It is important to know your type of blood so that you are aware about the health
condition and stay informed for possible treatments. This blog post discusses
about how you can detect your blood type and find out how it may affect the
blood transfusions.
What should you know about a blood type?
With the presence or absence of some substances known as antigens, you will
determine your type of blood. The antigens may be involved in triggering
immune response of your body.
A person might have A antigens or say, B antigens, none or both on their red
blood cells surface. They might even have a protein known as the Rhesus (Rh)
factor.
The first stage for detecting your blood type is by conducting a blood type test
in UK known as ABO typing. This can help to find out the four main blood
types a person has:
- A: presence of A antigen only
- B: presence of only B antigen
- AB: presence of both the antigens
- O: presence of neither antigen
The second stage consists of detecting the presence (+) or absence (-) of Rh
factor in the blood of a person.
By putting together these four ABO types and the two Rh types, you will find
eight types of blood: - A+
- A-
- B+
- B-
- AB+
- AB-
- O+
- O-
How you can identify your blood type at home
You need to go to a clinic for knowing your blood type. The doctor or nurse
draws the sample of blood and then sends it to the laboratory for testing. There
are other ways to for knowing your blood type at home. Read on to know about
some of them:
By drawing your blood – You may use a blood typing kit at home and know
your blood types. With this kit, you have to prick a finger by using the needle.
There is a card inside the kit that has chemicals called reagents. The blood type
test in London allows you to detect the presence of Rh factor and antibodies.
If one or more blood type Rh factor or antibodies are there in your blood
sample, the test, delivers clumping of blood. In case the clumping does not
happen, the blood type will be O-negative.
Without drawing the blood – You may use the saliva sample for testing your
blood type. When you secrete antigens in the saliva, the sample will possibly
denote your blood type.
It is important to know that everyone does not secrete the antigens, and it won’t
denote the presence or absence of Rh factor.
How you can determine your blood type for free
You may find out your blood type by donating blood. You will be given a donor
card that denotes your blood type. You do not have to know your blood type for
donating blood. This is a social service that can be done for free.
Can blood types be inherited?
The blood type is usually inherited from your biological parents. A parent who
has type A blood will either pass on A antigen or no antigen at all. In case your
other parent has type B blood, they may pass on this B antigen or say, no
antigen at all. Based on this type of combination, the child may have A, B, AB
or O blood type.
When both the parents have O blood, the child can have O blood only. The Rh
factor will be inherited in the same way.
Is it possible for blood types to affect blood transfusions?
A blood transfusion usually happens when you suffer from some kind of trauma
or surgery that has led to extreme blood loss. When you receive blood
transfusion, it is important to match your blood type of the donor with the
recipient. The reason is that your body develops antibodies against ABO
antigens which are not naturally there in your blood.
When you receive blood from a donor who has different blood type, it will have
the antigens and the recipient’s body will be rejecting your donated blood. The
doctor might describe it as an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction or acute
immune hemolytic reaction. The reaction seems to be risky since the antibodies
of the recipient can attack blood cells due to transfusion and produce substances
into your bloodstream, that may lead to some harm. Your kidneys may get
damaged and the healthcare experts will have to prevent this transfusion right
away. Don’t forget to ask about blood group test price when you want to know
your type.
Some symptoms which can cause acute hemolytic transfusion reaction are the
following:
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Chills
- Lower back pain
- Chest pain
- Nausea
If you have blood group is O negative, Then you are a universal donor. Having O negative
blood won’t lead to adverse reactions during the transfusions since it does not
have antigen and Rh factor. If someone has:
- Type A blood: They cannot receive type B or AB red blood cells.
- Type B blood: They won’t receive type A or AB red blood cells.
- Type AB blood: They can get type A, B, AB, or O red blood cells.
Though it is not necessary for you to know your blood type, it can be inherited
from your parents. You need to visit the doctor’s clinic to donate your blood and
use a blood type testing kit at home for identifying your blood type.