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Collaborators from URMC, RIT Design a Point of Care, ABO Blood Typing Device Credit: Getty Images
Do you know your blood type? In the event of a traumatic injury when you need a blood transfusion, that information can mean the difference between life and death. For patients who need to receive blood urgently, it’s common practice to be transfused with Type O-negative blood, also known as the universal donor type. This saves lives, but researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center say receiving blood that’s an exact match is even better. Majed Refaai, M.D. and fellow URMC clinicians have long researched the pros and cons of relying heavily on Type O, citing risk of long-term damage due to prolonged, unnecessary exposure to certain anti-A and/or anti-B antibodies.
A glass slide comprises part of the device, which can be used to quickly determine a patient's blood type. Credit Steven Day, PhD
Majed Refaai, M.D.
Steven Day, PhD
To help solve this problem, Refaai and engineer Steven Day, Ph.D. of Rochester Institute of Technology have teamed up to design a new device that can quickly report a patient’s blood type using a small drop of blood. Their patent is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Patent Office and must then receive FDA approval. If approved, the designers hope to see it used in ambulances and by EMS personnel in a variety of settings.
12 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2021
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