Blood typing

Erythroblastosis fetalis, photomicrograph

Alternative Names

Cross matching; Rh typing; ABO blood typing

What the risks are

Risks associated with taking blood may include:

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 ones are not routinely detected during blood typing. If they are not detected, you may still have a reaction when receiving certain types of blood, even if the A, B, and Rh antigens are matched.

A process called cross-matching followed by a Coombs' test can help detect these minor antigens.

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Blood typing

Review Date: 11/10/2008
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).