resides in leukocytes. CMV may cause flu-like symptoms in the general population, but may cause severe disease in premature babies, bone marrow transplant recipients, and AIDS patients.
In certain patient populations, CMV infection can cause fever, hepatitis, pneumonia, and severe brain damage and can ultimately lead to death.
Donate / donation
To give blood. A normal blood donation is comprised of approximately one pint. Specific components of whole blood can also be donated.
Donor
A person in normal health with a good medical history who voluntarily gives blood or plasma for therapeutic use.
Erythrocyte
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