Blood Typing Lab
Problem: To determine which blood types can be mixed during transfusions.
Background Information: People can have one of four types of blood: A, B, AB, or O. A blood type is based
on the presence or absence of two proteins (A, B) on the surface of the red blood cells. Because there are two
proteins are involved, there are four possible combinations or blood types (ABO groups):
Type A - Only the A protein is present.
Type B - Only the B protein is present.
Type AB – Both the A and B proteins are present.
Type O - Neither protein is present
In addition to the A and B proteins, there is another protein involved called the Rh factor. The Rh factor is
either present (+) or absent (-). So, blood types are described as the type and Rh factor (such as O+, A+, AB-).
When someone takes the blood of another person (during surgery, or after an accident) it is called a
transfusion. If two different blood types are mixed together during a transfusion, the blood cells may begin to
clump together in the blood vessels, possibly causing death. Therefore, it is important that blood types be
matched before blood transfusions take place.
Pre-lab Questions: (you do not have to write down the question as long as you re-state in your answer)
1. What are the possible blood types a person can have?
2. When a person is said to be A+ or A- what does that mean?
3. What is a transfusion?
4. Why is important that a person receives the right type of blood?
Procedure:
1. Do not mix up the pipettes during the lab as it will affect your results.
Type A blood = yellow color
Type AB = green color
Type B blood = blue color
Type O = clear color
2. To determine which transfusions are safe and which are not, think of blood types as different colors. If a
color can receive another color without a color change, it is a safe transfusion. If a color changes
when you add the other color to it, it is an unsafe transfusion. Make sure to look for a color change,
not just the color getting lighter or darker.
3. Pipette a small amount of water from beaker 1 into each of 4 wells on the first row of the patient spot
plate. The “patient” now has “Type A blood”.
4. To each well in row 1 of the patient plate (1-4 in order) add some of A, B, AB, O respectively. The
“patient” is now “receiving a transfusion of blood Type A, B, AB, and O.”
5. Record your observations as “Safe” or “Unsafe” to mix the types of blood.
6. Now go to the second row of the patient plate and pipette a small amount of B into four wells across.
7. Add some of A, B, AB, and O respectively again to each well (1-4) across the patient plate.
8. Again, record your observations as “Safe” or “Unsafe” to mix the types of blood in the data table.
Blood Typing Lab
9. Repeat the steps for all combinations: A:A, A:B, A:AB, A:O, B:B, B:AB, B:O, AB:AB, AB:O, O:O
10. When finished wash out the spot plate and the clean up your lab area.
Set-up:
Well plate = “patient plate”
Place 3 drops of “type A blood” in
each spot in the row
Place 3 drops of “type B blood” in
each spot in the row
Once set up add 3 drops into each well and
observe whether the transfusion is safe.
Data: (copy down table and fill as you do the experiment)
You will either place “safe” or “unsafe” based on what you observe. If the color stays the same you will write
“safe” Any change in color means that the transfusion is “unsafe”
Safety of blood transfusions
Blood Type
Patient Type A
Patient Type B
Patient Type AB
Patient Type O
Donor Type A
Donor Type B
Donor Type AB
Donor Type O
Conclusion Questions: (you do not have to copy down the question as long as you use the question in your
answer)
1. In this simulation what do the different colors represent?
2. During the lab if the color changed color what was that suppose to represent?
3. Would blood type be considered an incomplete dominant trait or codominant trait and why?
4. Based on your data you collected describe:
a. What blood type(s) can a person with Type A blood: receive and donate too
b. What blood type(s) can a person with Type B blood: receive and donate too
c. What blood type(s) can a person with Type AB blood : receive and donate too
d. What blood type(s) can a person with Type O blood: receive and donate too
5. Which blood type can give to all other blood types and is known as the Universal Donor?
6. Which blood type can receive blood from all blood types and is known as the Universal Recipient?