Simulated ABO and Rh blood typing.
BACKGROUND
Blood typing historically has been used to introduce students to the concepts of immunohematology. Risk of disease transmission has compelled school districts to prohibit the use of human blood in student laboratories. A method is needed that will safely simulate ABO and Rh typing.


METHODS
A method that uses inorganic salt solutions to simulate ABO and Rh antigens and antibodies was studied. Additional salt solutions and diluents were tested to investigate the feasibility of simulating both ABO and Rh typing in a more realistic medium.


RESULTS
Cobalt nitrate and sodium hydroxide were found to successfully simulate D and anti-D, respectively. The addition of these solutions did not produce cross-reactions in ABO tests. Use of simulated blood as a diluent improved the appearance of the samples.


CONCLUSIONS
This method can safely and inexpensively simulate ABO and Rh blood typing procedures and provide students with hands-on blood-typing experience.
Anderson
B V
BV
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, USA.
Warden
B A
BA
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*; D004501:Education, Medical; D006405:Hematology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System