Lab: #

Title: Blood Grouping

Aim: To investigate the compatibility of blood groups with each other

Material: 20cm3 red coloured water, 20cm3 blue coloured water, 20cm3 purple coloured
water, 20cm3 pure water, 4 beakers, 12 test tubes, 1 test tube rack
Method:
1. 4 Beakers with blue coloured water, red coloured water, purple coloured water, and pure
water respectively were gathered.
2. The red water represented blood group A, the blue water represented blood group B, the
purple water represented blood AB and the pure water represented blood O.
3. test tubes were placed in a rack and labelled 1-4.
4. 1 cm3 of blood type A was added to test tube1, 1cm3 of blood type B was added to test tube
2, 1cm3 of blood type AB was added to test tube 3 and 1 cm3 of blood type O was added to
test tube 4. A recipient for blood transfusion is represented by each test tube.
5. 1cm3 of blood type A ( the donor’s blood) was added to each test tube. All colour changes
were noted.
6. Clumping occurred once there was a colour change. Therefore, it was ‘NOT’ a match.
‘CORRECT MATCHING’ occurred once the colour remained the same. Results were
recorded in a suitable table.
7. Step 3-4 were repeated, and Blood type B was then added to each test tube. All
observations were recorded.
8. Step 3-4 were repeated, and Blood type AB was then added to each test tube. All
observations were recorded.
9. Step 3-4 were repeated, and Blood type O was then added to each test tube. All
observations were recorded.
Drawing:
Observations:

Recipient’s blood Donor’s

type blood type

A (red B (blue AB O (pure

water) water) (purple water)
water)
A (red water) X X X
B (blue water) X X X
AB (purple water)
O (pure water) X X
Discussion:
Agglutinations, most frequently done in test tubes, is the process by which free red blood
cells are joined together by an antibody and reduced to a visible pellet when centrifuged.
Type A with anti-A causes agglutination, Type B with anti-B causes agglutination, Type AB
with anti-A and anti-B causes agglutination, and Type O with anti-A and anti-B causes no
agglutination, according to four combinations that have been observed. The blood type that
has the least likelihood of resulting with serious side effects for the majority of recipients is
type O negative blood. It is referred to as the universal blood donor type as a result. Due to
the lack of A or B surface antigens on their red blood cells, people with Type O blood are
referred to as universal donors. Antigens are proteins that can cause allergic reactions in
people whose bodies do not naturally contain the antigens. Red blood cells from any other
blood type can be given to blood donors who are type AB+ (AB positive), often known as
universal recipients. Because AB positive patients can accept red blood cells from all blood
types, they are referred to as the "universal recipient" blood type.
Mark Scheme:

Analysis and Interpretation Marks Allotted Marks Attained

Define agglutination 1
List 4 combinations from 4 (1 mark each)
experiment
Explanation of what 1
happens when two blood
types were combined
Define universal donor 1
Explanation why a person 1
would be considered a
universal donor
Define universal receiver 1
Explanation why a person 1
would be considered a
universal receiver
Total 10