Blood Types and Facts

BLOOD TYPES AND FACTS
Following are some charts to help explain Blood types.

AB
People with Blood type AB negative and AB positive are potential universal plasma donors. This means
plasma can be transfused to people having all Blood types.
AB +
People with this type of Blood are universal recipients. This means that they can accept any type of Blood.
O+
O positive donors are needed more frequently than any other donor. Because O positive is the most
common Blood type, it is needed more often by people requiring Blood in hospitals.
O-
People with O negative donors are potential universal red blood cell donors. This means that their red
Blood cells can be transfused to patients with all types of Blood.
Simply put, your Blood is tested for ABO/Rh. These tests identify your 'Blood type.' You may have A, B,
O, or AB type Blood and may be either Rh+ or Rh-. The basis of the Blood group tests is the ability to
detect specific substances, or antigens, on the red Blood cells. The A antigen is on type A cells; the B
antigen is on type B cells. If neither A nor B antigens are detected, the donor has type O Blood; if both are
present, the donor has type AB Blood. If the major Rh antigen is present, the donor is Rh+ (for example,
O+, A+, B+, or AB+); if not, the donor is Rh- (O-, A-, B-, or AB-).
There are more than 600 other antigens that have now been identified on red Blood cells. These sub-types
are important, but often not considered.
In short, What are Blood Types?
Everybody has a Blood type. The most common Blood type classification system is the ABO
systemdiscovered and defined by Karl Landsteiner in the early 1900s. There are four types of Blood in the
ABO system: A, B, AB, and O. Your Blood type is established before you are born, by specific genes
inherited from your parents.
You receive one gene from your mother and one gene from your father; these two combine to establish
your Blood type. These two inherited genes determine your Blood type by making proteins called
agglutinogens exist on the surface of each red Blood cell in your body. Blood test results are important in
Blood disorders in Blood test and Blood tests with Rare Blood types.
There are three alleles (variations) of the Blood type gene: A, B, and O. Since we all have two copies of
these genes in our Blood, there are six possible combinations; AA, BB, OO, AB, AO, and BO. These
combinations are referred to as genotypes, and they describe the genes you got from your parents.
In addition to the proteins existing on your red Blood cells, other genes make proteins called agglutinins
that circulate in your Blood plasma. Agglutinins are protectors of our bodies and are responsible for
ensuring that only the Blood cells of our own particular Blood type exist in our bodies.
Under the ABO Blood typing (grouping) scheme, there are two especially important antigens called A and
B. Every living human has either one or both or neither of the red Blood cells. An individual with Blood
group A is so because he has antigen A. Antigen B makes a person's Blood group B. If a person has both
antigens, then they are in group AB. If they have neither, the Blood group is O.
Antibodies against these two antigens are found in Blood plasma. Some of the components of each Blood
type act against other components.
For example, Blood groups A, B, AB and O have antigens A, B, A&B and 'none' respectively. The
antibodies are anti B, anti A, 'none' and anti A + anti B.
During the transfusion process, Blood matching must first be accurately done. For example if a person of
Blood group A is given Blood from a donor from Blood group B, the anti B antibodies will stick to the B
antigens on the donated red Blood cells entering their body. This makes a reaction that can be fatal.
Therefore, exact matching is critical; possibly the difference between life and death!
Other than in extreme emergency conditions, donor Blood is checked for compatibility with the recipient's
Blood (cross-matched) before it is transfused, regardless of Blood type. There are potentially important
Blood cell factors other than the A, B, AB and O Blood groups and the Rh (Rhesus) factor that can lead to
serious and in some cases, irreversible problems.
Site Designed and Developed by Some Blood Donation Facts
• Only 10% of the required blood is available readily in India
• Anemic patients need blood to increase iron levels
• Accident victims need maximum blood
• Red blood cells must be used within 42 days.
• Plasma can be stored and used for up to a year.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Any healthy adult with mimimum 45 kg weight and normal B.P. can donate blood. It is advised to ask a
doctor before actual donation.
DONATION FREQUENCY (may vary)
Whole blood donars can donate once every three months
Plasma donors may donate twice a week (max. every 48 hours.)
Platelet donors may donate a maximum of 24 times per year.
Other specialized donations are subject to other rules.
Dos and DONTs for Blood Donation
DOs
Be truthful and do not endanger yourself or the patient. Remember-a mistake or a hidden fact of yours
could kill the patient!
DONTs
Do not donate blood if you have any of these conditions

• cold / fever in the past 1 week.
• Suffered major illness like typhoid, pneumonia, malaria, etc in last 6 months
• under treatment with antibiotics or any other medication.
• Diabetics cannot donate blood
• cardiac problems, hypertension, epilepsy, chronic kidney or liver disease, bleeding tendencies,
venereal disease etc.

• major surgery in the last 6 months.
• vaccination in the last 24 hours.
• had fainting attacks during last donation.
• have regularly received treatment with blood products.
• HIV Positive
• Women should not donate blood during menstruation or within one year of child birth or
miscarriage
Important: Tell the doctor of any condition you suffered from in the last six months and let him be
the judge.

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BLOOD TYPES AND FACTS

Following are some charts to help explain Blood types.

In short, What are Blood Types?

Site Designed and Developed by Some Blood Donation Facts

• Only 10% of the required blood is available readily in India

• Anemic patients need blood to increase iron levels

• Accident victims need maximum blood

• Red blood cells must be used within 42 days.

• Plasma can be stored and used for up to a year.

DONATION FREQUENCY (may vary)

Whole blood donars can donate once every three months

Plasma donors may donate twice a week (max. every 48 hours.)

Platelet donors may donate a maximum of 24 times per year.

Other specialized donations are subject to other rules.

Dos and DONTs for Blood Donation

Do not donate blood if you have any of these conditions

• under treatment with antibiotics or any other medication.

• Diabetics cannot donate blood

venereal disease etc.

• vaccination in the last 24 hours.

• had fainting attacks during last donation.

• have regularly received treatment with blood products.

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