ABO & RH TYPING (BLOOD GROUP) BY COLUMN AGGLUTINATION

ABO & Rh Typing, also called blood grouping, is an equally significant laboratory blood test for determining what kind of blood type an individual belongs to based on the absence or presence of antigens on the surface of red blood cells. The Column Agglutination blood typing approach falls under the category of advanced technology. This technique has also been called the "gel card technology." This involves the interaction of red blood cells or their plasma with specific reagents in the columns containing the cells. The cells trapped in the columns as a result of antigen-antibody interaction are retained at different heights in the column, whereas those not clumped are trapped at the bottom.

Blood Group ABO & Rh test in Jaipur is fundamental for ensuring patient safety in blood transfusions, managing pregnancies to prevent hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), and compatibility testing for organ and tissue transplantation.

The ABO & Rh Typing test by column agglutination primarily checks for two main blood group systems:

1.  ABO System:

• Forward Typing: It detects whether A and/or B antigens are present on the patient's red cells using anti-A and anti-B reagents.
• Reverse Typing (Serum Grouping): In this method, the doctor will test whether anti-A or anti-B is present in plasma/serum derived from the patient by mixing it with group A and B red blood cells.
• The two tests have to correlate each other in order for the blood type to fall under the categories of A, B, AB, or O.

2. Rh System:

• D Antigen Detection: Determines the presence or absence of the Rh D antigen on the red cells using anti-D reagent. This checks whether the person is Rh positive or Rh negative, depending on whether the D antigen is present or absent.

The column agglutination method provides clear visual interpretation of these reactions within the gel matrix.

ABO & Rh Typing is a critical test often advised in various medical scenarios, rather than for specific "symptoms":

• Before Blood Transfusions: Essential for cross-matching and ensuring compatibility of donated blood with that of the patient to avoid fatal transfusion reactions.
• During Pregnancy: An important requirement for all expectant mothers is to ascertain their blood group. If the mother is Rh-negative and carries an Rh-positive baby, prophylactic measures may need to be taken to prevent HDFN in the present or in future pregnancies.
• Prior to Surgeries: Preparation for blood loss during surgery through routine screening for transfusion.
• Organ or Tissue Transplantation: Necessary to maintain compatibility of blood groups of donor and patient to prevent rejection of the transplant.
• Medical Emergencies: To quickly identify blood type in trauma situations requiring immediate transfusions.
• Newborn Screening: To determine the blood type of infants, particularly if there is a risk of HDFN or other blood-related conditions.
• General Health Check-ups: Sometimes included as part of comprehensive health assessments.

Several advantages can be obtained in using the column agglutination method for ABO & Rh typing, namely:

• Enhanced Safety: It considerably reduces the risk of ABO/Rh incompatibility reactions, making it safe for patients as well as pregnant women.
• High Accuracy and Reliability: Offers clear, stable, and objective results with minimal scope for interpretation, resulting in reduced chances of human error, unlike traditional tube methods.
• Standardization: This format of a gel card provides a standardized testing platform, resulting in consistent test outcomes.
• Increased Sensitivity: It can be used in detecting smaller agglutination reactions, thus facilitating the detection of some antigen variants.
• Efficiency and Throughput: This method is easily automated, which renders it efficient for large volumes of testing, especially in busy blood banks and clinical labs.
• Ease of Use: It reduces the complexity of the testing process, allowing for fewer manual steps (for example, no need to wash samples).
• Semi-Permanent Record: It can be stored as a semi-permanent record. That can be used as part of quality control.
• Clear Interpretation: Distinct visualization of the agglutination patterns in gel columns helps in interpreting the results in a clear and unambiguous manner.

Generally, no special preparation is required for an ABO & Rh Typing test:

Fasting is normally not required before a blood test, which requires this test, and most drugs used do not interfere with test results. It is always important to make the doctor or lab aware of any drugs you are taking, especially those affecting the immune system. Tests may also be affected by having received a blood transfusion in the last three months. This is because donors may be donating red blood cells that may, on occasion, circulate with your normal red cells.

For ABO & Rh Typing, there isn't a "normal range" like a numerical value. Instead, the "normal result" is the accurate identification of your specific blood group. The interpretation of results identifies an individual's specific blood group, which is a combination of their ABO type and Rh status.
 

Blood Group	Description
Group A	Has A antigens on red cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
Group B	Has B antigens on red cells and anti-A antibodies in plasma.
Group AB	Has both A and B antigens on red cells and no anti-A or anti-B antibodies in plasma.
Group O	Has neither A nor B antigens on red cells but has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
Rh Type	Description
Rh-Positive	Presence of the D antigen on red blood cells.
Rh-Negative	Absence of the D antigen on red blood cells.
Combined Blood Type Examples	A+, B-, O+, AB-, etc.

In the column agglutination method, when the reaction is positive, which shows that agglutination has actually taken place, there are red cells retained at the top or uniformly throughout the column. The absence of agglutination results in red cells forming a pellet that is found at the bottom of the column. The results are read and confirmed by pathologists and clinical scientists that demonstrate the final blood group.

The price of a ABO & Rh Typing (Blood Group) by Column Agglutination Test in Jaipur is Rs. 120, though it may vary depending on:

• Additional tests
• Offers/discounts
• Hospital/lab empanelment

Booking your Blood Group ABO & Rh Typing by Column Agglutination Test in Jaipur with Dr. B. Lal Clinical Labs ensures fair pricing, accurate results, and convenient home sample collection.

1. Effortless Booking
Book your ABO & Rh Typing (Blood Group) by Column Agglutination Test through our mobile app or website in just a few steps.

2. Sample Collection
Choose home collection or visit our lab. Our trained phlebotomists ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

3. Sample Processing
Samples are transported under controlled temperature and tested through 151+ quality checkpoints.

4. Report & Support
Receive your report digitally, reviewed by expert pathologists. Our team helps you understand your results.