Test results are in....

and I have to go for another blood draw. Jamie has an antibody to one of my antigens, so this scheduled blood draw will help determine how Jamie will react (accept or reject) to my kidney.

This blood draw will take place at some lab (I have to figure out where/how tomorrow) and will be sent in like the first one was. The draw has to be done on May 8th and we'll get the results on the 12th or 13th of May.

What are antigens and antibodies you ask?

The key to a healthy immune system is its remarkable ability to distinguish between the body’s own cells (self) and foreign cells (nonself). The body’s immune defenses normally coexist peacefully with cells that carry distinctive "self" marker molecules. But when immune defenders encounter cells or organisms carrying markers that say "foreign," they quickly launch an attack.

Anything that can trigger this immune response is called an antigen. An antigen can be a microbe such as a virus, or even a part of a microbe. Tissues or cells from another person (except an identical twin) also carry nonself markers and act as antigens. This explains why tissue transplants may be rejected.

Antibodies are the proteins that can recognize (match) specific antigens. An antibody matches an antigen much as a key matches a lock. Whenever antigen and antibody interlock, the antibody marks the antigen for destruction.

http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/Medicine/Physiology/Immune/Antigen.htm

Stay tuned......