Week 1 - intro and blood groups

Question 1

when was the first successful human transfusion given

Answer 1

1818 by Dr James Bundell

Question 2

when was transfusion considered risky & led to many deaths

Answer 2

1818-1845

Question 3

who described ABO groups

Answer 3

Karl Landsteiner in 1901

Question 4

what is an antigen

Answer 4

blood grouping systems that stimulate an immune response on the membranes of red cells

Question 5

what is an antibody

Answer 5

proteins occurring in body fluids which are produced in response to the introduction of a foreign antigen

Question 6

what is agglutination

Answer 6

when the red cells are joined together by the cross linking of antibody molecules they become agglutinated

Question 7

how is agglutination used in the labs?

Answer 7

to determine what blood group antigens are present on the red cells and what red cell antibodies are present in the plasma

Question 8

what is the most significant blood group system

Answer 8

ABO blood group system

Question 9

what is Landsteiner’s law?

Answer 9

Antibodies are always present in a healthy persons plasma against antigens not present on their red cells

Question 10

which antigens have a high frequency from ABO groups in the general population

Answer 10

A and/or B antigens
(~55% of pop)

Question 11

What is ABO blood group systems capable of producing?

Answer 11

intravascular haemolysis

Question 12

What are serious transfusion reactions caused by?

Answer 12

ABO incompatibility

Question 13

How are A and B antigens formed?

Answer 13

The A and B genes add a different terminal carbohydrate molecule to the H antigen converting it to A or B antigen.

This is done via the enzyme products of the A and B genes

A transferase adds N-acetyl-D-galactosamine to H
B transferase adds D-galactose to H

Question 14

How is the O antigen formed?

Answer 14

The O gene does not produce a functional transferase so the H antigen is left unchanged.

Question 15

what are immunodominant sugars

Answer 15

the different carbohydrates added by the A, B or H transferases as it forms the antigenic part of the molecule

Question 16

What blood group is the universal red cell donor

Answer 16

Group O

Question 17

What blood group is the universal red cell recipient?

Answer 17

Group AB

Question 18

What is the universal PLASMA donor?

Answer 18

Group AB

Question 19

What is the universal PLASMA recipient?

Answer 19

Group O

Question 20

What are some characteristics of ABO antibodies?

Answer 20

They are naturally acquired
full strength achieved by 5 years and declines in old age

Question 21

Describe forward/front/cell group?

Answer 21

When one’s red cells react against monoclonal anti A and anti B to identify the antigens on the person’s cells

Question 22

Describe reverse/back/serum group?

Answer 22

When the patient’s collected plasma reacts against A1 and B red cells to identify ABO antibody specificities.

Question 23

Learn about ABO grouping

Question 24

What is a common cause of the loss of ABO antigens ?

Answer 24

Myeloid leukaemia

Question 25

What is the ‘Oh’ blood group?

Answer 25

Very rare blood group
This is where the person lacks the gene that converts precursor substance into a H antigen so cannot make A, B or H antigens.

They have strong anti H antibodies so can only receive Oh blood group but can donate blood to anyone,

Question 26

What is the most important blood group system after ABO?

Answer 26

The rhesus (Rh) food group system

Question 27

What are the 5 common antigens of the rhesus blood grouping system?

Answer 27

D, C, c, E, e

Question 28

Go over the rest of Rhesus blood group and the other blood group system slides?