the discovery of blood groups

7/31/2019 The Discovery of Blood Groups

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The discovery of blood groups

Experiments with blood transfusions, the transfer of blood or blood components into a person's blood stream, have been carried out for

hundreds of years. Many patients have died and it was not until 1901, when the Austrian Karl Landsteiner discovered human blood groups,

that blood transfusions became safer.

Mixing blood from two individuals can lead to blood clumping or agglutination. The clumped red cells can crack and cause toxic reactions.

This can have fatal consequences. Karl Landsteiner discovered that blood clumping was an immunological reaction which occurs when the

receiver of a blood transfusion has antibodies against the donor blood cells.

Karl Landsteiner's work made it possible to determine blood groups and thus paved the way for blood transfusions to be carried out safely.

For this discovery he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930.

What are the different blood groups?

The differences in human blood are due to the presence or absence of certain protein molecules called

antigens and antibodies. The antigens are located on the surface of the red blood cells and the antibodies are in the blood plasma.

Individuals have different types and combinations of these molecules. The blood group you belong to depends on what you have inherited

from your parents.

There are more than 20 genetically determined blood group systems known today, but the AB0 and Rh systems are the most important

ones used for blood transfusions. Not all blood groups are compatible with each other. Mixing incompatible blood groups leads to blood

clumping or agglutination, which is dangerous for individuals.

Nobel Laureate Karl Landsteiner was involved in the discovery of both the AB0 and Rh blood groups.

AB0 blood grouping system

According to the AB0 blood group system there are four different kinds of blood groups: A, B, AB or 0 (null).
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Donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded. Blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments. Every blood donor is given a mini-physical, checking the donor's temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin to ensure it is safe for the

donor to give blood.

The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes aboutan hour and 15 min.

The average adult has about 10 units of blood in his body. Roughly 1 unit is given during a donation. A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days, or double red cells every 112 days. A healthy donor may donate platelets as few as 7 days apart, but a maximum of 24 times a year. All donated blood is tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases before it can be transfused to patients.

Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or due to a serious injury. A transfusion also may bedone if your body can't make blood properly because of an illness.

A blood bank is a cache or bank ofbloodorblood components, gathered as a result ofblood donation, stored and

preserved for later use inblood transfusion. The term "blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory

where the storage of blood product occurs and where proper testing is performed to reduce the risk of transfusion related

events
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A blood transfusion the surgical replacement of blood in the body is an often necessary, life-saving medical procedure. Transfusions are commonly used

for patients who have suffered severe injuries, causing them to lose massive amounts of blood, or for patients suffering from blood diseases. Because

tainted blood can carry dangerous infections, doctors take care to collect only healthy blood. Because of modern medical technology, the risk o f infection

from blood transfusions is quite rare.

Unfortunately, however, some infected blood does get through inspections, posing a potential danger to patients..

Common Blood Related Diseases

Tragically, despite advances in medical technology, blood transfusion errors still occur. Some of the diseases most commonly associated with transfusions

include:

Hepatitis B, a disease that can cause inflammation of the liver, vomiting, and jaundice. While it is often defeated

naturally by the body, it sometimes can become chronic and aggressive, causing cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C, which is more resilient than Hepatitis B, is difficult to treat, and can lead to fibrosis (liver scarring),

cirrhosis (heavy liver scarring), and liver cancer.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which leads to AIDS, is the break-down of the bodys autoimmune system.

While not fatal itself, HIV opens the door for opportunistic infection and diseases that the body cannot effectively

fight in its weakened state.
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the discovery of blood groups

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