Blood types

It is essential to know what our blood type is, also called blood group. There are 4 main blood types: A, B, 0 and AB0, which are determined by the presence or absence of certain proteins on the surface of red blood cells, some blood cells.

In addition, each person also has a blood type based on Rh positive or Rh negative, depending on the presence or absence of another antigen or protein in red blood cells.

As we have said, it is very important that you know your blood type if you want to donate, for example. As well, If you are in an emergency situation and need a transfusion, you will need to know your blood group so they can give you the same type of blood.

Next, we will look more closely at the different characteristics of different blood types.

A positive (A +)

Group A positive is one of the most common blood types. 1 in 3 people is A +; or, what is the same, 35.7% of the population.

The people who are A positive they can donate blood to others in the same group as to people belonging to the AB positive group. This is because they share the same type of proteins, so the body will not attack the new cells, as it recognizes them as its own.

In the case of receiving a transfusion, A + people can receive blood from groups A and 0. Donors of this type of blood are advised to donate whole blood and platelets.

A negative (A-)

In this case, the percentage of people A negative is reduced to 6.3%, that is, 1 in 16 people in the population share this blood group.

To donate blood, they can do it to people who are:

• TO-
• A +
• AB +
• AB-

But nevertheless, can only receive blood from people A- or 0-. Donors in this group are advised to donate whole blood and double red blood cells.

Also read: What is the difference between venous blood and arterial blood?

B positive (B +)

8.5% of the population, or 1 in 12 people have type B +. Type B + donors can donate to people of type B + and AB +. In this sense, this population group can receive blood from any of the blood types B or 0.

Type B + blood donors they can achieve the greatest impact with whole blood donations and double red blood cells.

B negative (B-)

We continue to reduce the number of people, 1 in 67 being those with this type of blood, that is, 1.5% of the general population.

B negative people they can be blood donors to people of blood type B positive, B negative, AB positive and AB negative. As with the previous group, they can only receive blood from people with the same blood type or from 0-.

As for the recommendation when donating, It is recommended for people B positive to donate whole blood or platelets.

Discover: Myths and unknown truths about blood donation

0 positive (0+)

Above the positive A, the positive 0 is found. It is the most common type of blood, representing 37.4% of the population.

People with 0+ can donate blood to all positive blood types. But nevertheless, they can only receive blood from others 0+ or ​​0-. Donors with this type of blood are advised to donate double red blood cells and whole blood.

0 negative (0-)

This is the famous universal donor. Get this name because people with this blood group are compatible with all types of blood. Therefore, it is the type of blood most demanded by hospitals.

The percentage of people 0- represent 6.6% of the population, which is the same as saying that 1 in 15 people are 0-.

Although they can donate to anyone, They can only receive blood from people in the same blood group, 0-. When donating blood, it is recommended that you donate double red blood cells and whole blood.

AB positive (AB +)

AB + is the rarest blood type, with only 1 in 29 people, which translates into 3.4% of the global population.

Unlike the 0-, AB + people can only give other AB + receivers, but it can receive any type of blood, so it is the universal blood receptor.

AB negative (AB-)

This group constitutes the rarest of all blood types. Only 0.6% of the population has it. AB-blood type can donate to AB- and AB + and can receive from all negative blood types.

To blood type donors AB- it is recommended to donate platelets and plasma.