Last update:

How Blood Type is Determined

Jump to the quiz at the end of the tutorial.

Introduction to The Blood Type Test:

The blood type test determines which antigenic molecules are present on the surface of RBCs.

  1. A glass slide is image descriptiondivided into sections and labeled.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Animation showing a glass slide being divided into three sections and labelled for each blood type: Rh, A, and B.
Glass slide being divided into different sections and labelled.
  1. A finger is image descriptionlanced and a small drop of blood is allowed to accumulate.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.v
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Animation of finger being lanced and blood drop accumulating.
Finger is lanced and blood accumulates.
  1. A large drop of blood is image descriptionplaced in each of the three sections.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Animation of large drops of blood being placed in each of the three labelled sections of the glass slide.
Large drops of blood are placed in each section.
  1. A drop of anti-serum is image descriptionadded to each drop of blood.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of a drop anti-serum being added to each drop of blood on the glass slide.
Anti-serum is added to each drop of blood.
  • The anti-sera typically contain plant proteins that react similar to the body’s own IgM and IgG antibodies.
  1. The anti-sera is image descriptionmixed with the blood.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Animation of the anti-sera being mixed with the drops of blood on the glass slide.
Anti-sera being mixed with the blood.
  1. The clumping (= image descriptionagglutination) of RBC’s indicates that A. B. or Rh antigens are present on the RBCs
Animation of agglutination occuring indicating whether A, B , or Rh anitgens are present on the RBCs.
Animation of agglutination occuring indicating whether A, B , or Rh anitgens are present on the RBCs.
Animation of agglutination occuring indicating whether A, B , or Rh anitgens are present on the RBCs.
Animation of agglutination occuring indicating whether A, B , or Rh anitgens are present on the RBCs.
Waiting for agglutination results.
  • Group A and B reactions are most rapid and noticeable. Large IgM class anti-A and anti-B antibodies can bind more RBC’s than the smaller IgG class.

Test Yourself:

Blood Type Quiz

Related Articles
Featured image for white blood cell differential test.
White Blood Cell Differential Test Procedures

The white blood cell differential test is used to determine the percentage of each type of WBC in blood. Review the procedures in this interactive tutorial.

Featured image for the transportation of oxygen in the blood.
Transport of Oxygen in the Blood

Review the composition of hemoglobin molecules as well as the circulation, and transportation of oxygen in the blood stream in this interactive tutorial.

Featured image of for the transport of CO2 in the blood
Transport of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in the Blood

Tissue cells produce carbon dioxide when nutrient molecules undergo cellular respiration. Review the transportation of CO2 in the blood in this tutorial.