ABOtyypityksen

ABOtyypityksen, known in English as ABO blood group typing, is a fundamental laboratory procedure used to determine an individual's blood group within the ABO system. This system classifies blood into four main types: A, B, AB, and O, based on the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of red blood cells and corresponding antibodies in the plasma.

The ABO blood group is inherited and plays a crucial role in blood transfusions. Transfusing incompatible blood types can lead to a severe and potentially fatal immune reaction, known as a hemolytic transfusion reaction, where the recipient's antibodies attack the transfused red blood cells. Therefore, ABO typing is a mandatory step before any blood transfusion.

The typing process involves mixing a sample of the patient's red blood cells with known anti-A and anti-B antibodies. If the red blood cells agglutinate (clump together) with anti-A, the person has A antigens. Agglutination with anti-B indicates B antigens. If agglutination occurs with both, the blood type is AB. If no agglutination occurs with either, the blood type is O. Simultaneously, the plasma is tested with known A and B red blood cells to confirm the presence of antibodies. For instance, a person with type A blood will have anti-B antibodies in their plasma.

Beyond transfusions, ABO blood typing is also important in organ transplantation, forensic science, and paternity testing. It is a simple yet vital test performed routinely in healthcare settings worldwide.