What are the different Blood Types?
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There are four possible types of blood that a person may have. These are A, B, AB and O. They all have different antigens and antibodies which allow it to differ from other blood types. Antigens are attached to the red blood cell and protect the cell from foreign substances. Antibodies are present in the plasma of the blood and also protect the blood form foreign substances. For example, Type A blood has A-Antigens on its red blood cells and Anti-B antibodies in its plasma. Type B blood has B-Antigens on its red blood cells and Anti-A antibodies in its plasma. Type AB blood has both A and B Antigens on its red blood cells and no antibodies in its plasma and Type 0 blood has no antigens on its red blood cells and Anti-B antibodies in its plasma.
Blood Typing
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Using a lab technique called Blood Typing, we can test a sample of blood for its blood type. If we mix the blood sample of the blood with antibodies which are Anti-A and Anti-B. We use Type A and Type B samples to compare between the samples, then we can decide the blood type from the clumping of the blood cells (agglutinate). If the blood is Type A, the solution will agglutinate in the Anti-A antibody solution and not the Anti-B. It will be the opposite for Type B. Both solutions will agglutinate in Type AB and none of the solutions will agglutinate in the instance of Type O.
Blood Transfusions
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It is very important that people the require blood transfusions receive the correct type of blood, as receiving the wrong type can be detrimental to someone's health. Because of he different anti bodies in the different types of plasma. The diagram to the left show what blood type is able to donate to which blood type. Type O is the universal donor, since there are no antigens present on its red blood cells, it isn't affected by other antibodies. On the other hand, Type AB blood is the universal receiver, since it has both antigens on its red blood cells and is affected by all antibodies. A blood's rhesus (Rh) status also plays a part in blood transfusions. Positive (+) blood can only be donated to positive recipients, but negative (-) blood can be donated to both positive and negative.