Blood is one of the most crucial elements in a human body. It not only delivers nutrients and Oxygen to various parts but also helps in maintaining certain constituents of the body in balance. Apart from this, blood can provide you with a lot of information about your health and well-being, so that you can diagnose the disease and start early treatment.
In this article, we will provide you with some necessary information about blood, their types, how to find your blood group at home and why it is so essential. So let's get started.
What are Blood types?
Blood is made of fluid called plasma and is composed of RBC and WBC. Comprising two factors ABO and Rh, it has a unique composition of protein molecules called Antigens and Antibodies. Blood is available in various types. The presence and combination of Antigen and Antibodies in your blood is the basis of your blood type. The Antigens live on the surface of your red blood cells, or RBC and Antibodies are in your plasma.
What are the Different Blood Group Types?
Blood comprises four main blood types: A, B, AB blood group, blood group O and two Rh types (positive, negative). These are further divided into eight different blood group types based on their properties.
To identify your blood types, various tests are needed such as ABO blood group testing, that helps in identifying one out of all the types or through identifying the presence or absence of Rh factor.
- A: The presence of Antigen A
- B: The presence of Antigen B
- AB blood group: Presence of both Antigens A and B
- Blood group O: Absence of both Antigens
Below are mentioned all the blood group lists
- A positive or A+ blood group A negative or A- blood group
- B+ or B positive blood group
- B negative or B- blood group
- AB Positive or AB+ blood group are considered as Universal recipient blood group
- AB negative or AB- blood group is the rarest blood type
- O+ or O Positive blood group is the most common blood types
- O- blood group (also known as universal donor blood group): People with O negative blood groups can donate blood to anyone and are called Universal blood donors
What is the Importance of Blood Types?
Blood plays a vital role in maintaining normal regulatory mechanisms in the human body. Blood is mostly given to a person after a trauma or surgery.
Blood is only transfused to a person after cross-matching from the recipient and donor blood. If you mix blood from two people with different blood types, the blood can clump which may be dangerous leading to death with other symptoms such as chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, allergic reactions, etc.
For a successful transfusion, it's important for the donor and recipient to have blood types that are the same that is tested, matched and is free from any diseases. Both the recipient and donor should have the same type of blood group. For example, people with blood group A can safely get group A blood and people with blood group B can receive group B blood.
The best type of blood group to donate?
It is essential to find which blood groups can be received and which can be donated during transfusions to avoid complications. Blood for transfusion is available as whole blood, Platelets and Plasmas. Red blood cells of Type O negative and O Positive blood are best to donate. O negative blood cells don't have Antibodies to A, B and Rh Antigen and are called “Universal” red cell donors as they can donate blood to anyone with any blood type.
How to find your Blood types at home?
There are few methods you can try for a blood group test at home, such as:
- To perform a blood type test at home, you need to prick your finger with a lancet and put a few drops of blood on a special blood test kit to test your blood group at home which is available both in online and offline markets. Your blood will then clump and spread, and the results will be shown, match it with manual instructions. However, for accurate blood group tests, you can search for nearby hospitals or labs by visiting google and typing blood group tests near me, including information like blood group test price.
- You can also try donating to various blood donation camps or organizations and ask them to check your blood group, which is usually for free.
What is the best blood type diet?
Some people argue that eating a diet specific to a particular blood type may offer health benefits. The idea that a diet based on blood type could help a person achieve good overall health and reduce the risk of developing certain diseases has not been proven effective by research studies.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
