ABO and Rh Blood Group Systems Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, history, systems, testing methods, and clinical applications for ABO and Rh blood groups.

Blood Group System

A system that classifies blood according to specific antigens found on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs).

Kell System

A blood group system with major antigens K and k and antibody Anti-K, associated with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) and transfusion reactions.

Duffy System

A blood group system featuring $Fy^a$ and $Fy^b$ antigens and Anti-$Fy^a/Fy^b$ antibodies, clinically associated with transfusion reactions, HDFN, and malaria.

Kidd System

A blood group system featuring $Jk^a$ and $Jk^b$ antigens and Anti-$Jk^a/Jk^b$ antibodies, whose primary clinical significance is delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions.

MNS System

A blood group system with antigens M, N, S, and s and Anti-M/N/S/s antibodies, involved in transfusion reactions and HDFN.

Karl Landsteiner

The scientist who discovered the A, B, and O blood groups in 1900, received the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and co-described the Rh blood group in 1940.

Alfred von Decastello and Adriano Sturli

Researchers who identified the fourth ABO blood group, AB, in 1902 while working with Landsteiner's findings.

Ohne

The German word meaning "without," which served as the origin for the letter "O" in ABO typing to designate the absence of A and B antigens.

Alexander S. Wiener

The scientist who co-described an antibody associated with the Rh blood group system alongside Karl Landsteiner in 1940.

D Antigen

The most clinically important Rh antigen on red blood cells; its presence defines Rh-positive status and its absence defines Rh-negative status.

Codominance

A condition in which both alleles of a gene pair in a heterozygote are fully expressed, thereby resulting in offspring with a phenotype that is neither dominant nor recessive (such as blood type AB).

ABO Antibodies

Naturally occurring antibodies (primarily IgM) in blood plasma directed against missing A or B antigens that develop without prior exposure to incompatible blood.

Anti-D Antibody

An Rh antibody (primarily IgG) produced by Rh-negative individuals after exposure to D-positive RBCs, capable of crossing the placenta.

Forward Typing

A laboratory procedure that determines the antigens present on patient RBCs by testing patient red blood cells with known reagent antisera (Anti-A, Anti-B, Anti-D).

Reverse Typing

A laboratory procedure that determines the antibodies present in patient plasma/serum by testing patient plasma against known reagent red blood cells ($A_1$ cells and B cells).

Agglutination

The visible clumping of red blood cells caused by an antigen–antibody interaction.

Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN)

A clinical condition (also called Erythroblastosis Fetalis) occurring when maternal IgG anti-Rh antibodies cross the placenta to attack Rh-positive fetal red blood cells.

Universal RBC Donor

Blood type O-negative ($O^-$), which lacks A, B, and D antigens on red blood cells and can be transfused to recipients of any blood group.

Universal Recipient

Blood type AB-positive ($AB^+$), which possesses A, B, and D antigens on RBCs and lacks plasma Anti-A or Anti-B antibodies.