The health risks of each blood type
Group A: The surface of the red blood cells contains A antigen, and the plasma has anti-B antibody. Anti-B antibody attacks blood.
Heart disease: Research shows that O blood types have a lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Testing for blood type: A blood test can determine an individual’s blood type. In a lab, the blood is mixed with three different substances.
Group B: The surface of the red blood cells contains B antigen, and the plasma has anti-A antibody. Anti-A antibody attacks blood cells that contain A antigen.
Rhesus factor: Some red blood cells have the Rh factor or antigen. If the red blood cells contain the Rh antigen, they're Rh positive.
Group AB : The red blood cells have both A and B antigens, but the plasma doesn't contain anti-A or anti-B antibodies.
ABO and the most common blood types: The ABO blood group system classifies blood types according to the different types of antigens in the red blood cells and antibodies.
How blood type is determined: Like eye color, blood type is passed on genetically from your parents.
Group O: The plasma contains both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, but the surface of the red blood cells doesn't contain.