Development of a Rapid Test for Determining the ABO and Rh-Blood Typing Systems

Laboratory tests conventionally used to determine blood typing could represent a barrier to patients with reduced accessibility in emergency situations. Aiming to expand access to a simple and quick laboratory test to identify the ABO and Rh systems, we propose the development of a colorimetric test in a Vertical Flow format. The test was developed based on the treatment of chromatographic paper membranes, in order to filter the red blood cells after the reaction with the antibodies impregnated inside the device. When the blood reacts with the membranes, the plasma passes through the device forming a visible bluish complex on the last membrane. The prototype showed satisfactory results when tested on real samples, visibly showing the presence or absence of reaction in the samples added to the device, enabling the determination of the ABO and Rh systems with accuracy.