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When blood is given intraveneously Usually donated blood

Transfusions are given for: Blood loss due to injury Surgery To supplement your own blood

Transfusions must be given to compatible recipients Those individuals with the same antigens

Blood cells have their own antigens Genetically determined proteins Allows us to determine “self”

Antibodies bind to the (foreign) antigens on the donor RBC Antibodies are proteins specialized to recognize

foreign substances and provide immunity against them

Incompatible transfusions cause agglutination – clumping of the foreign RBCs

RBCs burst open (hemolysis) releases hemoglobin into bloodstream

Hemoglobin can block kidney tubules Can cause kidney failure and death

The ABO Blood groups: Type A (Both A antigens) Type B (Both B antigens) Type AB (Both A and B antigens) Type O (neither antigen is present; recessive)

Rh (rhesus) factor ( + or - ): Positive or negative for presence on the surface of

the RBC Pregnant women risk destruction of baby’s RBCs

Differences in Rh factor between baby and mother Most of the time, the first baby is fine Antibodies are built up after first baby

Second pregnancy, RBCs of baby can be destroyed

This causes Hemolytic disease of the newborn

Jaundice Anemia Enlarged liver/spleen

RBC mfr is here until fetus is around 7 months

Incompatible mothers are given an immune serum called RhoGAM to prevent immune response