Blood Group Test

The Blood Group Test is performed to learn about the type of blood group a person has.

The Blood Group Test becomes very important when a person either wants to donate blood to somebody or wants to receive blood from someone. (This is called ‘blood transfusion.’)

Doctors first determine the donor’s blood group before using their blood for a transfusion to another person. This is important because if the donor’s blood is not compatible with the receiver’s blood group, then there can be many serious complications for the receiver.

The kinds of antigens present on the surface of blood cells help determine the blood group. Antigens are entities that help in differentiating between the body’s own cells and foreign cells. These can have dangerous effects on your body as, when the antigens identify any cell as foreign, they go on to destroy it.

Based on the kinds of antigens present in blood cells, there are four major blood groups:

• Type A, which has the A antigen.
• Type B, which has the B antigen.
• Type AB, which has both A and B antigens.
• Type O, which has neither A antigen nor B antigen.
• Rh positive has Rh antigen
• Rh negative does not have Rh antigen

Ideally, someone with a Type A blood group should only receive blood from someone else with the same blood group after making sure that their blood groups match with the help of a Blood Group Test.

However, some blood groups can also receive blood from other blood groups. This happens as, in these cases, the antigens don’t view the other blood cells as foreign elements that can cause danger.

Thus, the Blood Group Test is used to know the blood group of a patient, donor, or receiver of a blood transfusion

In India, there can be a shortage of the matching blood type for transfusion, especially in remote areas. Sometimes, people also face complications because of receiving an incompatible blood group.

To avoid and overcome these incidents, it is better to have your and your family’s blood group test done beforehand and know your blood group. This will be helpful in both donating and receiving blood.

Other names of Blood Group Test

1. ABO Typing
2. Blood Typing

What does the Blood Group test detect or measure and who is this prescribed for?

Individuals in the following conditions might be asked for the Blood Group Test in more instances:

• For performing blood transfusions

After an injury or maybe while undergoing surgery or a treatment that leads to substantial blood loss, the person is in need of more blood in their body. To tackle this blood loss, doctors go for a blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is the process of adding blood to the receiver’s body after receiving a blood donation from a donor.

But, before performing this procedure, doctors get the donor and the receiver to have their Blood Group Test done to make sure that their blood groups are compatible. Receiving an incompatible blood group can have serious consequences for the receiver and can also lead to loss of life in some cases.

• During pregnancy

Pregnant women undergo the Blood Group Test early in their tenure to determine which blood group they are in. The Rh factor plays an important role in maintaining the good health of the mother and the child. The mother’s blood is monitored for the presence of Rh-negative or Rh-positive blood type.

The compatibility of the Rh factor in the mother’s blood is then matched with the Rh factor of the unborn child. If they are incompatible, the mother has to go through regular monitoring to keep the antibodies in check through a Blood Group Test.

• For people suffering from cancer

Sometimes, cancer can cause a number of complications leading to internal bleeding and anaemia and can also damage the blood count of the kidneys and the spleen. In such cases, the patient might need extra blood from a donor whose blood group is compatible with their own.

People regardless of their age and gender can be required to get the Blood Group Test done.

The result of determining a person's blood group is to see which other blood groups they are compatible with. Refer to the following table to get to know about the compatible blood groups and the kinds of antigens present in them:

The Blood Group Test takes a blood sample for conducting the test. The results of the test can often be derived within a very short period.

Test Preparation

The Blood Group Test procedure hardly requires any specific preparations. There is no need for fasting before the blood sample is taken.

If the individual is taking any medications or following a medication regimen, they may consult with their healthcare professional to know whether or not they need to stop taking the medicine before the sample is collected.

During the test, the lab technician might use a needle to draw blood from the veins in your arm or hand. After that, they will put gauze on the spot to stop the bleeding.

Test inclusions: What parameters are included?

The Blood Group Test procedure is followed to get to know what type of antigens are present in the blood cells and on that basis, what is the blood group of the person.

In total, the Blood Group Test blood sample is tested for three antigens:

• An antigen
• B antigen
• Rh antigen

Step One: You're obtained blood sample is mixed with the antibodies of two types of blood groups, Type A and Type B. After mixing, the blood sample is analysed to see if the blood cells have stuck together. If the blood cells end up sticking together, then this means that the blood sample has reacted with one of the antibodies.

Step Two: The liquid part of the blood sample without cells (called serum) is then mixed up with type A and type B blood. Based on this step, it is determined that people with the type A blood group have anti-B antibodies and people with the type B blood group have anti-A antibodies. In contrast, the Type O blood group contains both types of antibodies: anti-A and anti-B.

Step Three: This step determines whether the blood group is positive or negative based on the presence of the Rh factor in the Blood Group Test blood sample.

People with a positive in their blood group have the Rh protein present on their blood cell surface. In contrast, people with a negative in their blood group do not have the Rh protein on the cell surface.

Based on these three steps, the person’s blood group is determined as one of the following eight blood groups:

• A positive
• A negative
• B Positive
• B negative
• AB positive
• AB negative
• O positive
• O negative

How frequently should you take this test?

The Blood Group Test need not be taken frequently. It is suggested by your doctor only when you are either donating your blood or are set to receive blood from someone through a blood transfusion.

Blood transfusion is needed by people who have either met with a serious injury or are undergoing a treatment that requires them to receive blood.

For pregnant women, the Blood Group Test is often suggested by the doctor to make sure the mother and the unborn child are in good health.

Blood transfusion, Pregnancy test, Cancer treatment