Blood TypingBlood Typing

I. ABO SystemI. ABO System

Each person’s Each person’s blood is unique blood is unique from others’ due from others’ due to marker to marker proteins on the proteins on the surface of their surface of their RBCsRBCs

In the ABO system, there are 2 possible RBC In the ABO system, there are 2 possible RBC markers, A and Bmarkers, A and B

If you have If you have type Atype A blood, you produce anti-B blood, you produce anti-B antibodies and have type A markers on your RBCsantibodies and have type A markers on your RBCs

If you have If you have type Btype B blood, you produce anti-A blood, you produce anti-A antibodies and have type B markers on your RBCsantibodies and have type B markers on your RBCs

Type OType O blood means you have no A or B markers blood means you have no A or B markers and contain both anti-A and anti-B antibodies-and contain both anti-A and anti-B antibodies-because of this they are considered to be a because of this they are considered to be a universal donoruniversal donor

If both markers are present, the blood is If both markers are present, the blood is type ABtype AB and is considered to be the universal reciepient and is considered to be the universal reciepient because they don’t have any antibodiesbecause they don’t have any antibodies

II. Rh FactorII. Rh Factor If you have the Rh factor on your If you have the Rh factor on your

RBCs, then you have RBCs, then you have Rh-positive(+) Rh-positive(+) bloodblood, and will not make anti-Rh , and will not make anti-Rh antibodiesantibodies

If you are If you are Rh-negative (-) bloodRh-negative (-) blood, you , you will produce anti-Rh antibodieswill produce anti-Rh antibodies

Therefore an Rh+ may get blood from Therefore an Rh+ may get blood from either an + or -, but an Rh- can only either an + or -, but an Rh- can only get Rh- blood.get Rh- blood.