Blood Types

Blood Group Basics

There are lots of complicated diffrences beetween everyones blood types.Everyone has antigens(weird little maker things on the surface of our red blood cells. These are so tiny they can't even be seen under a microscope. Everyone has diffrent ones-only identical twins have the chance of having the same. Blood types are very importatn during blood transfusions because if you get the wrong blood it could be fatal.

The ABO System

If you have blood group A then you've got A antigens covering your red cells. Blood group B means you have B antigens, while group O has neither, and group AB has some of both. The ABO system also contains lots of little antibodies in the plasma, antibodies being the body's natural defence against foreign antigens. So blood group A has anti-B in their plasma, blood group B has anti-A . Group AB has none and group O has both of the antibodies. Which means giving someone blood from the wrong ABO group could be fatal. The anti-A antibodies in group B attack group A cells and vice versa. Which is why group A blood must never be given to a group B person. Group O negative is a different story.

The Rh System

There uis also anothre antigen. It is called the RH antigen. Some of us have it, some of us don't. If it is present, the blood is RhD positive, if not it's RhD negative. So, for example, some people in group A will have it, and will therefore be classed as A+ (or A positive). While the ones that don't, are A- (or A negative). And so it goes for groups B, AB and O. This effectively doubles the number of different blood types to be matched, because you shouldn't mix blood type A+ with blood type A-. 84% of the population is Rh positive.

Percentage of People with Diffrent Blood Types

O+ = 37%

O- = 07%

A+ = 35%

A- = 07%

B+ = 08%

B- = 02%

AB+ = 03%

AB- = 01%

O+ Group

If your blood is O Rh positive, you are especially important. Around 37% of the population share your group, but what makes you even more important is that, if necessary, your blood can be given to anyone who is Rh positive (regardless of their blood group) - and that's a staggering 83% of people.

O- Group

Because your blood group is O Rh negative, it is very special indeed. It can be given to anyone. That means your blood is the only safe option when a patient's blood group is unknown or not immediately available - such as in emergencies, or in the case of specialised procedures for unborn babies.

A+ and A- Group (its all the same info)

35% of the population have blood group A Rh positive. 7% of the population, have blood group A Rh negative. That makes a combined total of 42% of the population having blood group A. Of all the people needing blood at any given time, Group A will be needed by almost half of them.

B+ Group

Group B positive blood is extremely valuable - less than 8% of the population possess this particular group.

B- Group Fewer than two out of every hundred in the UK share this blood type.

AB+ Group

Less than 3% of the population possess this particular group.

AB- Group

Group AB negative blood is needed for the manufacture of plasma - a rich 'soup' of essential proteins - plasma is separated from red blood cells and frozen when fresh. Less than 1% of the population possess AB negative blood.