Types Of Blood And Their Meanings

Understanding the types of blood and their meanings

Ever wondered why is it important to know about the types of blood and their meanings? It is estimated that at least 5 million Americans undergo blood transfusion treatments each year for a variety of reasons. Blood transfusions are often emergency treatments and leave the dearest ones of the patient in a tough time finding the ideal blood for the treatment if it’s not available in the hospital’s blood bank.

Facts about types of blood and their meanings

* Each blood sample taken from the donor undergoes around 12 tests to determine the type of blood.

* The blood is used on a patient after all the tests are performed.

While it is easy to feel that blood is blood – after all, it is always red in color and there are no visual changes between various blood groups – the basic components of the blood changes from person to person. However, types of blood and their meanings can be categorized based on the blood groups.

Blood Contains:

* Red Blood Cells

* White Blood Cells

* Platelets

* Plasma

* Antigens

Antigens are the markers that are found on the surface of red blood cells. Although blood cell markers are microscopic substances, they determine the types of blood and their meanings. The types of blood and their meanings is also called blood groups. There are basically 4 blood groups, with each one having a positive and negative. They are:

1. Type A

2. Type B

3. Type AB

4. Type O

The 4 main types of blood and their meanings are classified into positive and negative based on the Rh factor of the blood. For example, if a person with O group blood has Rh factor in his blood; his blood group is O positive wherein a person with A group blood without Rh factor is A negative. Although Rh type is merely genetic difference, it is important during the blood transfusion.

types of blood and their meanings – things that you need to know

it is important to learn the basics of types of blood and their meanings. This information will help you to understand hosptiate procedures and treatments better:

* O Negative – O Negative blood doesn’t have A or B markers. Being a negative group, it doesn’t have Rh factor either.

* O Positive – Like O Negative, O positive do not have A or B Markers but they have Rh factor.

* A Negative – A negative blood has A marker but it do not contain B marker. It does not have Rh factor.

* A Positive – A positive has A marker, the same as A negative group but it also has Rh factor.

* B Negative – B negative only has B marker and do not has Rh factor.

* B Positive – Same B marker as B negative but also has Rh factor.

* AB Negative – Contains both A and B markers but do not contain Rh factor.

* AB Positive – Contains both A and B markers plus Rh factor too.

These are the basic types of blood and their meanings that you need to understand.

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