BLOOD GROUPS
FACTS ABOUT BLOOD GROUPS
• THE MOST IMPORTANT BLOOD GROUP IN THE
U.S. IS THE ABO GROUP
• 3 ALLELES FOR THIS GROUP: A,B & O
• A PERSON CAN ONLY INHERIT 2 ALLELES
(GENES) FOR THIS
POSSIBLE GENE COMBINATIONS
GENOTYPE
(alleles)
AA
PHENOTYPE
(actual blood type)
A
AO
A
BB
B
BO
B
AB
AB
OO
O
Antigen
• In immunology, an antigen is a substance
that evokes the production of one or more
antibodies. Each antibody binds to a
specific antigen by way of an interaction
similar to the fit between a lock and a key
Antibody
• An antibody (Ab), also known as an
immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large Y-shaped
protein produced by B-cells that is used by
the immune system to identify and
neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria
and viruses
• So the foreign antigen is the “bad guy” and
the antibody is the molecule your body
uses to fight the foreign antigen
• Serology – the study of antigen – antibody
reactions
Laboratory Examination Individualization
• The surface of a RBC
contains antigens
• Antigen (Ag) – a
glycoprotein that
stimulates the body to
produce antibodies (Ab)
against it
• Antigens impart bloodtype characteristics to the
RBC
Laboratory Examination –
ABO and Rh system
Recipient
Meaning they have the
following blood type
A (antigen A and
antibody B)
B (antigen B and
antibody A
AB (antigen A
and B and no
antibodies)
O (not antigens
but both antibody
A and B*)
Donor
A
B
AB
O
Recipient
Donor
A
A (antigen A and
antibody B)
B (antigen B and
antibody A
AB (antigen A
and B and no
antibodies)
O (not antigens
but both antibody
A and B*)
B
AB
O
















Rh Factor
Recipient
Donor
Posit ive
Positive
Negative
Negative




Laboratory Examination –
ABO and Rh system
• The population distribution of blood types varies with
location and race throughout the world
• In the US, a typical distribution:
60
40
Percent
20
0
O type
A type
B type
AB type
FREQUENCY OF BLOOD TYPES
A
B
AB
O
41 %
10 %
4%
LEAST COMMON
45%
MOST COMMON
UNIVERSAL DONOR: THE BLOOD TYPE
THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO ALL OTHER
BLOOD TYPES.
TYPE O- IS THE UNIVERSAL DONOR.
UNIVERSAL ACCEPTOR: THE BLOOD TYPE
THAT CAN RECEIVE ALL OTHER BLOOD
TYPES.
TYPE AB+ IS THE UNIVERSAL ACCEPTOR.
Rh FACTOR
• THE Rh FACTOR IS ANOTHER ANTIGEN
(PROTEIN) THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE
SURFACE OF SOME RBC’S
• PEOPLE WITH THIS PROTEIN ON THEIR RBC’S
ARE Rh+
• .
• PEOPLE WHO LACK THIS PROTEIN ARE Rh-.
ERYTHROBLASTOSIS FETALIS
• A HEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF NEWBORNS.
• THE RESULT OF Rh INCOMPATIBILITY
• THE MOTHER IS Rh- & THE FATHER IS Rh+
• BOTH HEMOLYSIS & AGGLUTINATION WILL
RESULT
BROKEN
RBC
IMMATURE
RBC
(NUCLEATED)
NORMAL RBC
WHAT DISEASE CONDITIONS
WOULD YOU EXPECT THIS BABY TO
HAVE AT BIRTH?
• ANEMIA
• JAUNDICE
WHAT IS THE Tx FOR THESE
BABIES?
A COMPLETE BLOOD TRANSFUSION
PREVENTION?
• RHOGAM: CONTAINS ANTI-Rh ANTIBODIES
• HOW IS IT ADMINISTERED?
• INJECTION
• WHEN IS IT ADMINISTERED?
• DURING THE PREGNANCY & WITHIN 72 HOURS
AFTER DELIVERY
.