A vital question - Do you know your blood type?

2024-04-17 08:22:00, Shëndeti CNA

Everyone should be able to answer the question about blood group. But only a few people know their blood type, even though it could save their lives. For example, if someone is injured in an accident and if the victim's blood type is known, it is easier for nurses and doctors to organize the right blood for transfusion as quickly as possible, because not every blood type is suitable for everyone. .

Blood type is inherited

Blood type is determined by genes, so it is hereditary. The so-called ABo (zero) system divides human blood into four different blood groups: A, B, AB, and 0. In cases of donation, the blood must have the same group for both the donor and the recipient. If the donated blood and the blood recipient do not match, then the blood can become blocked and have fatal consequences. Therefore it is vital that everyone knows their blood type.

A vital question - Do you know your blood type?

Which blood groups are compatible with each other?

Blood type A is more common at about 43 percent. In second place is blood group 0, the group that can be donated to all blood recipients. About 11 percent of the population have B blood group and AB only five percent.

Blood type 0 is in high demand. Whoever has negative blood group 0 is a universal donor, his blood can be used by all recipients. The AB positive blood group is a universal recipient, meaning it accepts any type of blood. Before the discovery of blood groups, it was a coincidence that a blood transfusion was performed without complications.

Antibodies and antigens

An important factor is antibodies. These are proteins found in plasma. They are part of the body's natural defences, distinguish foreign bodies such as microbes and alert the immune system. In terms of blood type, this means that antibodies produce blood cells against foreign bodies, to recognize and fight them.

A vital question - Do you know your blood type?

Antigens also play an important role. These are protein molecules located on the surface of red blood cells. People with blood group A have antigen A on the surface of erythrocytes. In group B, antigen B. In group AB, the red blood cells have both antigens, in group O they have no antigen.

The immune system creates the missing antibody antigen accordingly. People with blood group A have antibodies against B and vice versa. People with type AB blood do not make antibodies. In blood group 0, there are antibodies against both A and B.

Rhesus factor positive or negative?

The second most important system for blood classification, after the Abo group system, is the Rhesus system. With the rhesus factor we are dealing with the "antigen D" in the red blood cells. Whoever possesses this gene is rhesus positive. Whoever does not have this antigen is rhesus negative. The same as with blood groups, people with rhesus negative create antibodies against rhesus positive blood. These factors are also important during blood transfusion. About 85 percent of the European population is rhesus positive. So when it comes to blood donation, rhesus negative blood is in the minority