Blood Types

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Blood Types...

Blood Types:

Our blood types are genetic; that is we inherit genes from our parents that determine our own types. There are many red blood cell factors or types. The two that we will be most concerned with is the ABO group and the Rh factor.

Blood types are based on specific antigens and antibodies related to RBC's. Specific blood type antigens called agglutinogens are found in the cell membrane of erythrocytes. Antibodies called agglutinins are in the plasma and are formed after birth. When agglutinins in the plasma combine with agglutinogens on the surface of the RBC the result is agglutination or clumping of the RBC's. The agglutinogens on the red blood cells are organized into groups. Although many groups are recognized, the ABO and the Rh are the most important.

Blood type antigens on the surface of the RBC's are agglutinogens. The antibodies in the plasma are called agglutinins.

The ABO group contains four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. The letters A and B represent antigens on the red blood cell membranes. A person with type A has A antigen on the RBC's, and someone with type B blood has the B antigen. Type AB means that both A and B antigens are present, and type O means that neither the A nor the B antigen is present. See the corresponding chart.

A donor is a person who gives blood, and a recipient is the person who receives blood. The major concern with blood transfusions is that the agglutinins in the plasma of the recipient's blood not react with or agglutinate with the cells of the donor's blood.

A recipient with type A blood should not receive type B donor blood because the anti B agglutinins in the type A blood will agglutinate the type B agglutinogens in the donor's blood. Similar conditions exist when the recipient has type B blood and the donor has type A blood.

Because type AB blood has neither anti-A nor anti-B agglutinins to react with donor agglutinogens, it appears that a person with this types can receive blood of any type. For this reason, type AB blood is called the universal recipient.

Type O blood has neither type A nor type B agglutinogens on the RBC so it is called the universal donor.

The terms universal recipient and donor are misleading because the agglutinins of the donor may react with the agglutinogens of the recipient. Usually the reactions are not serious because the donor's agglutinins are diluted in the recipient's blood.

You can see why typing and cross matching of donor and recipient blood is so important before any transfusion is given. This procedure helps to ensure that donated blood will not bring about a hemolytic transfusion reaction in the recipient.

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