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| Blood Groups |
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| The surfaces of erythrocytes contain antigens called Agglutinogens. Two major blood group classifications - ABO grouping system and the Rh system - are based on the presence or absence of these proteins. |
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| The intravenous injection of blood, plasma or serum with the object of restoring the blood volume is called Transfusion. Blood is usually taken from another healthy person (the donor) and the patient who receives the blood is the recipient. However blood cannot be taken indiscriminately from any person and transfused into the other. In a transfusion, the blood group (ABO and Rh) of the recipient and the donor must be matched. Otherwise the recipients immune system will produce antibodies causing agglutination of the transfused cells and block the circulation. This may result in the death of the recipient. |
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| Karl Land Steiner, a German Biochemist, discovered the ABO blood grouping. ABO blood groups are determined by the gene I (for Isoagglutinin). There are 3 alleles, IA, IB and Io of this gene. Proteins produced by the IA and IB alleles are known as A and B antigens respectively. Individuals with blood group A have the A antigen on the surface of their RBCS and antibodies to antigen B in their plasma. People with blood group B have B antigen on their RBCS and antibody A in their plasma. Individual with AB blood group have both antigens A and B on their RBCS and no anti bodies. These people can receive blood from any group but can donate blood only to AB group. Hence known as universal recipient. People with O type of blood do not have any antigen on their RBCs. But have both Antibodies A and B. People with this group is known as the universal donor as they can donate blood to any group. They can receive only from 'O' group. |
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