Blood Groups

• Antigens - antibody reaction

  • antigens are special proteins found on the surface of red blood cells
  • antigens provoke an immune response involving antibodies
  • antibodies are in the plasma
  • certain antibodies react with certain types of antigens, causing agglutination (clumping), which can be fatal

  
• Blood transfusions

  • during blood transfusion, if the donor’s blood cells have antigens that react with the recipient’s antibodies, clumping of the blood occurs (agglutination)
  • agglutination can block blood vessels