The ABO Blood Grouping - Assignment Example

? BLOOD GROUPING, BLOOD STAINING, AND HEMATOCRIT Laboratory Report 06 March Introduction The ABO blood grouping entails the categorisation of human blood depending on heritable traits of red blood cells as established by the existence or absence of antigens (Rogers, 2011). Blood grouping is also an essential procedure to determine the presence of the Rhesus factor (Rh). The presence of the Rhesus factor in an individual’s blood implies that the person is Rh+, whereas the absence of the Rhesus factor implies that the individual is Rh– (Blood typing: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia, n.d.). It is essential for healthcare practitioners to determine one’s blood group to know which blood type is fit for the patient in case a blood transfusion or transplant is performed. This is because not all blood types are compatible. If someone is transfused with blood that is different from their blood group, the individual’s antibodies will mount an immune response against the received blood and destroy the red blood cells in the donor’s blood (Rogers, 2011). Blood grouping can also be used to determine paternity because an offspring’s blood group is determined by the individual genotypes in both parents’ blood. Aim This experiment aimed at determining the blood group, Rhesus factor, and hematocrit value of the subject’s blood sample. Hypothesis The experimental hypothesis was that the subject’s hematocrit value was within the normal range. Method Blood Grouping The subject was invited to sit, and it was ensured that they were comfortable. The rationale of the tests was explained to the subject, after which their informed consent was obtained. The subject was instructed to wash their hands using warm water to clean them and increase circulation. The hands were dried using a paper towel. The puncturing device was prepared with a new sterilized automatic lancet. A clean, white tile was marked A, B, AB, and RH while leaving space for blood drops and was placed in proximity with the subject. The fingers were wiped using Mediswab and allowed to dry. Blood was drawn from the lateral pads of the fingers by a quick stab of the automatic lancet and allowed to fall onto each of the four labelled spaces on the white tile. One drop of antibody A (Anti-A) serum was added to the blood drop labelled A, one drop of Anti-B (antibody B) was added to the blood drop labelled B, one drop of antibody AB (Anti-AB) serum was added to the blood drop labelled AB, and one drop of Rh serum was added to the drop labelled Rh. The blood drops were mixed with the sera and the observed for agglutination. The results were read after 2 minutes and recorded. Hematocrit A plain capillary tube was filled with the mixed anti-coagulated blood provided, or a heparinised tube with blood obtained by finger prick. One end of the tube was dipped into the blood. The capillary tube was tilted horizontally to allow the blood to flow up the tube, which was filled up to 1 inch from the end. The unfilled end of the tube was sealed with Cristaseal seal and placed in a numbered slot in the microhematocrit centrifuge. It was ensured that the sealed end was pointing outwards, and that all tubes were touching the outer rim. After centrifugation for 5 minutes, the tube was placed in the microhematocrit reader with the base line of the reader intersecting the base of the red cells. The tube holder was held until the top line intersected with the top of the plasma. The knob was then adjusted so that the white line intersected the top of the red cells. The %PCV was read on the scale and recorded. The capillary tube was disposed in the sharps box. Blood Staining A thin blood smear was prepared using a drop of blood on a glass slide and allowed to dry. 100% methanol was added to the slide and left to dry. The slide was then covered with Wright stain and was left on for 4 minutes. Running water was used to wash the slide gently. The underside of the slide was carefully wiped after which the slide was observed for erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets. Result There was agglutination on the blood in the space labelled A, AB and Rh. There was no agglutination on the blood labelled B. This, therefore, meant the blood was group ‘A+.’ The hematocrit was found to be 49%. The leukocytes seen were neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes. Discussion When blood was mixed with each antisera on the tiles, the antibodies present in the sera reacted with antigens present on the surface of the red blood cells (Cruse, Lewis & Wang, 2004). The presence of antigens to the sera in the blood caused agglutination reactions between the antigens and antibodies. The antibody-antigen reaction was what was resulted in the visible agglutination. My blood group was found to be A+. It was possible that my genotype was OA or AA. The actual genotype depended on my parents’ genotypes. Assuming that my genotype was OA, and my partner was blood group A genotype OA, the genotypes of any children that we would have would be AA, OO, OA and OA. Other possible genotypes of my children if my partner had different blood groups would be: Partner’s genotype Children’s blood groups AA AA, AA, OA, OA BO AB, AO, OO, OB BB AB, AB, OB, OB AB OA, OB, AA, AB OO OO, OO, AO, AO Supposing my genotype was AA and my partner was blood group A with genotype AO, then my children would be AA, AA, AO, and OA. Other possible genotypes of my children if my partner had different blood groups would be: Partner’s genotype Children’s blood groups AA AA, AA, AA, AA BO AB, AB, OA, OA BB AB, AB, AB, AB AB AA, AA, AB, AB OO OA, OA, OA, OA During blood staining, the leukocytes observed were neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes. Each leukocyte has an important role in the body. For example, lymphocytes include the B and T lymphocytes, which help in fighting infections through the production of antibodies (B cells), recruitment of inflammatory substances like cytokines, interleukins, and interferons that destroy invading pathogens (Leukocytes, n.d.). Natural killer cells (also lymphocytes) kill cells that are infected with viruses and tumour cells. Monocytes produce macrophages that ingest and get rid of foreign organisms. Neutrophils assist in fighting infections caused by bacteria and fungi, whereas eosinophils mount immune attacks against parasitic infections. Basophils, on the other hand, contain inflammatory substances such as leucotriene and histamine; they also contain heparin (an anticoagulant). Basophils result into inflammation when helminths attack the body. There are several alternatives to Wright staining. These include Giemsa and May-Grunwald. The May-Grunwald staining is useful in the identification of malignant and inflammatory cell populations (Kluge, 2000). Giemsa stain is useful in the differentiation of nuclear and cytoplasmic shape and appearance of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and parasites. It is commonly used in the staining of parasites especially the malaria parasites. Its main disadvantage is that the deposition of excess stain on the film inhibits the correct detection of parasites in blood. The analysis of blood smears is crucial in the provision of differential diagnosis. It also gives the physician the go ahead to request for further tests. It also provides a fast diagnosis of some infections. The most common illnesses that blood smears aid in their diagnoses are anaemia, and thrombocytopenia, as well as in the identification and characterisation of leukaemia and lymphoma (Bain, 2005). Hematocrit is the volume of packed red blood cells in 100ml of blood (Hess, 2005). It is expressed as a percentage, for example a hematocrit of 30% means that 30 ml out of 100 ml of blood comprises of red blood cells (Hematocrit (hct) Blood Test, Levels, Values, Range, n.d.). Conditions such as anaemia, loss of blood, cancer, liver and kidney diseases can cause the hematocrit value to decrease (Hess, 2005). Some drugs such as penicillin and antineoplastics can also cause a reduction in the hematocrit values. Drawing blood from the same arm through which intravenous fluids are administered cause extremely low hematocrit values. High hematocrit, on the other hand, is caused by “dehydration, diarrhoea, polycythemia or burns” (Hess, 2005 p. 38). Therefore, hematocrit values can tell whether a patient’s fluid status is high or low. A high hematocrit means that the fluid level is low, whereas a low value indicates a high fluid level. Normal hematocrit ranges for adult males is 42-54% and 36-46% for adult females (Hematocrit (hct) Blood Test, Levels, Values, Range, n.d.). Conclusion The experimental results revealed that the patient’s blood group was A+ and that the hematocrit level was within the normal range. These findings were in line with the experimental hypothesis. It was, therefore, concluded that blood was an extremely important tissue in the body and was capable of revealing useful information about a patient’s health condition. References Bain, B. J. (2005). Diagnosis from the blood smear. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2005(353), 498-507. Blood typing: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003345.htm. Cruse, J., Lewis, L., & Wang, H. (2004). Immunohematology and transfusion medicine. In Cruse, J., Lewis, L., & Wang, H. (eds). Immunology guidebook (pp. 431-444). San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press. Hematocrit (hct) Blood Test, Levels, Values, Range – MedicineNet. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/hematocrit/article.htm Hess, C. T. (2005). Wound care. 5th ed. Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Kluge, H. (2000). Atlas of CSF cytology. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme Verlag. Leukocytes (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/leukocytes-white-blood-cells.html Rogers, K. Blood group systems. (2011). In Rogers, K (Ed), Blood: Physiology and circulation (pp. 92-104). New York, NY: Britannica Educational Publishing. Read More