Haematology Practical: ABO Blood Grouping Assignment Sample

Introduction

Blood groups are groupings of the blood developing on the basis of the antigens that are present or absent on the surface of red blood cells and are generally classified into A group, B group, AB group, O group and either Rh + or Rh –. Knowing an individual’s blood type is important in blood transfusion organ transplants and the management of certain diseases because transfusion with incompatible blood can cause an adverse immune reaction.

In this practical, the Eldon card method was employed to establish blood groups. In this procedure, a small amount of blood is combined with reagents that identify the presence of certain antigens and the degree of blood type can be determined by the appearance of the clumped blood cells at first glance. It is widely used because of its easy application, good results compared with other methods' accuracy, and perfect for field use.

Methods

The blood grouping procedure was done using the method of the Eldon card whereby it represents the antigen-antibody agglutination principle. The Eldon card is a numbered card containing dried reagents in specially programmed sites for anti-A, anti-B, anti-D, and control). On a sample of blood, when mixed with the respective antibodies present on the card, the blood reacts by aggregation in the presence of an antigen (Anti A, B, D), this identifies the group and Rh factor of blood of a certain individual (Li, and Guo, 2022). First, using a disposable razor, a small volume of blood was collected by lancing the subject’s finger. Then the puncture area was washed with alcohol and left for some time for possible contamination. A small blood sample was then applied on the respective zone corresponding to anti-A, anti-B anti-D, and then a control zone on the Eldon card.

To enhance mixing, a few drops of water were used to dissolve the antibodies and thus enable them to interact with blood readily at different reagent areas. The card was then rotated with small angles of rotations in order to appropriately mix the blood with the reagents. Every effort was made to minimize interzone contamination. After several minutes, the surface of the card was checked for the formation of clumps. In this case, if clumping was evident it signified that the antigen was taking up the corresponding antibody (Ward et al. 2020). For instance, agglutination in the anti-A zone evidenced the presence of the A antigens, the absence of which was indicated by a lack of reaction. Finally, the control zone was too observed to confirm that no side reactions had taken place confirming the results above. The final blood group was deduced by the reaction obtained from the reactions expected. Concerning Rh determination, the presence of agglutination within the anti-D area was suggestive of Rh positivity while its absence suggested Rh negativity. Eldon card method makes it possible to type human blood rapidly, accurately, and with ease and hence recommended for laboratory, clinical, and field purposes. It is based on the specific antigen-antibody reactions peculiar to ABO and Rh blood groups.

Results

Figure 1: Finding out the Proper Blood Group

The Eldon card has included the presence of particular patterns of clumping, and the Eldon card test was used to ascertain that the blood type was A positive (A+). The agglutination tests performed for red blood cells from blood group A showed the appearance of agglutination in layers in the anti-A zone and the absence of agglutination in the anti-B zone. The anti-D zone also demonstrated a strong affinity and clumping or agglutination which indicates the existence of the Rh factor to make it Rh positive (Yin et al. 2022). There was no agglutination in the control zone, this eliminated the possibility of cross-contamination or a mistake made when performing the test. These blood types suggest that the person is able to receive a blood transfusion from the A-positive, A-negative, O-positive, and O-negative blood donors since their antigens and Rh factors match the donor’s blood type. On the other hand, the individual can donate blood to recipients who are A+ and AB+ This is because people with A-positive blood have antigens that are A and Rh factors, which are required by the recipients who have similar markers.

Knowledge of Rh type is fundamental prior to transfusion because improper administration can cause severe adverse effects. When one receives the blood of different compatibility groups, the blood groups break down, leading to incidents such as hemolysis, severe immune reactions, and possibly death (Nguyen et al. 2024). Due to its simple design and rapid, highly effective agglutination, the Eldon card can be used as a first-line reagent in clinical or urgent blood typing. However, for better accuracy, another method like forward and reverse typing or molecular testing can be adopted to get these results.

Discussion

An important consideration needs to be considered when donating and receiving blood because patients should not receive blood from donors whom their immune system will try to destroy. In other cases, a patient may receive incompatible blood and develop a reaction known as hemolysis that results in serious consequences like acute kidney failure, shock, or death. However, there is type confirmation for the blood typing that is done with the Eldon card method which though fast and accurate has other qualified methods for confirmation (Abegaz, 2021). Forward and reverse grouping being conducted in laboratory conditions offers cross-checking by typing antigens on red blood cells as well as antibodies in plasma. Higher techniques such as gel electrophoresis and the polymerase chain reaction raise accuracy because they seek unusual antigens or special populations of genes. Moreover, blood samples are checked to determine their compatibility for transfusion; assessment of infection-disease status such as HIV, hepatitis B & C, evaluation of hemoglobin levels, and cross-matching of the donor or recipient’s blood. These tests ensure that blood transfusion is a safe practice and effective therefore a need for proper protocols in issues involving blood donation and transfusion.

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Conclusion

It can be concluded that the application of the Eldon card method distinguished the blood type as A positive (A+) based on the appearance of agglutination in reaction to certain antibodies. The findings are also evident in relation to the fact that in blood transfusion, donors and recipients must have blood types that do not react with the immune system. Although the Eldon card is effective and common, using other methods like forward and reverse typing, gel electrophoresis, or molecular testing may improve the result. Similarly, pre-donation checking for specific diseases apart from compatible matching that is conducted guarantees that the blood to be used is fit and hence the need for undergoing comprehensive tests for blood donation.

References

Journals

• Abegaz, S.B., 2021. Human ABO blood groups and their associations with different diseases. BioMed research international, 2021(1), p.6629060.
• Li, H.Y. and Guo, K., 2022. Blood group testing. Frontiers in medicine, 9, p.827619.
• Nguyen, P.L., Asante, A., Refaai, M. and Blumberg, N., 2024. ABO blood group, ABO mismatched transfusions and leukoreduction of transfusions in hemostatic resuscitation studies. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 12, p.1437471.
• Ward, S.E., O’Sullivan, J.M. and O’Donnell, J.S., 2020. The relationship between ABO blood group, von Willebrand factor, and primary hemostasis. Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 136(25), pp.2864-2874.
• Yin, O.Y., Yin, A.C.Y., Li, T.M., Har, L.S., Quan, T.Y., Lin, C.L., Yeng, L.C., Kean, N.W., Sim, T.Y. and Chen, P.Y.V., 2022. Redesigning biomedical science practicum towards a new frontier. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 12(11).
• Zhou, M., Li, T., Sun, Y., Ouyang, G., Zhuang, W. and Zhang, P., 2024. Association between ABO blood groups and hematological myeloid neoplasms in adolescents and adults. Frontiers in Medicine, 11, p.1456695.