Blood Types Explained - A, B, AB, and O
Blood is the most important fluid present inside your body. It is mainly created from red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. The small differences in the blood of each person by the absence or presence of certain antigens in the composition of blood leads to the blood types. Let’s look at what the different blood types are and how they are different from each other.
What is the significance of different blood types?
Different blood types have different antigens, either present or absent in them. In cases of blood transfusion, if the new blood that is introduced to the body is not compatible with the type of blood the patient has, it will cause a reaction in the immune system of your body and cause the immune system to attack the transfused blood and treat it as a foreign object.
What Are The Different Blood Types?
A Type
Description: A type or group of blood has A antigen in the red blood cells and B antibodies in the plasma.
Blood Transfusion: A person with A-type blood can only receive blood from the O group, which is known as the Universal donor group of blood, and other A-type blood group individuals.
Blood Donation: In terms of donating blood, A type of blood group can donate blood to a person with the same A type of blood group or to individuals that have the AB type of blood group, which is known as the Universal recipient.
B Type
Description: B-type blood has B antigen in the red blood cells and A antibodies in the plasma of the blood.
Blood Transfusion: A patient with B type of blood can receive blood from other individuals with B type of blood or from individuals with O type of blood as the O type of blood is known as the Universal Donor type of blood.
Blood Donation: A person with B type of blood can donate blood to patients with B type of blood or to patients with AB type of blood. AB-type of blood is known as the Universal Recipient blood group.
AB Type
Description: AB-type blood has both the A and B antigens in the red blood cells, but this blood group does not have any antibodies in its plasma.
Blood Transfusion: A patient with the AB type of blood can receive blood from people of all blood groups. The AB type of blood is known as the Universal Recipient, which means they can receive blood from any other blood group without any complications.
Blood Donations: In terms of blood donations, individuals that have AB type of blood cannot donate blood to other groups. They can only donate blood for other AB-type patients.
O Type
Description: O type of blood does not have any antigens in the red blood cells. However, the O group of blood has both the A and B antibodies in the plasma of the blood.
Blood Transfusion: A patient that has O type of blood can only receive blood from other individuals that have O type of blood. This makes O type of blood quite rare in cases of blood transfusions.
Blood Donations: A patient with O type of blood can donate blood of patients of every blood group. This is because the O blood group is known as the Universal Donor group, meaning that their blood can be transfused to a person with any blood group, and it would not lead to any medical problems.
Conclusion
It is important for you to know your blood group as it can save your life in case of any medical emergency or accident. You can easily get diagnostic tests that will help you learn about your blood group.