Blood Types

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. - William Shakespeare

BLOOD TYPES & TRANSFUSIONS


Blood is grouped into four types: A, B, AB, and O. Each type is also classified by an RH factor either positive ( + ) or negative ( - ).


When a blood transfusion is necessary, donor and patient blood must be compatible. If incompatible blood is given in a transfusion, the donor cells are treated as if they were foreign invaders, and the patient's immune system attacks them accordingly. Not only is the blood transfusion rendered useless, but a potentially massive activation of the immune system and clotting system can cause shock, kidney failure, circulatory collapse, and death.


Type: Can be given to type:
O+ O+A+B+AB+
A+ A+AB+
B+ B+AB+
AB+ AB+
O- O+A+B+AB+O-A-B-AB-
A- A+AB+A-AB-
B- B+AB+B-AB-
AB- AB+AB-
 
Type:  Can receive type:
O+ O+O-
A+ O+ A+ O- A-
B+ O+ B+ O- B-
AB+ O+ A+ B+ AB+ O- A- B- AB-
O- O-
A- O- A-
B- O- B-
AB- O- A-B- AB-
 
Percentage of population with type.
O+37%
A+34%
B+10%
AB+4%
O-6%
A-6%
B-2%
AB-1%


Chart illustrating donor compatibility


Canebrake13