Hemagglutinin


In molecular biology, hemagglutinin or haemagglutinin are glycoproteins which cause red blood cells to agglutinate or clump together. The process of the RBC's agglutinating is called hemagglutination or haemagglutination.
Antibodies and lectins are commonly known hemagglutinins.

Types

Examples include:
Hemagglutination can be used to identify RBC surface antigens or to screen for antibodies.
Using anti-A and anti-B antibodies that bind specifically to either the A or to the B blood group surface antigens on RBCs it is possible to test a small sample of blood and determine the ABO blood group of an individual.
The bedside card method of blood grouping relies on visual agglutination to determine an individual's blood group. The card has dried blood group antibody reagents fixed onto its surface and a drop of the individual's blood is placed on each area on the card. The presence or absence of visual agglutination enables a quick and convenient method of determining the ABO and Rhesus status of the individual.
Agglutination of red blood cells is used in the Coombs test.