Blood types are classified into four major groups: A, B, AB, and O.
Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of specific antigens on the red blood cells.
Knowing your blood type is critical for safe blood transfusions.
Blood Types and Their Characteristics
Group A: Has only the A antigen on red cells and B antibody in the plasma.
Group B: Has only the B antigen on red cells and A antibody in the plasma.
Group AB: Has both A and B antigens on red cells and no A or B antibodies in the plasma.
Group O: Has neither A nor B antigens on red cells but both A and B antibodies in the plasma.
Rh Factor
Blood types are further classified by the presence (+) or absence (-) of the Rh factor, creating 8 common blood types: A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, and O-.
Blood Transfusion Compatibility
Blood types must be matched correctly for safe transfusions.
Universal Donor: O negative can donate to any blood type.
Universal Plasma Donor: AB blood type.
Group AB can receive donations from all groups but only donate to AB.
Group B can donate to B and AB.
Group A can donate to A and AB.
Group O can donate to all groups.
Rare Blood Types
Over 600 known antigens can create rare blood types when absent.
Some rare blood types are specific to certain ethnic or racial groups.
Importance of O Negative and O Positive
O negative is high in demand because it is used universally in emergencies and for immune-deficient infants.
O positive is the most common and also in high demand.
Genetic Inheritance of Blood Types
Blood type is inherited from parents, similar to eye color.
Possible combinations depend on the blood types of the parents.
Blood Types and Population Statistics
Different blood types have varied prevalence across ethnic groups.
O positive is most common in Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians, and Latino-Americans.
Conclusion
Understanding blood types and their compatibility is crucial for effective blood donation and transfusion practices.
The Red Cross plays a vital role in blood donation services and education.