What happens when blood Agglutinates?

The agglutinated red cells can clog blood vessels and stop the circulation of the blood to various parts of the body. The agglutinated red blood cells also crack and its contents leak out in the body. The red blood cells contain hemoglobin which becomes toxic when outside the cell.

Why should we wait for 10 minutes before looking for agglutination?

Wait for 8–10 minutes before confirming presence or absence of agglutination, this time is given for An-Ab reaction to occur. If there is no clumping, wait for 15 minutes. Always use diluted blood as undiluted blood may give false positive results due to rouleaux formation.

How do we determine blood type?

The test to determine your blood group is called ABO typing. Your blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Then, the sample is checked to see whether or not the blood cells stick together. If blood cells stick together, it means the blood reacted with one of the antibodies.

What is a strong agglutinate?

Agglutination is the central reaction in blood banking, as most of our testing for decades has relied on its detection. The agglutinates are typically characterized on a 0-4+ scale, with 0 representing no reaction, and 4+ indicating a very strong reaction (see images above).

Which blood types cause agglutination?

Blood type AB has both A and B surface antigens, and neither anti-A nor anti-B antibodies circulating in the plasma. When anti-A antibodies (added to the first well) contact A antigens on AB erythrocytes, they will cause agglutination.

How do I read my blood type results?

If your red blood cells have:

  1. The A antigen, you have type A blood. The liquid portion of your blood (plasma) has antibodies that attack type B blood.
  2. The B antigen, you have type B blood.
  3. Neither the A nor B antigen, you have type O blood.
  4. Both the A and B antigens, you have type AB blood.

What does a positive agglutination reaction indicate?

Agglutination occurs when an insoluble or particle antigen interacts with an antibody. A positive reaction can be detected macroscopically in a short time. However, the antigen-antibody complex may be seen with the naked eye if the complex size is large. Both IgG or IgM could be involved in the agglutination reaction.