Review
What are the blood groups?
Blood type is a classification system that allows healthcare professionals to determine whether your blood is compatible or incompatible with someone else's blood. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O. Blood bank specialists determine your blood type based on whether you have the A or B antigenRed bloodcells. They also look for a protein called Rh factor. They classify your blood type as positive (+) if you have this protein and negative (-) if you don't.
This makes up eight common blood types:
- Positive (A+).
- Negative (A-).
- B extra (B+).
- B negative (B-).
- AB additional (AB+).
- AB negative (AB-).
- O additional (O+).
- O negative (O-).
Knowing blood types enables medical personnel to safely transfuse blood from one person to anotherBlood transfusion. Blood types must also be compatible for organ transplantation.
How are blood groups determined?
Blood bank specialists determine blood groups based on the presence of specific onesantigensin red blood cells. An antigen is a substance that the body can produceimmune systemreact. Think of an antigen as a marker (like a badge) that identifies a substance in your body as belonging or not.
Your blood type is compatible with another if your immune system recognizes the antigens in the donated blood as belonging to it.
What do blood groups mean?
Most people think of A, B, AB, and O when they hear the term "blood types." These letters classify blood types based on whether the red blood cells have the A or B antigen. This is called the ABO system.
- Tip A: Red blood cells have the A antigen.
- Tip B: Red blood cells have the B antigen.
- Typ A.B: Red blood cells have A and B antigens.
- Type ORed blood cells have neither A nor B antigens.
Blood types are "positive" or "negative" depending on the absence or presenceRh factorD antigen, another marker. This is called the Rh system. It is more often RhD positive than RhD negative.
- additional (+): Red blood cells have the RhD antigen.
- Negative (-): Red blood cells do not have the RhD antigen.
What are the different blood groups?
The ABO and Rh blood group system includes eight blood groups: A positive (A+), A negative (A-), B positive (B+), B negative (B-), AB positive (AB+), AB negative (AB-), O positive (O+), O negative (O-).
The most common blood type in the United States is O positive (O+).
The rarest blood type in the US is AB-negative (AB-).
| blood group | Approximate percentage of the US population | Percentage of the US population by ethnicity |
|---|---|---|
| additional (A+) | 33% | White: 33% Crna: 24% Asian: 27% Hispanic: 29% |
| Negative (A-) | 6% | White: 7% Crna: 2% Asian: 0.5% Hispanic: 2% |
| B extra (B+) | 9% | White: 9% Crna: 18% Asian: 25% Hispanic: 9% |
| B extra (B+) | Less than 2% | White: 2% Crna: 1% Azijat: 4% Hispanic: 1% |
| AB Extra (AB+) | Less than 4% | White: 3% Crna: 4% Asian: 7% Hispanic: 2% |
AB negative (AB-) * The rarest blood type in the US | Less than 1% | White: 1% Crna: 0,3% Asian: 0.1% Hispanic: 0.2% |
O extra (O+) *The most common blood type in the US | 38% | White: 37% Crna: 47% Asian: 39% Hispanic: 53% |
| O negative (O-) | 7% | White: 8% Crna: 4% Asian: 1% Hispanic: 4% |
*Data obtained from the American Red Cross (2022).
Rare blood groups
Outside of the ABO system, there are over 600 antigens that can bind to red blood cells. There are over 30 different blood types associated with these unique antigens. Other blood group systems include:
- Duffy's blood type.
- Antigen group K (or Kell).
- Lutheran blood group.
- Children's blood group.
These blood types are rare. The general definition of a rare blood type is one that affects 1 in 1,000 people or less.
One of the rarest blood types in the world is Rh-zero. Fewer than 50 people in the world have this blood type. It is so rare that it is sometimes called "golden blood".
How are blood groups inherited?
You inherit your blood type the same way you inherit your eye color - from your biological parents. Both ABO genes and Rh factors come from your parents. Due to the many possible combinations, you may not have exactly the same blood type as your parents.
What blood groups are compatible?
An important pieceblood donationis to make sure that the person receiving the blood (the recipient) has the same blood type as the person donating the blood (the donor). If you receive blood from a donor whose blood cells contain antigens that the body does not recognize, the immune system may attack the donated red blood cells. The consequences can be life threatening.
Your blood type allows providers to determine which blood types are safe for you. It helps them know which recipients can safely receive the blood you donate.
- Positive: You can receive blood that is positive, negative, 0-positive, or 0-negative.
- Negative: You may receive blood that is negative or O negative.
- B positive: You can get blood that is B positive, B negative, O positive or O negative.
- B negative: You may receive blood that is B negative or O negative.
- AB positive: You can get any blood type.
- AB negative: You may receive blood that is AB negative, A negative, B negative, or O negative.
- O positive: You can receive blood that is O positive or O negative.
- Negative O: You can only receive blood that is O negative.
| blood group | Types of blood you may receive | Types of blood you can donate |
|---|---|---|
| + | A+, A-, O+, O- | A+, AB+ |
| ONE- | OH- | A-, A+, AB-, AB+ |
| B+ | B+, B-, O+, O- | A+, AB+ |
| AND- | B-, O- | B-, B+, AB+, AB- |
| AB+ | All blood groups (universal recipient) | AB+ |
| AB- | AB-, A-, B-, O- | AB-, AB+ |
| O+ | O+, O- | O+, A+, B+, AB+ |
| T- | T- | All blood groups (universal donor) |
Note that this assumes that all less common non-ABO blood group antigen systems are also compatible.
A universal donor
Negative blood group O (O-) is a universal donor. This means that someone with a different blood type can safely receive your blood. It does not contain antigenic markers that other blood groups consider inappropriate. Providers typically use O-negative blood in emergency situations when someone needs blood quickly.
Suppliers look at various metrics to determine blood group compatibility for plasma donation.Blood plasmais the liquid part of blood. The general plasma donor is type AB.
Universal recipient
Blood type AB positive (AB+) is a universal recipient. You can safely receive blood of any other blood type. Your blood recognizes potential antigens as safe, so your immune system doesn't launch an attack.
How can you know your blood group?
You can ask your doctor. They may have registered your blood type. Another way that would be helpful for you and others is to donate blood voluntarily if you are eligible. You can also buy a home blood test kit to determine your blood type.
Blood bankers use blood typing to determine what antigens you have on your red blood cells. They mix a blood sample with antibodies that attack the A or B antigensantibodyit is a protein in the body that attacks substances it does not belong to, such as unknown antigens.
Additional Details
How does blood type affect pregnancy?
A fetus can inherit the Rh factor (positive or negative) from either parent. Problems can occur if you are Rh negative and have a fetus with Rh positive blood.
On your first visitobstetricianyou will receive approxblood testdetermine your blood group and look for antibodies. If your body reacts to Rh-positive red blood cells, your anti-Rh antibodies may start attacking fetal red blood cells.
To prevent this, you will be given Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg). RhIg is a drug that prevents antibodies from attacking the fetal blood.
Can your blood type change?
You will usually have the same blood type throughout your life. However, in rare cases, blood types can change. Change usually refers to exceptional conditions such as existenceBone marrow transplantor purchase certain itemsleukemiaor infections. Not all of these blood type changes are permanent.
Message from the clinic in Cleveland
It's important to know your blood group. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need a blood transfusion, determining your blood type will be the first critical step. Knowing which blood types are compatible with yours allows the donor to protect you if you need blood. The good news is that you don't need to know all the microscopic cell markers to safely donate or receive blood. American Red Cross Blood Collection Centers and local hospital blood bank specialists use controls and safeguards to ensure the safety of the blood donation process.
FAQs
Blood groups: differences, rarity and compatibility? ›
When a mother-to-be and father-to-be are not both positive or negative for Rh factor, it's called Rh incompatibility. For example: If a woman who is Rh negative and a man who is Rh positive conceive a baby, the fetus may have Rh-positive blood, inherited from the father.
What blood types don't match for having a baby? ›When a mother-to-be and father-to-be are not both positive or negative for Rh factor, it's called Rh incompatibility. For example: If a woman who is Rh negative and a man who is Rh positive conceive a baby, the fetus may have Rh-positive blood, inherited from the father.
What blood types don't go well together? ›People with type A blood will react against type B or type AB blood. People with type B blood will react against type A or type AB blood. People with type O blood will react against type A, type B, or type AB blood. People with type AB blood will not react against type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood.
What 2 blood types are not compatible for pregnancy? ›Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother's blood type is Rh negative and her fetus' blood type is Rh positive. Antibodies from an Rh negative mother may enter the blood stream of her unborn Rh positive infant, damaging the red blood cells (RBCs).
What 2 blood types are not compatible for marriage? ›Does Blood Type Affect Marriage Compatibility? Blood type has no effect on your ability to have and maintain a happy, healthy marriage.
What blood types cause miscarriages? ›Rh factor: Miscarriage can be caused because of the incompatibility of the mother's blood and the blood of the unborn foetus commonly known as Rh factor incompatibility. This type of miscarriage occur when the blood type of mother is Rh negative, and the foetus blood type is Rh positive.
What type is royal blood? ›The term “blue blood” has been used since 1811 to describe royal families and the nobility.
What is the healthiest blood type? ›Of the eight main blood types, people with Type O have the lowest risk for heart attacks and blood clots in the legs and lungs. This may be because people with other blood types have higher levels of certain clotting factors, which are proteins that cause blood to coagulate (solidify).
What is the rare golden blood type? ›Rh-null blood can be accepted by anyone with a rare blood type in the Rh system. “Golden blood” is as rare in reality as it was in ancient Greek mythology: only forty-three people in the world are known to have had this blood type.
What blood types don t do well with COVID? ›Using data from NYP/CUIMC, we found moderately increased infection prevalence among non-O blood types and among Rh-positive individuals. Intubation risk was increased among AB and B types, and decreased among A and Rh-negative types.
Which parent determines the blood type of the child? ›
A baby may have the blood type and Rh factor of either parent, or a combination of both parents. Rh factors follow a common pattern of genetic inheritance. The Rh-positive gene is dominant (stronger) and even when paired with an Rh-negative gene, the positive gene takes over.
Can O and O have a baby? ›Theoretically yes, but it would be extremely rare. Two O parents will get an O child nearly all of the time. But as with anything in biology, there are occasional exceptions to this rule. New mutations -- or changes in the DNA -- are theoretically one way these kinds of uncommon scenarios can happen.
Which blood type has the strongest immune system? ›Blood group AB has the strongest contact to pathogen and is the least protected group with respect to innate ABO(H) immunity.
Can your blood type change? ›Usually, you'll have the same blood type all of your life. In rare cases, however, blood types can change. The change usually relates to unique circumstances, such as having a bone marrow transplant or getting certain types of leukemia or infections. Not all of these changes in blood type are permanent.
Can Rh-negative cause miscarriage? ›The Rh-negative blood type can pose risks during pregnancy, including increasing the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth in the second or third trimester. Nowadays, women with a negative blood group are preventively given the Rho GAM injection, to reduce the risk involved.
What is the most compatible blood type relationship? ›A is most compatible with A and AB. B is most compatible with B and AB. O is most compatible with O and AB. AB is most compatible with AB, B, A, and O.
What blood type is compatible with everyone? ›Group O can donate red blood cells to anybody. It's the universal donor. Group AB can donate to other AB's but can receive from all others.
Can two Rh positive parents have a negative baby? ›If you do not inherit the Rhesus D antigen from either parent, then you are Rh-negative (15% of us). So, is it possible for two people who are Rh-positive to produce a child that's Rh-negative? The answer is yes — but only if neither parent passes along Rhesus D.
What rare blood type kills fetus? ›When the blood of an Rh-positive fetus gets into the bloodstream of an Rh-negative woman, her body will recognize that the Rh-positive blood is not hers. Her body will try to destroy it by making anti-Rh antibodies. These antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the fetus's blood cells.
What blood type is hard to get pregnant? ›Fertility: a small study (544 women) performed did suggest that women with blood type O may be at a higher risk for what's called “diminished ovarian reserve.” More studies are needed in order to better understand this, so if you have blood type O, don't panic just yet.
Why is Rh negative so rare? ›
Each person has two Rh factors in their genetics, one from each parent. The only way for someone to have a negative blood type is for both parents to have at least one negative factor. For example, if someone's Rh factors are both positive, it is not possible for his or her child to have a negative blood type.
What is the legendary blood type? ›What's the rarest blood type? AB negative is the rarest of the eight main blood types - just 1% of our donors have it. Despite being rare, demand for AB negative blood is low and we don't struggle to find donors with AB negative blood.
What is the oldest blood type? ›Blood type A is the oldest, and existed even before the human race evolved from our ancestors.
What is royal blue blood? ›The term Blue Blood refers to European Royal nobility and is a metaphor that describes the profound blue appearance of the veins and skin. It was said that peasants and labourers working under the sun had darker complexion and there veins went unnoticed.
What blood type is linked to Covid 19? ›Dana Devine, shows that people with blood groups A or AB are more likely to have a severe COVID infection than people with blood groups B or O. The study looked at 95 patients critically ill with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the intensive care units (ICUs) of two major Vancouver hospitals.
Which blood group is most resistant to diseases? ›Carriers of blood group 0 (I) are generally more resistant to diseases, with the exception of H. pylori-associated gastrointestinal diseases. Carriers of «antigenic» blood groups A (II), B (III), AB (IV) are more susceptible to development of infectious, cardiovascular and cancer diseases.
What is the most expensive blood type? ›O− blood, also called "universal donor," is perhaps the most valuable blood in the world because it can be transfused to nearly any blood type (except when the person has some rare antigen outside of the main ones).
What is the new blood type discovered? ›The Basics: Blood Donation
The new blood group is called Er or erantigens. There are five blood types in this group based on genetic variations of what's known as the Piezo1 protein, which is found on the surfaces of red blood cells.
According to the Australian Academy of Science, people living with this blood type have a total absence of any of the Rh antigens (proteins) on the red blood cells. It was reported that the rare blood group was first discovered in an Aboriginal Australian woman in 1961.
What blood type is prone to clotting? ›People with blood types A and B may have higher risks for developing dangerous blood clots compared to people who have type O blood. That's according to new research that also showed a slightly higher risk for certain types of heart disease among the A and B groups.
Does blood type affect anything? ›
But your blood type can actually put you at a higher risk for conditions such as heart attack and heart disease. This is because of a gene called the ABO gene — a gene that's present in people with A, B, or AB blood types.
What is the personality of O positive blood type? ›– Very generous and kindhearted. – Generally well-liked by most people. – Very flexible, and adapt easily to change. – They are easily influenced by others, as well as perceived authorities, such as television personalities.
Which parent determines height? ›The genetics of height
As a general rule of thumb, your height can be predicted based on how tall your parents are. If they are tall or short, then your own height is said to end up somewhere based on the average heights between your two parents. Genes aren't the sole predictor of a person's height.
Brothers and sisters don't always share the same blood type. The genotype of both parents plays a role in defining the blood type. For instance, children of parents with the genotypes AO and BO may have the blood types A, B, AB, or O. Thus, siblings do not necessarily have the same blood type.
Is a child's blood type always the same as the father? ›While a child could have the same blood type as one of his/her parents, it doesn't always happen that way. For example, parents with AB and O blood types can either have children with blood type A or blood type B. These two types are definitely different than parents' blood types!
What parents make an O negative baby? ›In this case, the most likely explanation is that dad is a carrier for being Rh- and mom is a carrier for blood type O. What happened was that dad and mom each passed both an O and an Rh negative to the baby. The end result is an O negative child.
What happens if husband and wife have same blood group O+? ›If two parents both have type O blood, all their children will have type O blood.
What is the easiest way to find out your blood type? ›You can find out your blood type by asking your doctor for a test, donating blood, or taking an at-home blood test. Your blood type is comprised of two blood groups: ABO and Rh. Blood types are based on antigens on the surface of your red blood cells.
What diseases are Type O prone to? ›Peptic ulcer also has a connection with the ABO blood group, and it was the first to be identified. Blood type O individuals showed that they had higher susceptibility to peptic ulcers [1, 9]. Gastritis and ulceration of the stomach/duodenum were later correlated with infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
Does blood type O cause hair growth? ›How does hair growth change with blood group? It was concluded from recent study that maximum hair growth occurs in O+ blood group and minimum hair growth occurs in B+ blood group.
What blood type has the most allergies? ›
First, in the selected studies, participants with blood group O were more susceptible than those with non-O blood groups to allergic diseases, especially AR and asthma. In contrast, those with non-O blood groups were more susceptible to AD.
Do different blood types live longer? ›Chances are higher you'll live longer if you have type O blood. Experts think your lowered risk of disease in your heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease) may be one reason for this.
Is O negative blood worth money? ›O negative blood is valuable because it can be transfused to anyone, regardless of their blood type. Hospitals need to have it on hand for emergencies. In addition, emergency services, including ambulances and helicopters, may also carry it to keep patients alive while they're being transported to a hospital.
What foods should O positive blood types avoid? ›- wheat.
- corn.
- legumes.
- kidney beans.
- dairy.
- caffeine and alcohol.
If a woman is Rh-negative and pregnant with an Rh-positive baby, the condition is known as Rh-incompatibility. The mixing of blood of an Rh-positive baby with a mother who is Rh-negative can produce antibodies that can affect future pregnancies and even cause a fatal outcome for the fetus.
Can I have a baby if I am Rh negative? ›A woman with Rh-negative blood has nothing to worry about if their baby is also Rh-negative, and a woman with Rh-positive blood need not worry at all. Problems arise only with Rh-negative mothers and Rh-positive babies. Usually the first pregnancy goes fine. It's a subsequent Rh-positive baby who may be at risk.
What blood type fights pregnancy? ›Rh disease occurs during pregnancy. It happens when the Rh factors in the mom's and baby's blood don't match. If the Rh negative mother has been sensitized to Rh positive blood, her immune system will make antibodies to attack her baby.
Can any blood type have a baby with any blood type? ›Unlike Rh incompatibility, ABO incompatibility during pregnancy is rarely a problem -- even when the mother's ABO group doesn't match the baby's ABO group! In situations where a mother has Type O blood, and the baby has A, B, or AB blood, the mother's immune system will recognize the baby's blood as foreign.
Can parents with different blood types have a baby? ›A baby may have the blood type and Rh factor of either parent, or a combination of both parents.
What blood type is the hardest to get pregnant? ›Fertility: a small study (544 women) performed did suggest that women with blood type O may be at a higher risk for what's called “diminished ovarian reserve.” More studies are needed in order to better understand this, so if you have blood type O, don't panic just yet.
Can two positives make a negative baby? ›
If you do not inherit the Rhesus D antigen from either parent, then you are Rh-negative (15% of us). So, is it possible for two people who are Rh-positive to produce a child that's Rh-negative? The answer is yes — but only if neither parent passes along Rhesus D.
Which blood type could the man never be the father of a child? ›The baby's genotype is also ii. This makes it impossible for the man with type AB blood to be the father of this child. 6. Why is it that a blood type test can only disprove but never prove paternity?
Can Rh negative cause miscarriage? ›The Rh-negative blood type can pose risks during pregnancy, including increasing the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth in the second or third trimester. Nowadays, women with a negative blood group are preventively given the Rho GAM injection, to reduce the risk involved.
Does the father's blood type matter in pregnancy? ›Except in very rare cases, it doesn't matter if you're a different blood group to your baby's dad. What does matter is the rhesus factor, whether you're rhesus-positive (RhD-positive) or rhesus-negative (RhD-negative). People who are RhD-positive have a protein on their red blood cells called D antigen.
Can two parents with O positive blood have an O negative baby? ›A. Before I delve into the science, let me quickly stop any tongues that might be wagging if you are asking about a paternity debate: Yes, two O-positive parents could have any number of O-negative children. In fact, according to the experts, most children who are O-negative have parents who are O-positive.
Is it harder for O to get pregnant? ›Those with blood type O may struggle to conceive due to a lower egg count and poorer egg quality, while those with blood group A seem to be more fertile.
Do siblings have the same blood type? ›Brothers and sisters don't always share the same blood type. The genotype of both parents plays a role in defining the blood type. For instance, children of parents with the genotypes AO and BO may have the blood types A, B, AB, or O. Thus, siblings do not necessarily have the same blood type.
What happens when two blood relatives have a baby? ›When parents are blood relatives, there is a higher risk of disease and birth defects, stillbirths, infant mortality and a shorter life expectancy. To have a child with severe diseases and disorders may cause heavy strain for the family in question.
What happens if husband and wife have same blood group O? ›If two parents both have type O blood, all their children will have type O blood.
What happens if you are O negative and pregnant? ›Most of the time, being Rh-negative has no risks. But during pregnancy, being Rh-negative can be a problem if your baby is Rh-positive. If your blood and your baby's blood mix, your body will start to make antibodies that can damage your baby's red blood cells. This is known as Rh sensitization.