ABO & RhABO & RhBlood Groups Blood Groups

By: Kashif Nadeem KhokharBy: Kashif Nadeem Khokhar

History of ABO And Rh History of ABO And Rh GroupsGroups

Austrian scholar Austrian scholar Karl Landsteiner Karl Landsteiner began began to work on this topic since to work on this topic since 1900.1900.

he drew the conclusion: Human blood he drew the conclusion: Human blood group is genetic.group is genetic.

Ludwik Hirszfeld Ludwik Hirszfeld and and E. von Dungern E. von Dungern discovered the heritability of ABO blood discovered the heritability of ABO blood groups in groups in 1910–111910–11, with Felix Bernstein , with Felix Bernstein demonstrating the correct blood group demonstrating the correct blood group inheritance pattern of multiple alleles at inheritance pattern of multiple alleles at one locus in one locus in 19241924..

What Is The Use of Blood What Is The Use of Blood Grouping?Grouping?

Each person’s blood is different due to the Each person’s blood is different due to the presence of antigens (markers) on the presence of antigens (markers) on the surface of Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells).surface of Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells).

Before a person receives a blood transfusion, Before a person receives a blood transfusion, it is important to do blood typing.it is important to do blood typing.

Doctor’s must be sure that the donated blood Doctor’s must be sure that the donated blood is compatible with the recipients blood.is compatible with the recipients blood.

Mixing blood types can be very dangerous, Mixing blood types can be very dangerous, even deadly in some cases.even deadly in some cases.

The ABO System: The ABO System: How it WorksHow it Works

In the ABO blood system there are two In the ABO blood system there are two possible red blood cell possible red blood cell markers(Antigens) (A method by which markers(Antigens) (A method by which cells identify themselves):cells identify themselves):

AA & & BB– Ex: A person with an A marker is said to have Ex: A person with an A marker is said to have type Atype A

blood, a person with a B marker will have blood, a person with a B marker will have type Btype B blood.blood.

Type A BloodType A Blood

Type A blood produces anti-B Type A blood produces anti-B antibodies that will attack type B antibodies that will attack type B blood.blood.

A person with type A blood may only A person with type A blood may only donate their blood to another person donate their blood to another person with type A blood or someone who with type A blood or someone who has type AB blood.has type AB blood.

Type B BloodType B Blood

Type B blood has the presence of Type B blood has the presence of anti-A antibodies that will attack type anti-A antibodies that will attack type A blood.A blood.

A person with type B blood can only A person with type B blood can only donate blood to another person with donate blood to another person with type B blood or someone who has type B blood or someone who has type AB blood.type AB blood.

Type AB BloodType AB Blood

Type AB blood has BOTH markers Type AB blood has BOTH markers present, and does not contain ANY present, and does not contain ANY antibodies.antibodies.

For this reason type AB blood is For this reason type AB blood is considered the considered the Universal RecipientUniversal Recipient..– Since type AB blood has no antibodies Since type AB blood has no antibodies

against the other blood types, a person with against the other blood types, a person with type AB blood can receive any type of blood type AB blood can receive any type of blood if needed, but may only donate blood to if needed, but may only donate blood to other type AB recipients.other type AB recipients.

Type O BloodType O Blood Type O blood has neither an A or a B Type O blood has neither an A or a B

marker and contains both anti-A AND anti-B marker and contains both anti-A AND anti-B antibodies.antibodies.

Because type O blood does not have either Because type O blood does not have either marker, it will not react with anti-A or anti-B marker, it will not react with anti-A or anti-B antibodies, So, a person with type O blood antibodies, So, a person with type O blood may donate blood to any other blood types. may donate blood to any other blood types. For this reason type O blood is known as For this reason type O blood is known as the the Universal Donor.Universal Donor.

Type Type OO will attack all other blood types will attack all other blood types (A,B, & AB) so a person with type (A,B, & AB) so a person with type OO blood blood may only receive blood from another may only receive blood from another person with person with type O type O blood.blood.

Diagram of how different blood Diagram of how different blood types may donate:types may donate:

The Rh FactorThe Rh Factor A person A person withwith the Rh factor on his or her red the Rh factor on his or her red

blood cells is said to be blood cells is said to be Rh-positive Rh-positive ((Rh+Rh+).). Since this person has the factor, he or she will Since this person has the factor, he or she will

not make anti-Rh antibodiesnot make anti-Rh antibodies..

A person withA person withoutout the Rh factor on their red the Rh factor on their red blood cells is said to be blood cells is said to be Rh-Negative Rh-Negative ((Rh-Rh-).).

This person WILL produce anti-Rh antibodies.This person WILL produce anti-Rh antibodies. Therefore, an Rh+ person may receive both Therefore, an Rh+ person may receive both

an (Rh+) and an (Rh-) transfusion, but an an (Rh+) and an (Rh-) transfusion, but an (Rh-) person can only receive Rh- blood.(Rh-) person can only receive Rh- blood.

Rh FactorRh Factor The Rh factor was first identified in the The Rh factor was first identified in the

blood of a rhesus monkey. Also called blood of a rhesus monkey. Also called Rhesus factor. .

If an RhIf an Rh__ person receives Rh person receives Rh++ blood, blood, hemolysis and anemia occur.hemolysis and anemia occur.

Rh Rh factor is very important, specially in factor is very important, specially in pregnancy.pregnancy.

If mother is Rh- and the fetus is Rh+, A If mother is Rh- and the fetus is Rh+, A condition called condition called Erythroblastosis FetalisErythroblastosis Fetalis occurs, which can cause fetal death.occurs, which can cause fetal death.

Mother-Fetus Rh ResponseMother-Fetus Rh Response

PREVENTIONPREVENTION

It is important to immunize Rh-It is important to immunize Rh-negative mothers after their first negative mothers after their first pregnancy to guard against future Rh pregnancy to guard against future Rh incompatibility reactions. Immediately incompatibility reactions. Immediately after childbirth, anti-Rh antibody after childbirth, anti-Rh antibody (RhoGAM) is injected into the mother. (RhoGAM) is injected into the mother. ((also known as Antibody Dalso known as Antibody D).).

Immunization must be repeated after Immunization must be repeated after each pregnancy, including ectopic each pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages.pregnancies and miscarriages.

Blood Donor & Recipient Blood Donor & Recipient CompatibilityCompatibility

D O N O R SR O+ A+ B+ AB+ O- A- B- AB-

E O+ ✔ ✔

C A+ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

E B+ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

P AB+ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

I O- ✔

E A- ✔ ✔

N B- ✔ ✔

TS AB- ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔