This document discusses blood typing and composition. It explains that blood is made up of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The two major blood type systems are A, B, AB, and O, and Rh+ and Rh-. Blood types vary in distribution between populations, with O+ being the most common in the USA at 36.55% of the population. Blood typing is determined by antigens on red blood cells and the presence or absence of agglutination reactions between blood cells and specific anti-A and anti-B antibodies.

1. Blood typing

2. Composition
 The word blood
refers to a mixture
of cells, enzymes,
proteins, and
inorganic
substances.

3.  The fluid portion of the blood is called
the plasma and makes up 55% of
blood’s composition
 Within the plasma are the solid
components such as red blood cells,
white blood cells, and platelets; this
makes up 45% of the composition.

4. Antigens
 On the surface of each blood cell are
millions of chemical structures called
antigens
 These antigens are responsible for
blood types of the RBC’s

5. Blood types
 There are more than 15 blood type
systems that have been identified to
date and of those the A-B-O and Rh
systems are the most important.
 Blood types are:
A, B, O, and AB
Those can be Rh+ or Rh- (also known as
antigen D)

6. Blood type distribution
 Blood types are different in distribution
throughout different populations but in
the USA the percentages are:
O 43% Rh+ 85%
A 42% Rh- 15%
B 12%
AB 3%

7. Calculating Blood Types
 Type O+
 .43 X .85 = .3655
 .3655 X 100% = 36.55% of the
population is type O+

8. Phenotype for blood type
 If an individual is A blood type that
means the individuals red blood cells
have A antigens located on the
surface…same with type B
 Type AB has both antigens
 Type O has neither antigens
 The presence of type D antigen
indicates Rh + and the lack of D
indicates Rh -

9. Blood typing chart

10. Antibodies
 For every antigen there is a specific
antibody and an antibody will react only
with a specific antigen
 If a serum containing antibody B, anti-B
for short, is added to blood containing
antigen B then a agglutination or clotting
will occur

11. Testing for Blood type
 When testing for blood type of an unknown
source, Anti-A and Anti-B sera are used to test
for agglutination as follows
Anti-sera A Anti-sera B Antigen present Blood type
+ - A A
- + B B
+ + A and B AB
- - Neither O