Experiment 6 Blood type test

objective
To learn how to identify the ABO blood type and master the principle of ABO blood type test.
To observe aggregating and precipitating of the red blood cells.
introduction
Blood type tests are done before a person receives a blood transfusion and to check a
pregnant woman's blood type. Human blood is classified, or typed, according to the presence or
absence of certain markers (called antigens) on the surface of red blood cells. Blood type may also
be done to see if two people are likely to be blood relatives (for instance, to help establish
paternity when it is in question). ABO blood grouping is one of most common blood type tests.
The ABO blood type test classifies people's blood into one of four types: A, B, AB, or O. If
your red blood cells have:
The A antigen, you have type A blood. Your plasma contains antibodies against B antigen.
The B antigen, you have type B blood. Your plasma contains antibodies against A antigen.
Neither the A nor B antigen, you have type O blood. Your plasma contains antibodies against
both A and B antigens.
Both the A and B antigens, you have type AB blood. Your plasma does not contain antibodies
against either A or B antigens.
When antigens on red blood cells meet with antibodies against them in the plasma, the
antibodies will recognize the antigens as foreign antigens. This reaction results in aggregation
and precipitation. Thus, add the test blood into the standard-a serum (with antibodies against B
antigens) and the standard-B serum (with antibodies against A antigens), then observe if the
aggregation and precipitation will occur or not. From the results we can identify the blood type of
the test blood.
equipment and drug
Blood collection needle; double-well slide; glass rod; disinfection cotton; 75%
alcohol; iodine; standard-A serum; standard-B serum.
object
Human
method and procedure
1 . Drop the standard serum into each well of the double-well slide. Label the standard-a
serum with A on one side, and the standard-b serum with B on the other side. Wipe the
earlobe or fingertip (generally the ring finger) and the blood collection needle, then clean iodine
with 75% alcohol and allow them to dry.
2 .puncture into the wiped area with the needle. Give up the first drop of blood. Then use one
tip of the glass rod to collect a blood sample and mix it with the standard-a serum; use the other tip
of the glass rod to collect another drop of blood and mix it with the standard-b serum.
3 .wait for about 10 minutes. Then observe if the phenomenon of aggregation and
precipitation occurs on each side.
4 .conclude what type the test blood is from the testing results:
requiring and attention
1 . Dont mix the standard-a serum with the standard-B serum.
2 . Dont share the blood collection needle.
3 . If aggregation is still not found after 10 minutes, fully mix the blood sample with the
standard serum again.
questions
1 . Before blood transfusion, is it enough that only knowing the blood types of the donors
and the recipients? If not, what should also be done?
2 . Is it absolutely right that people with groups O are called universal donors and
conversely, persons with AB blood, universal recipients?
Appendix: Bleeding time test & clotting time test
objective
To learn how to measure the bleeding time & clotting time and understand their clinical
significances.
introduction
The bleeding time test is used to evaluate the vascular (blood vessel) and platelet factors
associated with hemostasis (blood clot formation). Normal value of bleeding time is vary from lab
to lab, depending on how the test is measured. For the duke method used in our exprienments, a
nick is picked in an earlobe or a fingertip to cause bleeding. Time from the start of bleeding until
bleeding is completely stopped is called bleeding time, and the normal value is 1~3 minutes.
When vascular injury occurs, the first hemostatic response is a spastic contraction of the lacerated
vessels. Next, platelets adhere to the wall of the vessel at the area of laceration in an attempt to
plug the hole. The failure of either process results in a prolonged bleeding time.
The time it takes for a sample of blood to clot is called clotting time. For the slide method,
normal value of clotting time is 2~5 minutes. Its used to diagnose some clotting disorders.
Absence or abnormality of clotting factors results in a prolonged clotting time.
equipment and drug
Blood collection needle; pin; absorbent paper; stopwatch; slide; disinfection cotton;
75% alcohol
object
Human
method and procedure
1 . Wipe the earlobe or the fingertip (generally the third finger) and the needle with 75%
alcohol and allow them to dry. Puncture into the wiped area with the needle for 2~3 mm deep.
Start the stopwatch at the beginning of bleeding. (dont press the area so that blood can bleed
freely from the wound).
2 . Take the first drop of blood onto the slide. Pick the blood with the tip of the pin every 30
seconds until thin fibrin-like blood over 5mm long could be picked up. Time from the beginning
of bleeding until long enough fibrin-like blood could be picked up is the clotting time.
3 . Filter paper is used to blot the edges of the wound at 30 second intervals until the
bleeding stops (dont touch the skin). Measure the time precisely. The time it takes from bleeding
until bleeding completely stops is the bleeding time.
requiring and attention
1 . Review the contents about physiological hemostasis, clotting factors and blood
coagulation.
2 . The skin and the blood collection needle must be carefully disinfected. One needle for
only one person, dont share the needle.
3 . If the bleeding time is beyond 15 minutes, the test should be stopped and stanch bleeding
immediately.
4 . To avoid preventing coagulation, pick the blood on the slide towards one direction. And
the interval between two picking shouldnt be too short, 30 seconds is appropriate.
questions
1 . Describe the mechanisms of physiological hemostasis and the factors that influence the
bleeding time.
2 . Describe the process of clotting and the factors that influence clotting.
3 . A patients bleeding time is found to be prolonged. Can you conclude from this that the
patients clotting time must also be prolonged?