What is it used for? of Blood groups

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If you have a blood transfusion (where blood is taken from one person and put into another), you would need to know your blood group, or have a blood group test. This is because some blood groups cannot be mixed with each other.

For example, if you are blood group A, you cannot take blood from a person with B blood as the anti-B antibodies in your blood will fight the B antigens in the donorâ€™s blood.

However, any antibodies in the donorâ€™s blood will be quickly diluted. Therefore, anti-A antibodies in the donors blood wonâ€™t try to fight the A antigens in your own blood. Thatâ€™s why O blood, with no antigens, can be given to anybody.

A blood group test is done by mixing your blood with different samples of serum (blood with the clotting agent taken out), which is already known to contain different antibodies. If the serum contains anti-B antibodies and you have B antigens in your blood it will clump together, meaning that the antibodies are fighting the antigens. If this was to happen in the body, it can cause complications. A series of these tests with different types of serum will identify your blood group.

If you have a blood transfusion, your blood will always be mixed with a sample of the donorâ€™s blood to check for clumping, even if your blood groups are compatible. This is because there are many other types of antigens in the blood, which on rare occasions will not be compatible.

A blood group test will always be done on a pregnant woman. If she is rhesus negative but the child has inherited rhesus positive blood from the father, it could cause complications if it isnâ€™t treated.