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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Test > B > Blood typing

Blood typing   

Overview | Risks | Results

Alternative names:

Cross matching; Rh typing; ABO blood typing

What the Risks Are

  • fainting or feeling light-headed
  • multiple punctures to locate veins
  • excessive bleeding
  • hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
  • infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Special Considerations

There are many antigens besides the major ones: A, B, and Rh. Many minor antigens are not routinely detected during blood typing. If allowed to go unrecognized, they can initiate a blood transfusion reaction, usually of less magnitude than that of a major blood group incompatibility. These minor antigens can be detected by cross-matching, which consists of incubating the recipient's serum with the donor's red blood cells (RBCs) in a saline solution followed by the addition of Coombs serum (see Coombs' test - indirect).

Ency. home > Test > B > Blood typing

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