Advanced Blood Group Serology

Details

Title

Advanced Blood Group Serology

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS189

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period with respect to clinical and laboratory transfusion, the trainee will be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, critically evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform, adapt and master a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• genetic background, prevalence, ethnic variations of antigens, and the clinical significance of corresponding antibodies, including but not limited to the following systems: ABO and H, MNS, P1PK, Rh, LW and RHAG, Lutheran, Kell and Kx, Duffy, Kidd, Diego, Dombrock, Colton, Chido/Rogers, Gerbich, Cromer, Knops, Indian, JMH, I, ‘Globoside’, JR, Lan, and Vel
• ABO and H, sub-groups of A, variants of A and B, Bombay phenotype
• the effects of age, disease and transplantation on ABO antigens and antibodies
• Rh, LW and RHAG. Most probable haplotypes, compound and low prevalence antigens, effect of RHAG genes, Rhnull
• Kell and Kx. Ko and anti-Ku, Kmod and McLeod phenotypes
• Kidd and the anamnestic response of anti-Jka
• associations between blood groups and disease, including:
  • Duffy and malaria
  • Auto-anti-I and cold haemagglutinin disease
  • Anti-P and paroxysmal cold haemogobinuria
• the role of molecular genotyping in elucidation of blood groups
• the investigation and transfusion of auto-immune haemolytic anaemias (drug induced, warm, cold and mixed type) including the use of:
  • adsorption and elution techniques
  • the use of monospecific antiglobulin reagents
  • the Donath-Landsteiner test for PCH
• impact of exogenous immunoglobulin on laboratory tests
• blood group changes following allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance of a range of technical procedures and laboratory skills and will be able to:

• perform a full range of advanced techniques for the elucidation of blood grouping and red cell antibody problems
• undertake the laboratory investigation of autoimmune haemolytic anaemias
• evaluate the performance and limitations of advanced serological techniques including adsorption and elution procedures to reveal underlying antibodies
• interpret results from advanced laboratory techniques including the interpretation of adsorption procedures
• interpret of molecular genotyping results, noting the multiple genetic backgrounds for some blood group phenotypes

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of advanced blood group serology, be able to perform, adapt and master a range of clinical skills and will:

• report on all serologically complex cases, including AIHA and post-transfusion reactions, advising the transfusion requirements of individual patients taking due account of the clinical setting