Blood Types

ABO BLOOD SYSTEMS

ON THE SURFACE OF THE RED BLOOD CELLS ARE TWO ANTIGENS AND TWO ANTIBODIES. THESE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABO TYPES.

BLOOD TYPES

A- ANTIGEN A, ANTIBODY B

B- ANTIGEN B, ANTIBODY A

AB- NO ANTIGEN, BOTH ANTIBODIES A + B

O- BOTH ANTIGENS A + B, NO ANTIBODIES

PATIENT RECIEVING THE BLOOD: RECIPIENT

PATIENT GIVING THE BLOOD: DONOR

VERY! IMPORTANT: ANTIGENS IN THE DONORS BLOOD MUST BE ANALYSED TO SEE IF THEY WILL REACT WITH THE ANTIBODIES IN THE RECIPIENTS BLOOD.

DONORS BLOOD WHOSE CONTAINED ANTI-B ANTIBODIES IS GIVEN TO SOMEONE WITH ANTIGEN B (NOT A) THE RECIPIENTS BLOOD WOULD CLOT. POSSIBLY CAUSING DEATH.

PEOPLE WITH BLOOD TYPE O: UNIVERSAL DONORS

BLOOD TYPE DOES NOT CONTAIN EITHER ANTIGEN. ANTIBODIES IN RECIPIENTS BLOOD WOULD NOT REACT WITH IT.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE UNIVERSAL DONORS BLOOD CARRIES BOTH ANTIBODIES, THEY CAN ONLY RECIEVE BLOOD FROM DONORS WHO ALSO HAVE BLOOD TYPE O

PEOPLE WITH BLOOD TYPE AB: UNIVERSAL RECIPIENTS

BLOOD TYPE CONTAINS BOTH ANTIGENS. THEREFORE IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE DONATED BLOOD CONTAINS ALL OR NONE OF THE ANTIGENS