• BLOOD GROUPS

•
• Although red blood cells look alike under a microscope, they
may carry different substances (antigens) called antigen A &
antigen B on their cell surface. Plasma contains antibodies
which attack foreign red cell antigens but does not contain
antigens which would attack a person’s own red blood cell
antigens.
 • The table below shows a possible combination of antibody-antigen combinations which would
otherwise determine a person’s blood group.

Antigen on Red Blood Cell Antibody in plasma Blood

group
A Anti-B A
B Anti-A B
A and B None AB
None Anti-A and Anti-B O
• Before a person can receive blood transfusion it is
important to know if the donor blood is compatible
with that of the patient. If it not, then the patient’s red
blood cells will clump together in the blood vessels
causing serious harm.

• If a donor’s blood causes the patient’s blood to

clump (agglutination) their blood groups are said to
be incompatible.
 Blood groups, compatibility, between donor & recipient.

Blood Group Donates to Receives from

A A A and O

B B B and O

AB AB All groups

O All groups O
• The red cells from group O can be given to any other group because
they have neither the A nor B antigens, and so cannot be clumped,
hence known as the universal donors
• Group O can only receive blood from their own group because their
plasma contains both anti-A and anti-B antibodies. Although group O
possesses a & b agglutinins (antibodies), there will be very little
agglutination of the recipient’s blood because the donated plasma is
diluted so much by the recipient’s cells that it is ineffective in
agglutination activity.

• Group AB people having neither anti-A and anti-B antibodies in their

plasma, can receive blood form any other group hence they are called
Universal recipients
• BLOOD RELATED DISEASES
•
1. Leukaemia
2. Aids
3. Anaemia
4. Malaria
•
• Leukaemia;
• This is a condition in which large numbers of immature white blood cells are produced & released into the blood stream. Over
production of abnormal white blood cells results in less formation of the red blood cells and hence an imbalance in the composition of
the blood cells. These immature white blood cells will not be able to carry out their role effectively, i.e. being unable to protect the body
against infections. Leukaemia can also be termed “cancer of the blood”.
•
• (i)Cause;
• Radiation is the primary cause of this disease. Radiation may be from uv rays, nuclear power stations & stored radioactive wastes.
•
• (ii)Treatment;
 Leukaemia can be treated using drugs such as interferon
 Can also be treated by radiotherapy & chemotherapy
•
• (iii)Prevention
• Anaemia
• (i) Cause
• It is a disease which occurs as a result of deficiency of iron in the body, which results in insufficient haemoglobin which will
affect oxygen transportation.
•
• Other factors leading to anaemia are;
 Failure to produce enough red blood cells
 Uncontrollable destruction of the red blood cells
 Excessive loss of blood e.g. due to accidents
•
• (ii) Treatment
 If the condition is not that serious, a person can be given iron supplementary tablets and be advised to eat food rich in iron
 If its serious he / she can be can be given iron syrup or an injection
 Extreme cases are treated through blood transfusion
•
• (iii) Prevention
• Eating food rich in iron e.g. liver, meat and green vegetables.
•
•
• AIDS
• (i) Cause
• It is caused by a virus called Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
•
• HIV is transmitted from one person to another through;
 Sexual contact
 Mixing of infected blood with a non-infected one, e.g. by blood transfusion, sharing unsterilised sharp instruments like
needles & blades.
 Mother to child during pregnancy by breast feeding
•
• (ii) Treatment
• AIDS has no treatment; however, its unpleasant effects can be alleviated through the use of antiretroviral therapy.
•
• (iii)Prevention
 Abstinence
 Using a condom during sexual contact
 Avoid sharing needles & blades
 Screening of blood before transfusion.

• Malaria