2. History of Blood Groups and Blood
Transfusions
•Experiments with blood transfusions have
been carried out for hundreds of years. Many
patients have died and it was not
until 1901, when the Austrian Karl Landsteiner
discovered human blood groups, that blood
transfusions became safer.
For this discovery he was awarded the Nobel
Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930
3. An adult human has about 4–6 litres of blood
circulating in the body.
Blood consists of several types of cells floating around
in a fluid called plasma.
The red blood cells (RBCs)
contain haemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen. RBCs
transport oxygen to, and remove carbon dioxide from
the tissues.
The white blood cells
fight infection.
The platelets
help the blood to clot, if you get a wound for example.
The plasma
contains salts and various kinds of proteins.
4. Blood group antigens are actually sugars (not
cheni) attached to the red blood cell.
Antigens are “built” onto the red cell.
Individuals inherit a gene which codes for
specific sugar(s) to be added to the red cell.
The type of sugar added determines the
blood group.
5. The differences in human blood are due to
the presence or absence of certain protein
molecules called antigens and antibodies.
•The antigens are located on the surface of
the RBCs and the antibodies are in the blood
plasma.
•The blood group you belong to depends on
what you have inherited from your parents.
What are the different blood groups?
10. Blood Typing works by taking the antibodies
for each blood type and mixing them with a
drop of blood. Each drop of blood would be
mixed with a different anti-serum (anti-A,
anti-B and anti-Rh.
12. Blood Typing If we mix Anti- A serum with type A
blood there will be clumping of RBC’s as the antibodies
latch on the the antigens.
Type A Cells
Anti-A
serum
antibody
13. No clumping with Anti-B Antiserum
Type A Red Cell
Anti-B serum
antibody
15. BLOOD GROUP ANTIGEN IN RBC
SURFACE
ANTIBODIES IN
SERUM
GENOTYPE
A A ANTI-B AA, AO
B B ANTI-A BB, BO
AB A & B NEITHER AB
O NEITHER NEITHER
ANTI-A AND
ANTI-B
OO
According to the ABO blood typing system there are
four different kinds of blood types.
16. There are more than 20 genetically
determined blood group systems known
today
The AB0 and Rhesus (Rh) systems are the
most important ones used for blood
transfusions.
• Not all blood groups are compatible with
each other. Mixing incompatible blood
groups leads to blood clumping or
agglutination, which is dangerous for
individuals.