Blood typing

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Erythroblastosis fetalis, photomicrograph

Cross matching; Rh typing; ABO blood typing

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)

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 have a reaction when receiving certain types of blood.

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

Review Date: 09/11/2006
Reviewed By: Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCP(C), Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.