Blood Laboratory Lab Report Template Page 2

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In addition to the antigens, an individual also has antibodies to the antigens that they lack. The
appearance of these antibodies is thought to be due to prior exposure of the immune system to
these “foreign” or “not-self” antigens very early on in life. Someone with type A blood lacks B
antigens, so their blood will contain A antigens and antibodies to antigen B (anti-B antibodies).
Someone with type B blood lacks A antigens, so their blood will contain B antigens and anti-A
antibodies. People with type AB blood have both antigens, so they lack antibodies to either “A”
or “B” antigens, and people with type O blood have both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.
If an individual needs a blood transfusion, it is important to make sure that they receive blood
from someone with a compatible blood type. To determine if blood types are compatible, you
should look at the antibodies present in the recipient (person getting blood) blood and the
antigens present in the donor (person giving blood) blood.
For example:
Can an individual with type A blood safely receive a transfusion from someone with type B
blood?
a. What antigens and antibodies are present in the recipient (A) blood?
A antigens, anti-B antibodies
b. What antigens are present in the donor (B) blood?
B antigens
c. Will the antibodies in the recipient blood find something to bind to in the donor
blood?
Yes. The anti-B antibodies will bind to the B antigens in the donor blood. The
antibodies do not destroy the foreign blood cells, rather they mark the cells for
destruction by other components of the immune system.
d.
Are these compatible blood types? No.
The antibodies (anti-B) binding to the B antigens in the donor blood will cause the
donor’s cells to clump, or agglutinate. This clumping of the donor’s cells is
damaging and perhaps even fatal. The clumped cells can get stuck in small blood
vessels and block blood flow to body cells. Or they may break open, releasing
their cargo of hemoglobin. The hemoglobin then clogs the filtering system in the
kidneys, causing death.
Rh system

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