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Introductory text about blood groups:

Vienna, Nov 20th, 1890

In the last few days several patients with more or less serious wounds were taken to hospital. One patients had suffered an open fracture during an accident, another one had internal injuries and a third one had suffered a knife wound during a quarrel. Even though these patients had completely different injuries, all of them had suffered great losses of blood so that they needed a blood transfusion. Some patients recovered from their injuries quickly whereas the condition of other patients turned from bad to worse and some of them even died within a short time. When they were examined to find out the reason for their sudden death it was found that their red blood cells had clumped together i. e. formed sort of blood clots in the blood vessels.

 

Landsteiner's experiment

Blood

Red blood cells
Serum Störk Pletschnig Sturli Erdheim Zaritsch Landsteiner
Störk
Pletschnig
Sturli
Erdheim
Zaritsch
Landsteiner

 

clumping no clumping

 

 

Blood Groups

 

1. Clumping of the blood or agglutination is determined by two factors:

  • a. .................................. may have specific proteins = antigens on their surface.

    B. .................................. may contain specific proteins = antibodies which clot the blood of other blood groups.

    •

    Antigens and antibodies of the same type match perfectly like a key to the corresponding lock. When they are mixed the antibodies attach to the antigens and clump them.

  • 2. Complete the following table.
    •

    • Blood group

    0

    A

    B

    AB

    Antigen on erythrocyte

    		        

    Antibody in serum

    		        

    Europeans (%)

    37.5

    		 42.5 14 6.5

     

  • 3. In order to find out a person's blood group, his blood is added to serum containing antibodies (=antiserum). If clumping occurs, then the corresponding antigen is present on the donor's red blood cells. Now find out the blood group of the different donors and enter them into the table.
    •

    Blood to be tested

    		 Antiserum A Antiserum B Antiserum AB Blood group
    Donor No I  
    Donor No II  
    Donor No III  
    Donor No IV  
  • clumping no clumping
    •
     

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