A, B, AB, O … Do you know your blood group ? Yes ? More difficult: do you know your rh? These two pieces of information are essential when it comes to performing a blood transfusion, for example in the event ofroad accident.
The problem is that, when you do not know, a test is necessary: it lasts on average 15 minutes, not counting the time required to transport the bag. Precious time, especially in an emergency situation …
To get around the problem, researchers at Third Military Medical University (in China) have developed a nifty device: a strip of paper capable of determining a blood group and rh in just 30 seconds. A useful and inexpensive innovation.
99.9% reliable
How it works ? On the surface of our red blood cells, there are “blood group antigens”. Without going into details, if we have A antigens, our blood group is A; if you have B antigens, you belong to group B; if you have both, you belong to the AB blood group; and if we have neither, we belong to group O. Finally, if like 85% of the French population we have (in addition) D antigens, our rhesus is positive – negative otherwise.
Tested on 3350 blood samples, the paper strip was found to be 99.9% reliable. Impregnated withantibody and dye, the device reacts when a drop of blood is put on it: depending on the blood group and the rh, some areas become colored in just 30 seconds.
“We especially hope that our invention will be used in conflict zones where there are no laboratories to test blood groups,” explains Hong Zhang, author of this work. Sometimes when the medical staff is in the dark, O blood is used since it is a universal donor. However, stocks are limited, especially in developing countries. The device should be available to health facilities within 1 to 2 years.
