BLOOD GROUP

and
Rh FACTOR

Mr Sunil Kumar
Nursing Tutor
 Blood and its components

• Liquid fluid consisting of following

components:

a. Cells (45%)

b. Plasma (55%)

c. Serum = Plasma - fibrinogen

•The differences in human blood are due to the
presence or absence of certain protein molecules
called antigens and antibodies.

•The antigens are located on the surface of the

RBCs and the antibodies are in the blood plasma.

•Individuals have different types and

combinations of these molecules.

•The blood group you belong to depends on

what you have inherited from your parents.
• There are more than 20 genetically
determined blood group systems known today

• The AB0 and Rhesus (Rh) systems are the

most important ones used for blood transfusions.

• Not all blood groups are compatible with

each other. Mixing incompatible blood groups
leads to blood clumping or agglutination, which
is dangerous for individuals.
 Antigen-Antibody

• Antigen/ agglutinogen
The foreign substance that triggers the
production of antibodies.
• Antibodies/agglutinin
The substances produced in response
to antigens.
 Agglutination

• The reaction between the antigen and antibody

• Clumping of red blood cells occur in

some cases and in some cases do not
◾ If an antigen /agglutinogen is present on the
red cell membrane of an individual, the
corresponding antibody/agglutinin will be
absent in the plasma.

◾ If an antigen / agglutinogen is absent on the

red cell membrane of an individual, the
corresponding antibody / agglutinin will be
present in the plasma.
MAJOR MINOR
◾ ABO ◾ MN
◾ Rh (Rhesus) ◾ li
◾ P
◾ Lewis
◾ Duffy
◾ Kidd
◾ Kell
◾ Lutheran
◾ The most important in assuring a safe blood
transfusion.
◾ Is based on presence or absence of A &
B antigens on red cell membrane.
◾ There are 4 bloog groups according to this
system
◾ A, B, AB & O
 ABO Blood Type

• Blood group A
• Blood group B
• Blood group AB
• Blood group O
 ABO Blood Group Types

• If A antigen is present, blood group will be A

• If B antigen is present, blood group will be B
• If both A and B antigens are present, blood
group will be AB
• If neither A nor B antigen is present, blood
group will be O
 Antibodies Against ABO
Antigens
• The immune system form antibodies
against whichever ABO blood group
antigens are present

• For example a person with blood group A will

have B antibodies.
Blood group A
If you belong to the blood group
A, you have A antigens on the
surface of your RBCs and B
antibodies in your blood plasma.

Blood group B
If you belong to the blood group
B, you have B antigens on the
surface of your RBCs and A
antibodies in your blood plasma.
Blood group AB
If you belong to the blood group
AB, you have both A and B antigens
on the surface of your RBCs and no
A or B antibodies at all in your
blood plasma.

Blood group O
If you belong to the blood group O (null),
you have neither A or B antigens on the
surface of your RBCs but you have both A
and B antibodies in your blood plasma.
Antigens Vs Antibodies
 Importance of ABO
Blood Group
• System
Most important test because:

• Antibodies of ABO system present in

every person

• Incompatible blood transfer causes the

intravascular hemolysis of RBCs leading to
death
 Universal Donors Vs
Universal
Acceptors
Universal Donor:
• Can donate their blood to anyone
• Have O negative blood group
Universal Acceptors:
• Can accept blood from anyone
• Have AB positive blood
group
 Rh Blood Group System

• This system also discovered by Karl

Land Steiner(1940)

• Second important blood group system

• The main cause of hemolytic disease of

new born(HDN)
 Rh Blood Group

• Consists of 49 antigens

• Most significant are D,C,E,c and e

• Commonly used term Rh factor refer to D

antigen on RBCs surface
 Types of Rh Blood
Group System
• Rh Positive:
Posses Rh antigen on surface of RBCs
• Rh Negative:
Lack Rh antigen on surface of RBCs
 Erythroblastosis Fetalis

• Hemolytic disease of new born

Occurrence:
• If a mother with Rh- have a fetus with
Rh+
• Mother develop Rh- antibodies against fetus
Rh+
• These antibodies will react with subsequent
Rh+ fetus
• Lead to bursting of RBC’s
 Treatment For Erythroblastosis
Fetalis
• Steps are taken to prevent antibodies
production against fetus antigens

• Usually a shot of Rh antibodies are given to

mother within 72 hours of delivery

• Blood Transfusion
ABO Blood Group and Rh factor
Determination by Kit Test

• It is the method can be used for the

blood group detection
Principle:
• The ABO and Rh blood grouping system
is based on agglutination reaction
• It is the reaction between Antigens present on
red blood cells and antibodies present in
serum
 Materials Required

Contents:
• Anti-A sera
• Anti-B sera
• Anti Rh-D sera
• Cavity slide
• Mixing Stick
• Blood Lancet
• Spirit/Alcohol
 Procedure

• Dangle the hand down

• Clean fingers with alcohol
• Sterile lancet and pierce the finger tip and
place blood in cavities
• Add one drop of anti-serum
• Mix the blood and anti-sera
• Observe agglutination
 Determination of Blood Group on
thebasis of Agglutination
Sr.No Anti-A Anti-B Anti Rh-D Blood Group

Slide 1 √ × √ A +ve

Slide 2 × √ √ B+ve

Slide 3 √ √ √ AB+ve

Slide 4 × × √ O+ve
 Interpretations

• Agglutination observed when blood is

mixed with anti-A reagent then blood group
is “A”
• Agglutination observed when blood is
mixed with anti-B reagent then blood group
is “B”
• Agglutination observed when Anti-A and
Anti-B reagents then blood group is AB
 Continued……………

• If no Agglutination is observed then

blood group is “O”
• If agglutination is observed when blood is
mixed with Anti Rh-D reagent, then the
individuals is said to have “+ve” Rh factor.
• If no agglutination is observed when blood
is mixed with Anti Rh-D reagent, then the
individuals is said to have “-ve” Rh factor.