Glossary
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Back Type
An antiquated term used by blood bank staff to refer to a process currently known as "serum grouping" or "plasma grouping" (and it is more completely explained in the above link). Blood bankers will use the term in sentences like this: "I can't figure out why the heck the stupid back type didn't work."
Blood Bank
The Blood Bank is a hospital laboratory department that is responsible for the storage, preparation for issue, and issue of blood products. Blood banks perform many other tasks as well, including pretransfusion analysis of potential recipients to screen for blood type, Rh type, and the presence of antibodies against red cell antigens. Many blood banks are involved in preparation of more advanced components for infusion, such as progenitor (stem) cells harvested from peripheral blood or from bone marrow. U.S. Blood Banks are tightly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are usually accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the AABB.
Blood Banking
Blood banking technically refers to the processes used to collect blood and blood components, store them appropriately, and prepare them for transfusion to a patient. However, many people also use the term to refer to the scientific processes of choosing appropriate products for individual patients and other clinical decisions that are really better defined as "transfusion medicine." Honestly, the articles and discussions on this site will sometimes lapse into the habit of using the two terms interchangeably. In fact, the name of this site is somewhat misleading, because the information discussed represents not only blood banking, but transfusion medicine as well.