Blood Typing

Blood Typing

Purpose:

The goal of this experiment to determine different types of blood groups and the rhesus factors present in human blood.

Hypothesis:

I hypothesize that the blood serum is made up of type A, type AB, type B and type O blood groups having a rhesus positive or rhesus negative blood group.

Introduction

A person blood group can be known by conducting a blood typing test. This test is essential when determining the compatibility of different blood groups during a blood transfusion or blood donation. The blood type is characterized depending on the antigens present on the red blood cell surface. Antigens make the body to be able distinguish its blood cells from foreign blood cells. When carrying out blood typing, the serum is reacted with the red blood cells of known blood groups and known serum types.

Blood typing system classifies blood types into four different groups namely: type A with the A antigen, AB with both A and B antigens, type B with the B antigen, and type O which neither has A nor B antigens. The Rhesus factor further classifies blood types. The different kinds of rhesus factors are Rhesus positive and Rh-negative.

People having O Rh-negative blood (O-) is considered to be the universal donor. This blood type is often used in medical emergencies.  People belonging to blood group AB Rh D positive blood are referred to as universal recipients. In the event of an antibody and an antigen mixing and they are incompatible, a reaction occurs known as agglutination. In this condition, the blood may clump. The situation often has fatal consequences.

Methods

Materials required

• Ice tray
• Biohazard disposal containers
• Blood typing card
• Toothpicks
• cotton balls
• Monoclonal Antibodies such as anti-A, B, and D

Procedure followed

1. The table was set the required materials. The monoclonal antibody kit was placed on an ice tray at around 8^oC.
2. Open cover of the lancet and apply pressure on the fingertip. Maintain it at this position.

• Prick the opened lancet then discard it off.

1. Deliver a drop on the three wells of the blood typing card as blood starts to ooze.
2. Stop the blood flow by putting pressure using a cotton swab at the site where blood was obtained.
3. Taking the anti-A bottle and using it to suspend the content then add a drop of the monoclonal antibodies on the first well.

• Use the yellow Anti-B solution and place one drop of the monoclonal antibody into the second well by a dropper.
• Using the colorless Anti-D reagent, suspend the contents, and add a drop of the monoclonal antibody to the third spot.

1. Using a toothpick, properly stir the contents in each spot, and dispose the toothpick after use.
2. Centrifuge the samples for 20 seconds
3. Wait for 5 minutes to observe the samples for agglutination

 Results

The following results were obtained;

Blood typing card

Conclusion

Restate: The experiment was aimed at determining the different types of blood and the Rhesus factor present in the blood.

Explain: In this practical, different monoclonal samples were mixed with the blood in separate wells. This mixture was then left to settle, and their nature of interaction observed. The different monoclonal antibodies serum reacted with the blood indicating the antibodies contained in the blood.

Results: In the first blood test card, anti-A, and anti-B serum failed to clump with the blood, Anti-D serum reacted with the blood, indicating that the blood belonged to blood group AB+. In the second blood test card, no monoclonal antibodies serum reacted with the blood sample showing that the blood belonged to blood group O-. The third blood test indicated a reaction between the anti D serum in the form of agglutination or clumping of the blood. This result indicates that the blood belonged to blood group B+. In the fourth blood test card, the different monoclonal antibody serum reacted with the blood sample. However, due to the similarities in the reactions between the second and fourth blood typing card, it was evident that the blood belonged to blood group O+.

Uncertainties: I was not able to establish the exact type of the blood due to several limitations posed by the method such as contamination of the reagents, or the samples, recurrent alternating storage of the monoclonal antibodies serum may result to protein precipitation thus affecting the results.

New: further studies can be conducted to determine how monoclonal antibodies serum can be effectively used as blood grouping reagents and possible ways to minimize the errors that arise from this method.

References

Sacks, S. H., & Lennox, E. S. (1981). Monoclonal anti‐B as a new blood‐typing reagent. Vox    Sanguinis, 40(2), 99-104.

Dean, L. (2005). Blood groups and red cell antigens. National Center for Biotechnology   Information.

Daniels, G. (2008). Human blood groups. John Wiley & Sons.

Voak, D. (1990). 1 Monoclonal antibodies as blood grouping reagents. Bailliere’s clinical haematology, 3(2), 219-242.