BLOOD GROUPS : What yours???

verifier1

Department of General Medicine

A blood type (also called a blood group) is a sorting of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of RBCs (Red blood cells).These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates ,glycoproteins or glycolipids, depends on the blood group system.

Blood is frequently grouped according to the ABO blood typing system. This method breaks the blood types down into four types:

Type A  : Has A antigens on the red blood cells with anti-B antibodies in  plasma

Type B   : Has B antigens  on the red blood cells with anti-A antibodies in the plasma

Type AB : Has both A and B antigens on the red blood cells, but no antibodies

Type O  : Has no antigens on the red blood cells, but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

The Rh Factor

In addition to the A and B antigens,there is an another antigen called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent ( – ). Each blood type is also grouped by its Rhesus factor, or Rh factor. Rhesus refers to another type of antigen or protein, on the surface of RBC. The name Rhesus comes from Rhesus monkeys, in which the protein was discovered. In general, Rh negative blood is given to Rh-negative patients, and Rh positive blood or Rh negative blood may be given to Rh positive patients.

Blood Transfusions

Blood groups are very important when a blood transfusion is necessary. In a blood transfusion, a patient must accept a blood type that is  suite with his or her own blood type—that is, the donated blood must be accepted by the patient's own blood. If the blood types are not suite, red blood cells will clump together, making clots that can block  the blood vessels and may cause death.

Type O– blood is considered the “Universal donor” because it can be donated to people of any type of blood.Type AB+ blood is considered the “Universal  receiver” because people with this type can accept any blood type.

Blood Types

Patients should ideally accept their own blood or type-specific blood products to minimize the chance of a transfusion reaction. Risks can be further minimized by cross-matching blood, but this may be skipped when blood is required for an emergency. In Cross-matching,mixing a sample of the recipient's serum with a sample of the donor's RBC and checking if the mixture agglutinates, or any form of clumps. If agglutination is not evident by direct vision, blood bank technicians usually examine for agglutination with a microscope. If agglutination occurs, that particular donor's blood cannot be transfused to that  recipient.

It’s inherited.Blood type is passed genetically from your parents. Whether your blood group is type A, B, AB or O is based on the blood types of your mother and father.

Reference:

Blood Types; American Red Cross.

Blood Types ; from Kids Health

Blood typing ; Medline Plus

Blood groups,NHS Choice

Blood type; From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia