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Different Blood Types

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The difference in blood types was discovered in the 1900s. Blood transfusions can only be completed after matching blood types. Everyone does not carry the same blood type although blood type O is the most common in the United States (US). The four blood types we know of are type A, B, O and AB. The ABO blood type is determined genetically. Each blood type can be identified by the absence or presence of agglutinogens. With that being said, blood type O is a universal blood donor. Anyone with an O blood type is not a universal receiver. Those with blood type O can only receive transfusions from like blood types. Antigens on the red blood cells have antibodies that fight against other blood types from entering the cell. Which is why an individual’s blood type is based upon the antigens he or she has. This would mean persons with neither A nor B antigens on their red blood cells, has both Anti-A and Anti- B antibodies, which means they have type O blood.
Later, researchers found out that there is another antigen, on red blood cells, Rh factor. When the Rh factor is not present a person is identified as Rh- and likewise if Rh is present, a person is Rh+. Thus, a person with Antigen A, and has the Rh factor is then labeled as blood type A+ (A positive). It is important to match a donor’s blood and a recipient’s blood before a transfusion to make sure the blood is compatible. If the recipient’s blood does not match the donor’s, the recipient’s blood will clot and the recipient

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