![type o negative blood type type o negative blood type](https://hackytips.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/All-you-need-to-know-about-Rh-negative-Blood-type.jpg)
The negative/positive part refers to the absence or presence of one Rh antigen: the Rh(D) antigen. Rh antigens are believed to be essential for maintaining the integrity of RBCs.īriefly going back to ABO blood group system, some people might tell you that they’re “O negative” or “A positive”. It consists of 61 blood group antigens (Rh antigens), which are expressed as part of a protein complex found only in RBC membranes. The Rh blood group system has a colourful history. Positive or negative, it critically matters ABO blood type by InvictaHOG (Public Domain) on Wikimedia Commonsīut there’s another equally significant blood group system to consider in human-blood transfusion: the Rh system (again, Rh pronounced as Rhesus). This site provides neat animations about the ABO group system and more details of its importance in human-blood transfusions. It comprises of only two antigens (antigen A and antigen B), but it can produce these four ABO blood types: A, B, AB or O. They are referring to this most important blood group system in human-blood transfusion. When you ask someone what blood type they are, they might respond with “AB”. You might be familiar with the ABO blood group system. At present, the International Society of Blood Transfusion recognises 36 human blood group systems and more than 300 different antigens. Now that we know how blood types are determined, you might be wondering “How many blood types are there?”. A, B, O is not easy as 1-2-3 in human-blood transfusion In rare cases, it does attack ‘self’ antigens, as seen in some cases of autoimmune blood disorders. Unfortunately, our immune system isn’t perfect. But if they detect enemy or foreign antigens, our immune system will go on an all-out war to destroy them. If our antibodies recognise these antigens as allies or naturally part of our body, our immune system happily leaves it alone. Our immune system sends out mini soldiers called antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins), which are special proteins that recognise and bind to these antigens. Antigens are distinct molecules or substances capable of coaxing an immune response. Blood is primarily categorised based on the presence and/or absence of antigens on the surface of our red blood cells (RBCs). The relationship between our immune system and blood typesīlood type (also called blood group) is genetically determined. To find out why this blood type was coined as the ‘golden blood’, we need to open the world of blood types and its systems. Like a needle in a haystack, less than 50 people in the world are known to have it! Sorry AB-negative you’re not the only rare blood type in the world.įirst discovered in an Aboriginal Australian woman in 1961, the Rh null (Rhesus null) is one of the rarest and most precious blood types in the world. Super rare blood type by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels