PRACTICAL: BLOOD GROUP DETERMINATION

TO DETERMINE THE BLOOD GROUP OF AN INDIVIDUAL

The blood group of an individual is usually ascertained by checking for agglutination of drops of blood mixed with antisera. Clumping or agglutination usually result from the non compatibility of the blood with the antiserum. The antisera involved are Anti A, B, AB, and O Sera

Apparatus/Materials
Blood, tiles, stock-sera, (Anti A, B, AB, O) 70% alcohol, cotton wool and lancet

Procedures
The tiles used were cleaned thoroughly, and divided into two sides each. Using a clinograph pencil on each division to mark out the different tiles with the different antiserum which are, Anti A, B, AB, and O

Using a lancet to prick the pulp of the already sterilized/cleaned finger (that is with alcohol and cotton wool) blood was obtained from the subject ( about one or two drops added to each of the antisera on the tile dimensions. Each of the mixture was stirred and allowed to stand undisturbed for 10 minutes

Agglutination was checked for with the naked eyes and marked as positive. Where agglutination did not occur was marked as negative. Two blood samples were obtained from two subjects and analysed.

DISCUSSION
Blood group determination in man is a very important process because of its usefulness in ascertaining the compatibility of a recipient's blood and donor's blood during transfusions. It could also be used in settling of paternity disputes and also in counselling before marriage. When a donor's blood is not compatible with that
Of a recipient, agglutination of blood could occur which is actually very harmful to the health of the recipient. Blood groups are antisera fluids on the surface of red blood cells and are usually determined by the carbohydrate components of glycoproteins found on these cells.

     PRECAUTIONS

.It was ensured that the test was performed in a warm room
to avoid cold agglutination of the blood.

. It was ensured that the tiles were cleaned thoroughly
before each of the antiserum was applied or dropped into
the tile.

. Care was taken to ensure that the contents of the tile did
not spill over each other

. Each division on the tile was marked appropriately to avoid
missing up observation.

. Each division on the tile was marked appropriately to avoid
Mixing up observation.

          CONCLUSION

From the supplies taken, it was formed that most of the samples analysed either belonged to the A+ blood group and the O+ blood group; the A-, B+, B-, and O- blood were left with a frequency of one each. The subject analyzed had blood groups AB+ and AB-; this supports the fact that it is not so common amongst people.

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