S7E Bio4- Human Scale- Immune System- Activity 2 S.

Chabanis 2022

QUESTION :

Blood transfusion consists of administering red blood cells from one or more healthy
individuals, the 'donors', to one or more 'sick' individuals, the 'recipients'.
Blood is taken from patient 1. It is centrifuged to remove any red blood cells it may contain
and the serum is collected. S1 is Patient 1’s serum and H1 their red blood cells.
The same procedure is used with 5 other people.

A drop of serum S1 is placed on a slide and a drop of a suspension of red blood cells H2 is
added. A small glass stirrer is used to mix the mixture. After 2 to 3 minutes, agglutination is
visible.

The red blood cells H3, H4, H5 and H6 are then tested with serum S1. The experiments are
repeated with sera S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6. All results are given in the table:

Hématies
RBC
H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6
Sérums
Serum

S1 - + - + + -
S2 + - - + - +
S3 + + - + + +
S4 - - - - - -
S5 + - - + - +
S6 - + - + + -
The + sign means agglutination. The - sign means no agglutination.

1. On the basis of their agglutinability, state how many types of red blood cells can be
identified in total.
2. Explain why the mixtures H1-S1, H2-S2, H3-S3, H4-S4, H5-S5, H6-S6 do not
agglutinate.
3. Give the red blood cells that can be transfused to the different individuals without
the risk of agglutination.
4. Knowing that Patient 1 has blood group A, find the blood groups of the 5 other
individuals.

Translated and adapted from C. De Mulder, IXL Teacher