VL BLOOD TYPING

What do you label on the slide? (a) Unique slide number (b) Blood sample number (c) Blood type (d) Serum type

(b) Blood sample number (d) Serum type

ANTIBODY

An immune system protein that is found in most body fluids, especially blood plasma. Antibodies bind to antigens to aid the immune response.

Which blood samples show agglutination?

Anti-A and Anti-D

Which blood samples show agglutination?

Anti-B and Anti-D

Which blood sample shows agglutination?

Anti-D

ANTIGEN

Any substance that is capable of causing an immune reaction. These are usually proteins, glycoproteins, or glycolipids.

BLOOD

Can only be donated from a person with a specific ABO antigen to a person without antibodies for that antigen. Otherwise, agglutination (clumping) will occur. Type A cannot donate to Type B or Type O because they both have anti-A antibodies. Type B cannot donate to Type A or Type O because they both have anti-B antibodies. Type AB cannot donate to Type A because they have anti-B antibodies or Type B because they have anti-A antibodies. Type O can potentially donate to everyone because their blood has no antigen to attack. However, Type O should first have its own anti-A and anti-B antibodies removed. Rh+ blood should not be transfused to an Rh- person; however, Rh- blood can be donated to an Rh+ person.

RED BLOOD CELL MEMBRANES

Contain glycoproteins and glycolipids that determine your ABO blood type and proteins that determine your Rh (+/-) blood type. ABO blood type is determined by the presence of A, B, both (AB), or neither (O) of the A or B antigens. Rh blood type is determined by the presence of (+) or lack of (-) the D antigen.

BLOOD TYPES

Determined by the antigens that are present on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs, also known as erythrocytes).

NEGATIVE

Does NOT mean "bad." In testing, negative means what you are testing for is absent.

POSITIVE

Does NOT mean "good." In testing, positive means what you are testing for is present.

SERUM/SERA

Fluid containing antibodies.

BLOOD PLASMA

May also contain antibodies, depending on the ABO and Rh blood types. If you have blood type A, you will have anti-B antibodies. If you have blood type B, you will have anti-A antibodies. If you have blood type O, you will have both anti-A antibodies and anti-B antibodies. If you have blood type AB, you will NOT have any anti-A nor anti-B antibodies. No one has anti-D (Rh) antibodies unless they are Rh- AND have been previously exposed to Rh+ blood.

AGGLUTINATION

The clumping of cell bound antigens, as occurs when antibodies attach to ABO and D (Rh) antigens.

AGGLUTINOGEN

The substance being clumped in an agglutination reaction. Antigens in blood typing are agglutinogens.

AGGLUTININ

The substance causing clumping in an agglutination process. Antibodies in blood typing are agglutinins.

Your next instruction is to dispose of the toothpick. You will use a new toothpick to stir each sample. Why is this important?

Using the same toothpick would cross-contaminated the samples.