- Like other cells in the body, red blood cells have
complex molecules of carbohydrate polymers and proteins that give the
cells their antigenicity.
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- The corollary to the above is the fact that antibodies
exist that act against these antigens
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- In the presence of the particular antibodies, red cells
agglutinate.
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- In contrast to clotting, agglutinated blood remains
fluid, though the red cells clump together.
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- Though the large number of different antigens result
in tens of different blood group systems, in practice
there are only two, clinically important blood group systems. These
are
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- The Rhesus Factor System.
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