Blood Type Test

ABO Blood Typing, Rh Blood Typing

Why It Is Done

A blood type test is done:

• Before a person gets a blood transfusion.
• Before a person donates blood.
• Before a person donates an organ for transplantation.
• Before surgery.
• When a woman is planning to become pregnant or first becomes pregnant.
• To show whether two people could be blood relatives.
• To check the identify of a person suspected of committing a crime.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: June 12, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
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