We all have blood in our bodies, but did you know that not all blood is the same? You may have heard someone say, 'My blood type is O positive' or 'He/She is B negative'. What exactly is a blood type? Why is it so important in times of emergency, such as pregnancy? Today, we will talk about this in a simple way that you can understand.
Simply put, what is this blood type?
A blood type is a classification that helps doctors determine whether your blood is compatible with someone else's blood. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O.
But the story doesn't end there. They also check whether your red blood cells have another special protein. This is called the Rh factor . If this Rh factor is present in your blood, your blood type is positive (+) . If it is not present, it is negative (-) .
When these two are combined, the 8 most common blood types among us are formed:
- A Positive (A+)
- A Negative (A-)
- B Positive (B+)
- B Negative (B-)
- AB positive (AB+)
- AB Negative (AB-)
- O positive (O+)
- O negative (O-)
Knowing your blood types is important in case someone needs an emergency blood transfusion. Matching these blood types is also essential in organ transplants.
How are these blood types determined? What is an antigen?
Your blood type is determined by certain markers on the surface of your red blood cells. In medicine, we call these markers antigens .
Simply put, these antigens are like a nametag attached to your blood cells. This nametag is what your body's immune system uses to identify whether these blood cells are 'self' or 'foreign'.
There are two main types of antigens that we look at. They are 'A' and 'B'. We call this system the ABO system .
| Blood type | The antigen on the surface of red blood cells |
|---|---|
| Type A | There is only one A antigen. |
| Type B | There is only the B antigen. |
| Type AB | There are both A and B antigens. |
| Type O | Neither antigen A nor B is present. |
The Rh factor we talked about next is determined by whether or not the RhD antigen is present.
- Positive (+): Your red blood cells have the RhD antigen.
- Negative (-): Your red blood cells do not have the RhD antigen.
RhD positive blood types are the most common in the world. RhD negative is a somewhat rare condition.
Why do blood types need to be compatible with each other?
This is the most important thing. Imagine someone has had an accident and is losing a lot of blood. They need to be given blood quickly. But they need to be given a type of blood that their body will accept as 'their own'.
What happens if you give an incompatible blood type?
Simply put, if blood with an unfamiliar antigen (name tag) enters your body, your immune system thinks it's an enemy and starts attacking it. This is a very dangerous, even life-threatening reaction. That's why blood type matching is mandatory when donating blood.
This is how blood types are compatible:
| Your blood type (recipient) | People from whom you can receive blood (donors) |
|---|---|
| A+ | A+, A-, O+, O- |
| A- | A-, O- |
| B+ | B+, B-, O+, O- |
| B- | B-, O- |
| AB+ (University Winner) | Any blood type can be received. |
| AB- | AB-, A-, B-, O- |
| O+ | O+, O- |
| O- (Universal contributor) | Only type O blood can be received. |
The 'Universal Donor', where everyone can donate blood
Type O negative (O-) blood is called the 'universal donor'. This is because O- red blood cells do not have any major antigens, such as A, B, or RhD, and can be given to a person with any blood type without causing a reaction. In emergencies, when there is no time to find out the patient's blood type, doctors use O- blood the most.
A 'Universal Recipient' can receive blood from anyone
People with AB positive (AB+) blood type are called 'universal recipients'. This means that they can receive blood from any blood type. This is because their blood contains all three antigens, A, B, and RhD, so their body does not see any blood type from outside as 'foreign'.
How does blood type affect pregnancy?
This is something that is important for many mothers. In particular, if the mother's blood type is Rh negative (-) and the baby's blood type is Rh positive (+), some complications may occur.
Imagine that the baby gets the Rh positive gene from the father. Then the baby's blood is Rh positive. But the mother is Rh negative. During pregnancy and childbirth, some of the baby's blood can mix with the mother's blood. Then the mother's body recognizes the baby's Rh positive blood cells as 'foreign' and starts making antibodies against them.
This may not have a major impact on the first pregnancy. However, if the next baby conceived is also Rh positive, the antibodies that the mother's body previously developed can attack the baby's red blood cells.
But there is no reason to be afraid! There are now very good treatments for this. When you find out you are pregnant, one of the first tests your doctor will do is check your blood type and Rh factor. If you are Rh negative, you will be given a vaccine called Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) at the right time. This vaccine prevents the mother's body from making antibodies against the baby's blood.
Are there rare blood types?
Yes. In addition to the ABO and Rh systems that we've discussed, there can be more than 600 other antigens on the surface of red blood cells. There are more than 30 other blood classification systems based on these.
Rh-null is one of the rarest blood types in the world. This blood type has no antigens related to the Rh system. It is so rare that fewer than 50 people in the world have been reported to have this blood type. That is why it is sometimes called 'golden blood'.
How do you know your blood type?
It is very important to know your blood type. There are several ways to find out.
- Ask your doctor: Your blood type may have been recorded in the reports of a previous test you had.
- Donate blood: This is the best and most valuable way. When you donate blood, the blood bank will test your blood type and give you a card. With it, you can know your blood type and save someone's life.
- Get a medical test: You can ask your doctor to give you a blood sample and have your blood type checked.
Take-Home Message
- Knowing your blood type can help save your life in the event of an emergency.
- The O negative (O-) blood type is the 'universal donor' and can donate blood to anyone. The AB positive (AB+) blood type is the 'universal recipient' and can receive blood from anyone.
- If you are pregnant, especially if your blood type is Rh negative (-), be sure to talk to your doctor about it. There is nothing to worry about, all the necessary treatments are now available.
- Donating blood is a great way to save someone's life, and it's also a great way to find out your blood type.
- If you have any further questions about blood types, never hesitate to ask your family doctor.
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