Antigens and antibodies: what's the difference?Īntigens are carbohydrate or proteins found on the surface of all blood cells (as well as body tissues and on surfaces of bacteria and viruses). Red blood cells are usually depicted like dark red cough lozenges with a perfectly smooth surface.īut look closer, and there's a multitude of molecules embedded in the cell's surface, called antigens, that determine your blood type. So which others are important, and how are they changing too? Why do blood types matter? The national blood audit looked at the two blood groups we're most familiar with: ABO and RhD.īut these are just two of 40-odd human blood group systems. Overall, our blood is becoming more positive - that's Rhesus D or RhD positive. The proportion of people with O positive blood (like me) dropped a couple of per cent from 1993-94 to 2019.Īustralia also saw an increase in the rates of people with B and AB positive blood, a reflection of migration from countries such as China and India, where those types are more prevalent. You can maximize your donation to make the largest impact.Hear an interview with study lead author Dr Rena Hirani on The Health Report. What unique powers does your blood type hold? Check out our Target Your Type tool to learn more about the right donation method for you.
AB+ donors are encouraged to donate Plasma or Platelets. Plasma from AB+ donors can be given to patients with any blood type, making it extremely important for those in need. Only 3% of the population has type AB+ blood. People with AB+ (positive) are universal plasma donors. AB- donors are encouraged to donate Plasma or Platelets.
Platelets from AB- donors can be used for any patient in need. One of the rarest of all blood types, only 1% of the population has this special blood type. The universal blood type for platelet transfusions is AB Negative (AB-). Universal blood type for platelet transfusions While O- is the universal blood type for whole blood and red blood cell transfusions, it is not the rarest blood type nor is it the universal blood type for platelet or plasma transfusions. These two donation types allow O- donors to maximize their donation and make the largest impact for patients in need. The preferred donation methods for O- donors are Double Red Blood Cell and Whole Blood. O- blood is the preferred blood type for people with underdeveloped immune systems, including premature babies and cancer patients.O- blood is the blood type in the highest demand.Once the patient’s blood type is determined, doctors can switch to that blood type for future transfusions. This is crucial with trauma patients in those early moments of an emergency where doctors will often depend on O- blood to help save the person’s life. Red blood cells from O- donors can be transfused to anyone, regardless of the person’s blood type. Donors with type O- blood have the unique power to help anyone in need of a blood transfusion. The universal blood type is O negative (O-). In these instances doctors reach for the universal blood type. In emergency situations, doctors don’t always have time to determine a patient’s blood type before working to save their life.
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