Human Blood Types



Human Blood Types

The four basic blood types are identified by the presence of proteins called antigens A & B in the Red Blood Cells & also antibodies in the plasma called Anti-A and Anti-B. It is not possible to have the same type of antigen and antibody (E.g. Anti-A & A) in the same person because the antibody will attack the RBCs and cause them to stick together (clump). This clumping would block the circulation of blood.

Antigen – A Protein

Non-Clumped Blood

Blood cells are free floating, independent of one another in the plasma. Blood flows easily through capillaries.

Clumped or Agglutinated

Red blood cells have stuck together to form agglutinations as they are attacked by antibodies. Clumps block blood vessels.

|Basic Blood Type |Antigens in RBC |Antigens in Plasma |% of Population |

|O |Neither |Anti-A & Anti-B |46% |

|A |A |Anti-B |43% |

|B |B |Anti-A |8% |

|AB |A and B |Neither |3% |

Blood type is genetically, determined by the sequence of nucleotides in a person’s DNA and control be changed after birth.

Rhesus (Rh) factor – each of the four major basic blood types is sub-divided into Rh positive or Rh negative depending on the presence of the Rhesus protein inside the RBCs.

About 85% of the people in each basic group have the Rhesus protein and are therefore said to be Rh+, 15% do not have the Rhesus factor and are said to be Rh-.

The most common blood type is O+ (38%), while the rarest blood type is AB 1%.

“O” Universal Donor “AB” Universal Recipient

The Rh factor sometimes creates birth complications if a mother is Rh- while her baby is Rh+ and leakage occurs at the placenta.

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