What are the Different Blood Types and Why are They Important?
Most of us have one of a small number of common blood types. The eight different types of blood have subtle differences that have major implications on our overall health and well-being. Think of it as having different models of vehicles from one manufacturer. They all come from the same place, but they are also different. We get our blood type from the combined genetic makeup of our parents, and it is important to know what type we are.
Antigens and rH factor
Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of antigens as well as what is known as the rH factor. Antigens are simply items attached to our blood cells that allow our immune system to create antibodies and fight disease. The two different antigens are A and B. The rH factor is the presence or absence of the rH antigen in the blood. If you have the rH antigen, you are positive. If you don’t, you are negative. Together, these two items are used to measure what type of blood we have, and a simple test is used to get the answer.
Basic Blood Types
Group A: A antigen is on the red blood cells and the B is in the plasma.
Group B: B antigen is on the red blood cells and the A is in the plasma.
Group O: There is no antigen on the red blood cells, but both the A and B are in the plasma.
Group AB: Both A and B antigens are on the red blood cells, but neither exist in the plasma.
Remember that the rH factor determines whether or not any of the above blood types are positive or negative. For example, the presence of an rH antigen in the A blood would be a A+ blood type. The absence of an rH antigen in the A blood would be a A- blood type. This is the same for all blood groups listed above.
Compatible Donor/Recipients
It is very important to properly match blood types with the donor and recipient. Mixing the wrong blood can cause the blood to attack healthy cells, wreak havoc on the immune system and lead to death. While there are ways to treat “mix-ups”, they are costly, time-consuming and may not fix all problems caused by the mistake. It is also important to note that the rH factor is not as important as matching the blood type. Consequently, you can receive blood that is properly-matched even if it is positive or negative.
The O blood type is considered to be universal, and it can be given to anyone who has any other blood type. This is due to the fact that there are no antigens on the blood cells which eliminates any conflicts.
The rest of the types are matched as follows:
A blood can be given to people with A or AB blood.
B blood can be given to people with B or AB blood.
AB blood can be given to people with AB blood only.
Testing for Your Blood Type
Testing for your blood type is one of the most important things that you can do. Imagine being in a survival situation and you need blood, or you want to donate blood to someone else. Knowing your type will make the process faster and mitigate any potential problems. Furthermore, if doctors do not know the blood type of a patient, they default to giving O blood due to its neutrality. However, supplies of O blood are often in high-demand. By knowing your blood type, doctors can give exactly what is needed and this reduces the risk of not having blood available during a crisis. The blood test is very simple and affordable. It’s also possible to find a number of clinics and organizations that will perform the test for free.
Take time to learn your blood type and put it in a conspicuous place so that identification is fast and easy. This test can save your life or the life of someone else.
