A B O - Blood Groups and Rh Factor

  A B OBlood Groups and Rh Factor

AIM: To determine the ABO blood group and Rh typing of the given blood sample.

INTRODUCTION:

Immunohaematology is an application of the principles of immunology to the study of red cell antigens and their corresponding antibodies in blood. Karl Landsteiner in 1900 discovered the fundamental principles of blood grouping. He discovered ABO-blood group system in human beings.

All people of ABO system can be divided into 4 major groups. They are “A” group, “AB” group, “B” group and “O” group.

This depends on the presence of antigen on the RBCs. A person with blood group "A" will have antigen "A" and person with blood group"B" will have antigen "B" and with “O” group neither “A” or “B” antigen.

Rh Typing:

Rhesus (Rh) blood group system is clinically the second most important blood group system in humans after ABO blood group system. It was discovered in 1940 by Landsteiner &Wiener. Rh antibodies are not naturally occurring but develop only after exposure to Rh antigen.These are of IgG type.

PRINCIPLE:

To detect the group an antiserum having a high concentration of antibodies against this pecific antigen is employed. This antiserum when mixed with whole blood shows agglutination if the RBCs possess the specific antigen in its surface e.g. antiserum A will show agglutination with RBCs having A antigen and hence persons blood group will be indicated as "A".

People with „B‟ antigen on their cells have anti-A in their serum, those of group O have both anti-A and anti-B and those of group AB have neither antibody. These facts are known as „Landsteiner‟s rule‟

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Glass slides

2. Match sticks

4. Anti-A, Anti-B and Anti-D Monoclonal agglutinating antisera.

PROCEDURE:

(1) Sterilize the tip of your middle fmger with sterilized cotton wet in 90% alcohol.
(2) Let the tip of the finger become dry. (3) Prick the finger with a sterilized needle.
 (4) Collect the blood in sample vial containing 1 ml of 0.85% sodium chloride (0.85 gms of sodium chloride powder dissolved in 100 cc. of distilled water.
(5) Take 2 cavity slides, each with 4 cavities wash and clean them and let the slide become dry.
(6) Label the cavities of the slides no. 1 and no. 2. such I, II, III and IV in no. 1 slide and V, VI, VII and VIII in no. 2 slide. 
(7) Add a drop of 4, different samples of blood in each cavity
 as under
Cavities        I          V - First sample of blood
Cavities        II         VI - Second sample of blood"
Cavities       III       VIII - Third sample of blood
Cavities        IV      VIII - Fourth sample of blood


  1. Mix well with a pricking stick individually and observe for agglutination after a few seconds/ minute.
  2. Blood group is indicated as agglutination of RBCs with specific antisera.
  3.  Agglutination of the patient is as shown in figure.
  4. 1.     If the corpuscles contain A, the serum contains β, the blood group is A.
  5. 2.     If the corpuscles contain B, the serum contains A the blood group is B.
  6. 3.     If the corpuscles contain both A and B, the serum is free from α and β, the blood group is AB (universal receiver).
  7. 4.     If the corpuscles  contain neither A nor B, the serum contains both α and β, the blood group is O (universal donor).

  • a. Agglutination by α but not by β= Croup A
  • b. Agglutination by β not by α = Group B
  • c. Agglutination by both α and β = Group AB
  • d. No agglutination by α and β = Group O.

RESULT:

The ABO blood group of the given sample is _____________.

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