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This blog was designed for the Biomedical Technology students at the Durban University of Technology, in Durban, South Africa. It consists of short notes on aspects that I feel that my students grapple with, and aims to provide a better explanation than that they would receive in lectures. It is also a very personal blog, where I feel comfortable 'talking' to my students.

Please email me sherlien@dut.ac.za




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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

ABO blood groups, the basics

This is just one blood type. The ABO blood type consists of both antigens and antibodies. These antibodies are not specific to the antigens.Ag and Ab are inherited as a set. There are only 2 Ag, antigen A and antigen B. The name of the blood type is taken from the antigen present in the blood. So blood type A has A antigens and antibody B. Blood type B has antigen B and antibody A. Blood type AB has antigens A and B, and no antibodies. Blood type O has no antigens and both antibody A and antibody B.

What I have just described takes place inside the patient, and is said to be in vivo. You need to fully understand this in order to read the agglutination reactions of the blood typing test, and interpret the results.
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