Human blood was initially classified into 4 types by Karl Landsteiner. The Austrian physician proved that it was important to know one’s blood type for safer transfusions, as blood matches were crucial.
Before the discovery of blood types in 1901, people were receiving blood transfusions regardless of blood type. These transfusions were the cause of many deaths due to the incompatibilities. It was later found out that the characteristics of blood can affect one’s health, fortune, and even personality.
Let us look at all the things that were have found out about the different types of blood and interesting facts about Blood Type O.
1: HOW ARE THE BLOOD TYPES DETERMINED?
Blood typing is a process by which you can find out your blood type. Such a thing is done so that one can safely donate their blood or receive a safe transfusion. It is also done to see if you have a substance called the Rh factor on the surface of your red blood cells.
Your blood type is based on whether or not certain proteins are on your red blood cells. These proteins are called antigens. Your blood type (or blood group) depends on what types your parents passed down to you.
2: THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLOOD
Blood is usually grouped according to the ABO blood typing system, where the 4 major types are: Type A, Type B, Type AB, and Type O. They are determined by the absence or presence of A and B antigens in the red blood cells’ surface and A and B antibodies present in the blood plasma. The Rh protein can also either be present or absent. So, in total we have 8 blood types: A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+ and AB-.
Type O blood has neither of the antigens in the RBCs but carries both the A and B antibodies in the blood plasma. The most common blood type is O+. Around 43% of Americans have this type of blood.
3: HOW IS BLOOD TYPING DONE?
This test is done to determine the blood groups. A blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Then, the sample is checked to see whether or not the blood cells stick together. If blood cells stick together, it means the blood reacted with one of the antibodies.
The second step is called back typing. The liquid part of your blood without cells (serum) is mixed with blood that is known to be type A and type B. People with type A blood have anti-B antibodies. People with type B blood have anti-A antibodies. Type O blood contains both types of antibodies.
Rh typing uses a method similar to ABO typing. When blood typing is done to see if you have Rh factor on the surface of your red blood cells, the results will be one of these:
Rh+ (positive), if you have this cell surface protein
Rh- (negative), if you do not have this cell surface protein
4: TYPE O IS THE UNIVERSAL DONOR
The people carrying Type O blood can donate their blood to all the other groups, but only to the people with the Rh+ subgroup. The RBCs of O- can be transfused to all the people in the 8 subgroups. This makes it a universal blood type that is always required for emergency transfusions. This blood type is transfused in critical cases when the life of the patient is being saved before the completion of the crossmatch test. The O- blood type is also the safest for newborn babies whose immune systems are poorly developed.
5: THE TYPE O INDIVIDUALS CAN ONLY RECEIVE THE SAME
The people carrying the type O+ blood can receive blood from others with O+ and O- types. People who have the blood type O- can only receive blood from the same type. In emergency cases, it can be substituted with Type O+ blood.
6: RISKS CARRIED BY THE BLOOD TYPE O
Scientists have determined that the biochemistry of our blood can determine our health. It has been stated that people with the O type of blood are more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections compared to the other groups. They are also susceptible to severe diseases like mumps, cholera, tuberculosis, and plague. Studies have shown that the O-type individuals have a 35% higher incidence of duodenal ulcers compared to people with the other types of blood.