A blood cell disorder is a condition in which there is a problem with our red blood cells, white blood cells, or the smaller circulating cells called platelets, which are critical for clot formation. All cell types form in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside our bones. Red blood cells carry oxygen to our body’s organs and tissues. White blood cells help our body fight infections. Platelets help our blood to clot. Blood cell disorders damage the formation and function of one or more of these types of blood cells. Some symtoms include:

Immunohematology is the study of reactions that take place between antigens present on blood cells and antibodies present in plasma. Patients undergoing transfusion therapy are tested for their ABO and RhD blood groups and the presence of any antibodies that may create a reaction between their plasma and donor red cells. A range of tests are available to use to detect and identify antibodies in the patient's plasma from simple tube and gel tests to more complex absorption and elution techniques as well as advanced molecular techniques. These same tests will also identify if the antigen is present on the patient's red cells. For patients with hematological conditions such as auto immune hemolytic anemia, a wide range of immune-hematological techniques are used to identify and resolve the diagnostic problems in these patients. Molecular techniques are increasingly used in immunohematology to determine the antigen profile of patients, resolve complex problems and large scale red cell typing.

The IACH  (International Academy for Clinical Hematology) is founded by an international group of physicians whose focus is to stimulate good clinical practice in the field of clinical hematology. There is a rapid grow in global demand for academic continuing education of hematologists comprising clinical skills for patient management, standardization of real-life treatment procedures, as well in the performance of routine and comprehensive care in different fields of hematology. Actually, hematology is likely the most dynamic medical specialty with respect to new pathophysiology findings and their implementation in new therapies. The development of new drugs (targeted therapies, immunotherapy, etc.) is accompanied by a growing demand for sharing experiences in order to improve the quality of patient treatment and care via the development of professional competencies and excellence. In order to attain these objectives, cooperation is needed amongst the health professionals worldwide under a common umbrella to promote health care capacities by sharing scientific and clinical knowledge, methods and skills.

A blood transfusion is a way of adding blood to our body after an illness or injury. If our body is missing one or more of the components that make up healthy blood, a transfusion can help supply what our body is missing. Depending on how much blood we need, a transfusion can take between 1 and 4 hours.

Our blood is made up of several different parts including red and white cells, plasma, and platelets. “Whole blood” refers to blood that has all of them. In some cases, we may need to have a transfusion that uses whole blood, but it’s more likely that we will need a specific component.

Hemostasis is the cessation of bleeding from a cut or severed vessel, whereas thrombosis occurs when the endothelium lining blood vessels is damaged or removed. These processes involve blood vessels, Plasma protein, and platelet aggregation that cause formation or dissolution of platelet aggregates and fibrin.

In hemostasis, there is initial vasoconstriction of the injured vessel, resulting in diminished blood flow distal to the injury.