There are four main blood groups: A, B, AB, and O.
Your blood type is determined by the genes you inherit from your parents.
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Each blood group can be either RhD positive or RhD negative, resulting in a total of eight blood types.
Antibodies and Antigens
Blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a liquid called plasma. Your blood type is identified by the specific antibodies and antigens it contains.
- Antibodies are proteins in plasma that are part of the immune system. They detect foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses, and signal the immune system to destroy them.
- Antigens are protein molecules found on the surface of red blood cells.
The ABO Blood System
- Group A: A antigens on red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
- Group B: B antigens on red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in plasma.
- Group O: No antigens on red blood cells, but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
- Group AB: Both A and B antigens on red blood cells, but no antibodies in plasma.
Group O is the most common blood type, with nearly half of the UK population (about 48%) having this group.
Receiving the wrong ABO blood type can be dangerous.
For instance, if a person with type B blood receives type A blood, their anti-A antibodies will attack the foreign A cells.
This is why group A blood should not be given to someone with group B blood, and vice versa.
Group O red blood cells can be safely given to any other group because they have no A or B antigens.
The Rh System
In addition to ABO antigens, red blood cells may also carry a protein called the RhD antigen. If you have this protein, your blood is RhD positive. If not, it’s RhD negative.
This creates eight possible blood groups:
- A RhD positive (A+)
- A RhD negative (A-)
- B RhD positive (B+)
- B RhD negative (B-)
- O RhD positive (O+)
- O RhD negative (O-)
- AB RhD positive (AB+)
- AB RhD negative (AB-)
O RhD negative (O-) blood is often used in emergencies because it lacks A, B, and RhD antigens, making it safe for most recipients, regardless of their blood type.
Blood Group Testing
To determine your blood group, a sample of your blood is mixed with different antibody solutions.
If your red blood cells clump when mixed with a specific antibody, you have the corresponding antigen.
For example, if your blood reacts to anti-B antibodies, you have B antigens, meaning your blood type is B.
If your blood doesn’t react to either anti-A or anti-B antibodies, your blood type is O. A series of tests can confirm your exact blood group.
Before a blood transfusion, your blood will be tested against a sample of donor cells to ensure compatibility with the donor’s ABO and RhD type.
If there’s no reaction, the transfusion can proceed with matching donor blood.
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