THE ROLE OF ANTIGEN AND ANTIBODIES IN

BLOOD TYPING AND BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Blood typing is a diagnostic test that identify your blood type/group through the
detection of antigens on the surface of red blood cells. An antigen is any substance
when introduced into the body is recognized as foreign & brings about an immune
response; which may lead to production of antibodies (humoral immunity) and/or
proliferation of immune-competent cells (cellular immunity). Naturally occurring
and immune antibodies occur in the plasma of subjects who lack the corresponding
antigen and who have not been transfused or been pregnant.
There various types of blood groups systems such as the ABO blood group, the RH
blood group, MNS blood group, P1Pk blood group etc. The ABO blood group is
the most significant in blood transfusion. There are 4 ABO antigen on red cells
namely A, B, AB and O. Absence of both antigens A, B and AB is seen in blood
group O which make Blood group O the universal donor but they have antibodies
for A, B and AB antigens in the plasma which means they can only receive blood
from blood group O. Blood group AB do not have antibodies in for A, B, and AB
so the can receive blood from any blood group or types which makes them the
universal recipient but they have antigens A, B and AB on the surface of their red
blood cells so they cannot give blood to other blood groups as it will result in a
transfusion reaction which can be very fatal.