24EL-466 On-Demand eCast: Immunohematology Boot Camp: ABO System

Live Program Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Program Number: 24EL-466

Educational Track: Technical/Clinical
Topics: Blood Donation & Collection, Patient Transfusion
Intended Audience: Facilities that perform molecular testing, Hospital Blood Banks, Hospitals, Immunohematology Reference Labs (IRL’s), Laboratory Staff, Managers/Supervisors, Medical Directors, Physicians, Research Scientists, Residents/Fellows, Students (MD, MT, SBB), Technologists
Teaching Level: Intermediate

Faculty
(titles and affiliations at the time of the live program)
Directors/Moderator: Lynsi Rahorst, MHPE, MLS(ASCP)SBB, Manager, Education & Training, IRL/Genomics, New York Blood Center Enterprises, New York, NY
Speaker: Laura Cooling, MD, Associate Director, Transfusion Medicine; Director, Cellular Therapy Laboratory; Director, Immunohematology Reference Laboratory, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Program Description
The ABO system, first described by Karl Landsteiner in 1900, remains the most important blood group system in transfusion medicine and transplantation. While testing for ABO is a requirement for blood donors, a standard part of pretransfusion testing for patients, and a most basic concept in transfusion medicine, our understanding of the ABO system continues to expand as new ABO alleles are routinely discovered. It is imperative for transfusion medicine professionals to have a comprehensive understanding of this most important blood group system.

This program will offer a thorough overview of the ABO blood group system, beginning with a description of the biochemical and structural aspects of ABO antigens. The importance of ABO testing, from routine testing for transfusion to monitoring antibody titers for transplant, will be discussed. Causes and resolution of ABO discrepancies will be highlighted. Additionally, molecular aspects of the ABO blood group system will be reviewed, including both the applications and limitations of ABO genotyping.

Learning Objectives
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Explain the biochemistry and structure of ABO blood group antigens and their importance in transfusion medicine and transplantation.
• Describe required serologic testing for ABO in donors and transfusion recipients, along with ABO considerations in transplantation.
• Identify both common and unusual causes of ABO discrepancies and address their resolution.
• Discuss the molecular background of the ABO blood group system, the diversity of ABO alleles, and applications of ABO genotyping.

How to Claim Continuing Education Credit

• Single Viewers: if you registered as a single viewer, complete the evaluation found on the "CE Information" tab after watching the video. By submitting the evaluation, you are attesting to watching the presentation in its entirety.

• Group Viewers: This is applicable for groups/facilities that purchased Group Viewing access for this program (registration will be verified prior to processing a group viewing attendance log). Group Viewing Coordinators should submit the attendance log to eLearning@aabb.org within 72 hours of the completion/viewing date. Once AABB receives an attendance log, each participant on the attendance log will be granted access as a single viewer to this program and will be required to complete the evaluation in order to claim continuing education credit. Each participant will be required to have an AABB account in order to access this program/platform. If a participant does not have an account, he/she can create one using the same email address provided on the attendance log.