Blood Types and Transfusions
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Vocabulary – Blood Types and Transfusions
Term Definition Agglutination The clumping of red blood cells caused by antibodies binding to antigens on their surface. Alleles Different versions of a gene that determine traits, such as blood type (A, B, or O). Antibodies Proteins produced by the immune system that bind to specific antigens to neutralize or mark them for destruction. Antigens
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Blood Types and Transfusions – Summary
The ABO blood group system classifies blood based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells. Each blood type contains specific antibodies in the plasma that react against foreign antigens, which can lead to agglutination if incompatible blood types are mixed. Blood transfusions require careful matching
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Blood Typing
Forward Grouping Forward blood typing, also called forward grouping, is a laboratory test used to determine a person’s blood type by identifying which antigens are present on their red blood cells. In this test, a sample of blood is mixed with antiserum containing known antibodies, such as anti-A serum and anti-B serum. If agglutination occurs
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Rh Factor
Rh Antigen (D Antigen) In addition to the ABO blood group system, blood is also classified based on the Rh factor. The Rh factor refers to the presence or absence of the D antigen, a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. If the D antigen is present, a person is Rh positive
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ABO Blood Types
ABO Antigens Human blood is classified into different groups based on the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of red blood cells. Antigens are molecules, often glycoproteins or glycolipids, that are recognized by the immune system. In the ABO blood group system, the two main antigens are A antigen and B antigen.