Human Blood Types

Karl Landsteiner discovered the ABO human blood types in 1901. Until then, all blood had been assumed to be the same, thus leading to many tragic consequences of blood transfusions.

There are three alleles, I^A, I^B and I^o of this gene. Proteins produced by the I^A and I^B alleles are called A antigen and В antigen. People with blood group A have the A antigen on the surface of their RBCs, and antibodies to antigen В in their plasma.

A person’s ABO blood type can be used for paternity tests, in forensic science, in the study of different populations.

General Characteristics

Later, in 1940, Landsteiner discovered the Rh factor. There are many blood group systems known today, but the ABO and the Rh blood groups are the most important ones used for blood transfusions.

Blood cells contain inherited antigenic substances (proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins/lipids) on their surface. Presence or absence of those substances and antibodies determines blood group/ type of an individual (Figure 5).

Landsteiner explained that the reactions between the RBCs and serum were related to the presence of antigens on the surface of RBCs and antibodies in the serum.

Agglutination occurred when the RBC antigens were bound by the antibodies in the serum (Figure 6).

He called the antigens A and B, and depending upon which antigen the RBC expressed, blood either belonged to blood group A or blood group B.

A third blood group contained RBCs that reacted as if they lacked the properties of A and B, and this group was later called O after the German word “Ohne”, which means “without”.

Later, AB blood group, was added to the ABO blood group system for the individual whose RBCs expressed both A and B antigens (figure 7).

RBCs antigens are inherited from parents. A and B antigens are inherited co-dominantly over O. Bernstein’s “three allele model” is used to determine a person’s blood type.

Rh Factor

The Rh system classifies blood as Rh-positive or Rh-negative, based on the presence or absence of Rh antibodies in the blood (Figure 8). The Rh factor is a type of protein on the surface of red blood cells.

Rh antigens are non-glycosylated, hydrophobic cell membrane antigens expressed in 85% of the human population (Rh positive, or Rh+).

Individuals with alterations or a deletion of the Rh protein are considered Rh negative (Rh–).

Blood Group	Antigen
A	Has only A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma)
B	Has only B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma)
AB	Has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma)
O	Has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma)

In addition to the A and B antigens, Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent ( – ) plays very important role helping make decisions during blood transfusion or organ donation.

Rh negative blood is given to Rh-negative patients, and Rh positive blood or Rh negative blood may be given to Rh positive patients.

1. The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood type.
2. The universal plasma donor has Type AB positive blood type.

Blood Donation/Transfusion

Blood types are very important when a blood transfusion is necessary. In a blood transfusion, a patient must receive a blood type compatible with his or her own blood type (Figure 9).

Transfusion with incompatible blood types can be fatal as red blood cells form clots that block blood vessels.

Therefore, it is important that blood types be matched before blood transfusion.

Compatibility chart of different blood types:

Blood Type	Donate Blood To	Receive Blood From
A+	A+, AB+	A+, A-, O+, O-
O+	O+, A+, B+, AB+	O+, O-
B+	B+, AB+	B+, B-, O+, O-
AB+	AB+	All blood types
A-	A+, A-, AB+, AB-	A-, O-
O-	All blood types	O-
B-	B+, B-, AB+, AB-	B-, O-
AB-	AB+, AB-	AB-, A-, B-, O-

Type O-negative blood is called the universal donor type because it is compatible with any blood type.

Type AB-positive blood is called the universal recipient type as they can receive blood of any type.