Blood Groups

QUARTER 1
 Vocabulary

• Antigen (agglutinogens) = genetically

determined proteins that mark each
person’s blood in a unique way.
• If an antigen other than your own enters
your body, the body recognizes it as
foreign and triggers the immune system
to release antibodies against it.
 vocabulary
• Antibodies (agglutinins) = proteins contained in the blood
plasma which identify foreign antigens and alert the
immune system.
• Once identified, antibodies bind to the foreign blood cells
and cause them to clump, a process called agglutination.
 Blood transfusion
• When blood vessels are broken, blood loss can lead to
weakness, shock and eventually death.
• Loss of over 30% of a person’s total blood volume can be
fatal unless treated with a whole blood transfusion.
• Whole blood transfusion is also used to treat chronic
health conditions such as anemia or thrombocytopenia.
• When giving a blood transfusion, it is essential to test the
blood groups of both the donor and recipient.
 human Blood groups

• Includes the ABO and RH

blood groups.
 ABO Blood Group
• The ABO blood group is based on two antigens: Antigen A and
Antigen B.
• Type A Blood = Presence of antigen A
• Type B Blood = Presence of antigen B
• Type AB Blood = Presence of antigens A and B
• Type O Blood = Neither antigen A or B

• These antigens are genetically determined.

• Antibodies are formed during infancy to protect the body against

antigens.
ABO blood group
 ABO blood group

• During a blood transfusion, only certain types of donor

blood will be successfully transplanted in a recipient.
• Agglutination causes blood cells to rupture, releasing
hemoglobin into the blood stream which often blocks
kidney tubules and results in kidney failure.
 Abo blood group
• Universal Donor: Since
Type O blood does not
contain any antigens,
anyone can receive this
blood.
• Universal Recipient: Since
Type AB blood does not
contain any antibodies, it
can receive any type of
transfusion.
 Rh blood group

• The Rh blood group is one of the most complex blood

groups known in humans. From its discovery 60 years ago
where it was named after the Rhesus monkey, it has
become second in importance only to the ABO blood
group in the field of transfusion medicine.
• The Rh factor is one of the proteins on RBCs used to
indicate whether the blood of two different people is
compatible when mixed
 Rh blood group
• Called Rh because Rh antigens was originally identified in Rhesus
monkeys but were later discovered in humans.
• The positive or negative sign next to the blood groups is known as
the Rhesus (Rh) factor. The Rh factor is an inherited protein that can
be found on the surface of the red blood cell.
• If your blood type is positive, then your blood cells have the Rh
protein.
• If your blood type is negative, then your blood cells lack the Rh
protein.
• Although Rh positive is the most common blood type, having a Rh-
negative typing does not indicate illness and usually doesn’t affect
your health.
 RHESUS MONKEYS
• During a blood transfusion, only certain types of donor
blood will be successfully transplanted in a recipient.
• For example: a recipient with type A blood can only
receive a transfusion of type A OR type O blood. If given
type B blood, the anti-B antibodies in the recipient’s
plasma will attack the A antigens causing agglutination.
• Agglutination causes blood cells to rupture, releasing
hemoglobin into the blood stream which often blocks
kidney tubules and results in kidney failure.