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What Are The Components of Blood
What Are The Components of Blood
Blood is further classified as being either "Rh positive" (meaning it has Rh factor) or "Rh
negative" (without Rh factor).
1. O negative. This blood type doesn't have A or B markers, and it doesn't have Rh
factor.
2. O positive. This blood type doesn't have A or B markers, but it does have Rh factor.
O positive blood is one of the two most common blood types (the other being A
positive).
3. A negative. This blood type has A marker only.
4. A positive. This blood type has A marker and Rh factor, but not B marker. Along
with O positive, it's one of the two most common blood types.
5. B negative. This blood type has B marker only.
6. B positive. This blood type has B marker and Rh factor, but not A marker.
7. AB negative. This blood type has A and B markers, but not Rh factor.
8. AB positive. This blood type has all three types of markers — A, B, and Rh factor.
Having any of these markers (or none of them) doesn't make a person's blood any healthier or
stronger. It's just a genetic difference, like having green eyes instead of blue or straight hair
instead of curly.
If a patient gets the wrong blood type, the antibodies immediately set out to destroy the invading
cells. This aggressive, whole-body response can give someone a fever, chills, and low blood
pressure. It can even cause vital body systems — like breathing or the kidneys — to fail.
Let's say you have type A blood. Because your blood contains the A marker, it
makes B antibodies.
If B markers (found in type B or type AB blood) enter your body, your type A
immune system gets fired up against them.
This means that you can only get a transfusion from someone with A or O blood, not
from someone with B or AB blood.
In the same way, if you have the B marker, your body makes A antibodies. So as a person with
type B blood, you could get a transfusion from someone with B or O blood, but not A or AB.
Things are a little different for people with type AB or type O blood:
If you have both A and B markers on the surface of your cells (type AB blood), your
body does not need to fight the presence of either.
This means that someone with AB blood can get a transfusion from someone with A,
B, AB, or O blood.
But if you have type O blood, your red blood cells have neither A or B markers. So:
Your body will have both A and B antibodies and will therefore feel the need to
defend itself against A, B, and AB blood.
About 15% of blood donors are high school and college students. If you'd like to help, contact
your community blood center. It's one way to be an everyday superhero and save lives!