EXPERIMENT NO.

10

GROUP NAME: Powerpuff Girls

LEADER: Renz Mariela Gaspar

MEMBERS: Nyka Isaiah Grena

Romina Venize Gadin

Zyra Joyce Fernandez

I. Summary of Procedures
1. Draw blood from the tip of your finger using a sterilized lancet.
2. Place three separate drops onto the clean slide.
3. Onto the first blood sample, drop anti-serum A, anti-serum B to the second and
anti-RH on the third drop.

II. Results and Discussion

1. Why is it important to know your blood type?

Medical Emergencies – Doctors need to know what blood type you have in order to prevent
the risk of giving you an incompatible blood type during surgery or for another medical need.
Getting an incompatible blood type can cause your blood cells to clump, which can be life-
threatening. In almost all cases, hospitals will run a blood test first. In the case of an emergency,
a blood transfusion of the universal donor blood type, O-negative, may be done. However, for
some circumstances, the exact blood type may be needed for transfusion. It’s always good to
be able to tell them what your blood type is, even if they will test it to be sure.

Pregnancy – In pregnant women, it is important to know whether their blood is positive or

negative. If a pregnant woman and her baby do not have the same Rh blood type (positive or
negative), Rh-incompatibility may occur. Rh-incompatibility can make the pregnant woman’s
body respond as if it were allergic to the baby. This is called hemolytic disease or hemolytic
anemia, and it can be very serious for the baby. An injection of a particular blood product can
prevent this from happening.

Donating – There is a constant need for blood donations. Sometimes certain blood types will be
called out to the public to donate if possible due to an emergency or low supply. It’s important to
know your blood type so you can donate for that particular need! People with type O-negative
are universal blood donors, meaning they can give blood to any blood type. Whether you’re O-
negative or another blood type, each is needed. Also, having a blood test done is the first step
to becoming a bone marrow donor, which could save someone’s life as well.
Predicting Disease Risks – Not all of the results are conclusive, but studies have shown that
some blood types have slightly higher risks of certain diseases. Type AB, A, and B have
increased risks for blood clots. Studies have shown that these blood types were 40% more at
risk of having deep-vein thrombosis, blood clots in the lower legs that can be dangerous. Type
AB, A, and B also have increased risks for heart disease. Type A has an increased risk of
stomach cancer, but also, a higher rate of fertility. Type AB and B have higher risk for pancreatic
cancer and type O has the lowest stroke risk. The results of some of these studies are
preliminary, and of course there are more risk factors like high blood pressure, weight, diet, and
so on. Regardless, it’s good to be in the know, and it gives you an incentive to control the other
risk factors.

Improving Your Diet and Workout – Some believe eating a diet based on your blood type
could make you healthier. There’s actually a diet called the Blood Type Diet. It is based on the
claim that foods you eat react with your blood type. For example, type O blood is suggested to
have a high-protein diet with lean meats and light on grains. Type A is encouraged to eat meat-
free and focus on fruits, vegetables, and beans. Studies have not been conducted to confirm
whether or not this diet has had a huge impact on one’s health, but there are many people who
believe it does, particularly with weight loss and energy boosting!

2. Why is Rh incompatibility not much significant in first pregnancy?

The Rh factor is a molecule on the surface of red blood cells in some people. Blood is Rh-
positive if red blood cells have the Rh factor and Rh-negative if they do not. Problems can occur
if the fetus’s Rh-positive blood enters the bloodstream of a woman with Rh-negative blood. The
woman’s immune system may recognize the fetus’s red blood cells as foreign and produce
antibodies, called Rh antibodies, to destroy Rh-positive blood cells. The production of these
antibodies is called Rh sensitization.

During a first pregnancy, Rh sensitization is unlikely because no significant amount of the

fetus’s blood is likely to enter the woman’s bloodstream until delivery. So the fetus or newborn
rarely has problems. However, a woman becomes sensitized during delivery. Once she is
sensitized, problems are more likely with each subsequent pregnancy if the fetus’s blood is Rh-
positive. In each pregnancy, the woman produces Rh antibodies earlier and in larger amounts.

If Rh antibodies cross the placenta to the fetus, they may destroy some of the fetus’s red blood
cells. If red blood cells are destroyed faster than the fetus can produce new ones, the fetus can
develop anemia. Such destruction is called hemolytic disease of the fetus (erythroblastosis
fetalis) or of the newborn (erythroblastosis neonatorum—see What Is Hemolytic Disease of the
Newborn?). When red blood cells are destroyed, a yellow pigment called bilirubin is produced.
When many red blood cells are destroyed, bilirubin can accumulate within the skin and other
tissues. As a result, the newborn's skin and whites of the eyes may appear yellow (called
jaundice—see Problems in Newborns:Common causes). In severe cases, the brain may be
damaged (called kernicterus—see Complications), and severe anemia can result in the fetus's
death. Miscarriage can occur.

Occasionally, other molecules on the woman's red blood cells are incompatible with those of the
fetus. Such incompatibility can cause problems similar to those of Rh incompatibility.

3. Who is the universal donor? The universal recipient? Why?

The universal donor is blood type O because it has no antigens on its RBC membranes. This
means that people with blood types A, B and AB have no antibodies to reject type O. Blood type
AB is the universal recipient because it contains no antibodies and therefore will not reject any
of the other blood types regardless of the antigens.