Blood Typing

Aira Anne Tonee C. Villamin

BSN II
What makes up our blood?
Blood type is based on the presence or
absence of 2 kinds of antigens on the
surface of red blood cells.
In our plasma, there can be antibodies
against these antigens.
Agglutination is the clumping of
particles. Agglutination is the process
that occurs if an antigen is mixed with
its corresponding antibody. This term is
commonly used in blood grouping.
 Type A Blood
Red Cells Plasma

Type A Antigen Anti-B Antibodies

 Type B Blood
Red Cells Plasma

Type B Antigen Anti-A Antibodies

 Type AB Blood
Red Cells Plasma

Neither Anti-A or
Anti-B Antibodies

Type A Antigen

Type B Antigen
 Type O Blood
Red Cells Plasma

Neither A nor B
Anti-A and Anti-
Antigens
B Antibodies
The Rh factor is caused by a different antigen than
the A and B ones.
Red Blood Rh positive (+)
Cells

No Rh
Red Cells antibodies in
with Rh plasms
antigens
The Rh factor is caused by a different antigen than
the A and B ones.

Red Blood Rh negative (-)

Cells

Rh
Red Cells antibodies in
without Rh plasma
antigens
The ABO Blood Group
How common is your blood type?

46.1%

38.8%

11.1%

3.9%
Blood Typing works by taking the antibodies
for each blood type and mixing them with a
drop of blood. Each drop of blood would be
mixed with a different anti-serum (anti-A,
anti-B and anti-Rh)
Blood Typing: If we mix Anti- A serum with type A blood there
will be clumping of RBC’s as the antibodies latch on the the
antigens.

Anti-A serum
antibody
Type A Cells
Type A Red
Cell

Anti-B serum
antibody

No clumping with Anti-B Antiserum

Type B blood in Type A blood in Anti-A
Anti-A antiserum antiserum.

Clumping

The clumping
can be easily
seen on a slide.
 Blood Typing
1. Add a drop of Anti-A serum to one end
and a drop of anti-B serum to the other
end of a microscope slide.
2. Mix a drop of blood with each.

Clumping

Type A
Blood
Anti-A Anti-B
 Blood Typing

Clumping

Type B
Blood
Anti-A Anti-B
 Blood Typing

Clumping

Type AB
Blood
Anti-A Anti-B
 Blood Typing

No Clumping

Type O
Blood
Anti-A Anti-B
 Blood Typing

Rh positive
Blood
Rh negative Clumping
Blood

Anti-R Anti-Rh
 Pictures of
what actual
slides would
look like after
addition of
the anti-
serums
 Significances of Blood Grouping:

1- Blood transfusion
2- Marriage ( Rh incompatibility)
3- Disputed paternity
4- Detection of criminals(Medico-legal)
 Transfusion Reactions
• Donor cell agglutination [Anti-A antibodies in
plasma of recipient cause agglutination of
donor (type A) red cells.]

• Hemolysis (Antigen-antibody reactions activate

complement which lyses donor red cells.
Clumped cells are phagocytized.)
• Hemoglobin released from lysed red cells
precipitates in kidney tubules - causes kidney
shutdown.
 Indications of Blood transfusion
- After hemorrhage.
- Severe anemia.
- Hemophilia.
- Purpura.
- Leukopenia.
- Severe infections.
- Chronic leukemia.
 Precautions before Blood Transfusion
1- Transfused blood should be compatible with that
of recipient.
2- The Hb content of transfused blood must be not
less than 90 %.
3- The transfused blood should be free from
diseases.
4- The transfused blood must be fresh and not
frozen.
5- Cross matching test should be done.
 Complications of Incompatible Blood
Transfusion
Incompatible blood transfusion leads to
agglutinations of the donor‘s red cells followed by
their hemolysis and results in the following :

1- Severe pain elsewhere in the body

2- Hemolytic jaundice
3- Chest pain
4- Dyspnea
5- Chills and fever
6- Hypotension
Complications of Blood Transfusion.
1- Incompatibility due to mismatched blood groups.

2- Allergic reactions.

3- Bacterial infections.

4- Transmission of diseases

5- Massive blood transfusion leads to circulatory

overload.