Blood Grouping Flashcards
What are the main blood groups?
A, B, AB and O
What antigens are present in blood group A?
- Surface antigen A
- Anti-B antibodies
What antigens are present in blood group B?
- Surface antigen B
- Anti-A antibodies
What antigens are present in blood group AB?
- Surface antigens A and B
- Neither anti-A nor anti-B antibodies
What antigens are present in blood group O?
- Neither A nor B surface antigens
- Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies
What determines the rhesus group?
- Rhesus antigen present on RBC = rhesus +ve
- Rhesus antigen absent on RBC = rhesus -ve
What are the 3 types of antibodies?
- Anti-A
- Anti-B
- Anti-D
Describe the genetics of the blood groups
- A and B are co-dominant
- O is recessive
What is the agglutination reaction?
The clumping together of RBC due to an antigen-antibody reaction following blood donation
When is the agglutination reaction fatal?
- Donor’s antibodies react with recipient’s antigens = minimal damage (dilution effect - antibodies diluted in recipient’s circulation)
- Donor’s antigens react with recipient’s antibodies = fatal
What is a cross match?
- Testing donor’s RBC for agglutination using recipient’s serum
- Add recipient’s RBCs using donor’s serum
- Result = compatibility (remains clear) or incompatibility (cloudy)
Which blood group is the universal donor?
O negative
Which blood group is the universal recipient?
AB positive
Which rhesus groups can be mixed?
- Positive can receive positive or negative
- Negative can only receive negative
If a patient is group O, what red cells can they receive?
O only
If a patient is group A, what red cells can they receive?
A or O
If a patient is group B, what red cells can they receive?
B or O
If a patient is group AB, what red cells can they receive?
A, B, AB or O
If a patient is group O, what FFP/cryoprecipitate can they receive?
AB, A, B or O
If a patient is group A, what FFP/cryoprecipitate can they receive?
AB, A or B
If a patient is group B, what FFP/cryoprecipitate can they receive?
AB, A or B
If a patient is group AB, what FFP/cryoprecipitate can they receive?
AB, A or B
Which blood product can be given where the blood group is irrelevant?
Platelets (but rhesus status is relevant)
Is the patient’s blood group is unknown, what red cells can they receive?
O only
Is the patient’s blood group is unknown, what FFP/ cryoprecipitate can they receive?
AB, A or B
What are the components of blood?
- Formed elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets)
2. Plasma
What are erythrocytes and leukocytes?
Erythrocyte = RBC Leukocyte = WBC
What are the signs and symptoms of a transfusion reaction?
- Pyrexia
- Rash
- Hypotension
- Increasing anxiety
- Pain at infusion site
- RDS
- Dark urine
- Tachycardia
What are the 2 names for the condition caused by a rhesus negative mother producing antibodies due to a rhesus positive baby?
Rhesus Disease/ Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn
What can rhesus disease cause in the baby?
- Jaundice
- Anaemia
- Brain damage
- Stillbirth
What does the Anti-D injection do?
An anti-D immunoglobulin which ‘mops up’ the antibodies/ neutralises the RhD antigens on the blood cells to prevent antibodies being made (more important for subsequent pregnancies)
When should the Anti-D injections be given?
- After 27/40 bloods
- Within 72 hours of delivery (if baby is positive)
- After sensitisation
What is sensitisation?
Rh- blood being exposed to Rh+ blood (e.g. involved in a car crash/ impact which may cause bleeding)
