Type A+: Can donate blood to types A+ and AB+.The eight standard blood groups can pair as follows: After all, some blood types can’t pair safely with others, while others are compatible with several other types. Since mixing incompatible types can be harmful or even fatal, understanding your blood type is critical, especially if you’re donating blood or receiving a transfusion from a donor. Agglutination can create clogs, stop circulation, and may cause red blood cells to split and leak, which triggers toxic reactions. These antibody attacks can lead to agglutination, or the creation of clumps of red blood cells. Since antibodies are designed to fight corresponding antigens, a transfusion that mixes two incompatible blood types could cause the antibodies in one to attack the antigens in another. Why Blood Typing Is ImportantĮach blood type contains a delicate balance of antigens and antibodies, and not all blood types are compatible with one another. Since blood type is hereditary, rare blood types typically exist in ethnic groups. Over 600 other antigens can reside on red blood cells, leading to countless rare blood types. Type O-: Contains no antigens but has A and B antibodies.Īlthough most people have one of the eight common blood types, some people don’t fit neatly into this standard system.Type O+: Contains Rh antigens as well as A and B antibodies.Type AB+: Contains A, B, and Rh antigens but no antibodies.Type B-: Contains B antigens as well as A antibodies.Type B+: Contains B and Rh antigens as well as A antibodies.Type A-: Contains A antigens as well as B antibodies.Type A+: Contains A and Rh antigens as well as B antibodies.That means you could have one of eight blood types: Standard blood typing combines the ABO system with the Rhesus system to create a more complete picture of your blood profile. If you don’t have this protein, your blood is considered Rh-, or negative. That means you’re considered positive, or Rh+. If your red blood cells have this protein, your plasma naturally contains Rh antigens. Their work with rhesus monkeys led to the creation of the Rhesus system, which highlights the presence or absence of the Rh factor.

Weiner discovered a secondary protein that also has a major impact on blood type. The Rhesus System and Your Blood TypeĪ decade after receiving his Nobel Prize, Landsteiner and colleague A.S. His work later led to the creation of blood groups, earned him a Nobel Prize in 1930, and contributed to significant advances in medicine. In fact, Austrian physician Karl Landsteiner discovered the existence of antibodies and antigens in blood just over a century ago, in 1901. This blood group system may seem straightforward, but it’s still relatively new. Group O: This group doesn’t have either A or B antigens, but it has both A and B antibodies.Group AB: This blood group has A and B antigens and no antibodies.Group B: This blood group has B antigens and A antibodies.Group A: This blood group has A antigens and B antibodies.This blood grouping system has four types: The presence or absence of antigens on your red blood cells and corresponding antibodies in your plasma defines your ABO blood group. These substances are designed to identify foreign cells and trigger immune responses that produce antibodies in the plasma to attack potential invaders. Antigens reside on the surface of your red blood cells, where they serve as built-in protection devices for your blood supply. Your antigen makeup is the key factor in determining your blood type. Plasma, a fluid that consists of proteins and salts, carries all blood cells through your veins. Blood includes red blood cells that transport oxygen, white blood cells that combat infections, and platelets that aid in clotting when you’re injured. No matter your type, all blood contains the same basic building blocks.

Find out how blood typing works, learn why this process is critical, and discover the vast array of information you can learn from a blood type test. You and your loved ones could each have one of eight different blood types, each of which contain antigens that may make it incompatible with others.įortunately, a simple test can indicate your blood type, revealing clues about your health, providing critical information before a medical procedure, and even telling you how valuable you are as a blood donor. After all, your blood type isn’t necessarily identical to that of your partner, your parents, or your children. No matter your health status or your stage of life, understanding your blood type is essential. Everything You Need To Know About Blood Types

A negative blood type facts