4. why is it necessary to do both ABO and Rh typing? Explain your answer.

ABO grouping and Rh typing are performed on all donated blood. They are also performed for all people
who require a blood transfusion. It is important to ensure that there is compatibility between a person who
requires a transfusion of blood or blood components and the ABO and Rh type of the unit of blood that will
be transfused. A potentially fatal transfusion reaction can occur if a unit of blood containing an ABO
antigen to which a person has an antibody is transfused to that person.
If an Rh-negative individual is transfused with Rh-positive blood, it is likely that the person will produce
antibodies against Rh-positive blood. Although this does not cause problems for the person during the
current transfusion, a future transfusion with Rh-positive blood could result in a serious transfusion
reaction.
Rh typing is especially important during pregnancy because a mother and her fetus could be
incompatible. If the mother is Rh-negative but the father is Rh-positive, the fetus may be positive for the
Rh antigen. As a result, the mothers body could develop antibodies against the Rh antigen. The
antibodies may cross the placenta and cause destruction of the babys red blood cells, resulting in a
condition known as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.