What is the most common blood type
What is the most common blood type
What’s the rarest blood type?
By Rachael Rettner published 10 September 21
Here’s a breakdown of the most rare and common blood types in the U.S.
In general, the rarest blood type is AB negative and the most common is O positive. Here’s a breakdown of the most rare and common blood types by ethnicity, according to the American Red Cross.
How is blood type determined?
A person’s blood type is based on whether or not they have certain molecules or proteins — called antigens — on the surface of their red blood cells, according to the National Institutes of Health. Two of the main antigens used for blood typing are known as «A antigen» and «B antigen.» People with type A blood only have A antigens on their red blood cells and those with type B blood have only B antigens. Individuals with type AB blood have both; people with type O blood have neither.
Another protein, the «Rh factor» — also known as the «Rhesus» system — is also present or absent on red blood cells. A person’s blood type is designated as «positive» if they have the Rh protein on their red blood cells, and «negative» if they don’t have this protein.
Is blood type genetic?
Yes, a person’s blood type is genetic, inherited from his or her parents, according to the Red Cross.
Blood type and transfusions
Blood typing is particularly important for blood transfusions, because certain antigens on blood cells can trigger a person’s immune system to attack the donated blood.
People who are Rh-negative can only receive Rh-negative blood, but people who are Rh- positive can receive either Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood, the Red Cross says.
What’s more, type A blood can be used for transfusions for patients with type A or type AB blood; type B blood can be used for patients with type B or type AB blood; and type AB blood can be used for patients with type AB blood. Type O blood can be used for patients with type A, type B, type AB and type O blood.
What blood type is the «universal donor»?
People with type O blood are called «universal donors» because this type can be used for patients with any blood type.
Type O blood is often in short supply in hospitals, due to demand for this universal donor type, according to the Red Cross. In particular, type O-negative blood is in high demand because it’s the one most often used for emergencies, when there may not be time to determine a patient’s blood type.
What are «rare» blood types?
Although ABO and Rh groups are the most important blood groups for transfusions, there are hundreds of other antigens that have been found on the surface of people’s red blood cells. A person’s blood type is rare if their blood does not have an antigen that most people have, or if their blood does have an antigen that most people lack, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Specifically, rare blood types are those that are found in 1 in 1,000 people or fewer.
One of the rarest blood types in the world is known as «Rh-null;» fewer than 50 people in the world have been found to have this blood type, earning it the name «golden blood,» the Cleveland Clinic says.
Can blood types change?
A person’s blood type does not usually change, meaning it stays the same throughout life. But in some rare cases, blood type has been known to change, including in cases of bone marrow transplants and in people who developed certain types of cancers or infections, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Blood type and pregnancy
Blood type can be an issue in pregnancy if the mother is Rh negative and the fetus is Rh positive. (The fetus can inherit the Rh factor from either the mother or the father.) That’s because, in this situation, the mother’s immune system can react to the fetus’ «positive» blood. For this reason, pregnant women have their blood tested to determine blood type. Those with Rh-negative blood can be treated with a drug called Rh immunoglobulin to prevent a damaging immune reaction if their fetus has a positive blood type, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
How to find out your blood type
If you don’t know your blood type you can ask your health care provider if they have a record of it. If they don’t, you may be able to request blood typing the next time you get your blood drawn, according to CNN. You can also find out your blood type if you donate blood, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There are also at-home blood tests that can tell you your blood type.
Additional resources
This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to offer medical advice. This article was updated on Sept. 10, 2021 by Rachael Rettner.
What is the most common blood type?
Have you ever wondered why people around the world have different blood types?
Introduction
Without blood, the human body would simply stop working. This essential fluid of life dispenses crucial nutrients throughout the body, exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide, and carries our immune system’s ‘militia’ to stave off infections. But not all blood is equal, and in the event of a transfusion, mixing incompatible blood types can lead to death.
Distribution of blood types
There are 4 main blood groups: A, B, AB and O, of which group O is the most common. In the United States, the average distribution of blood types is as follows:
Different racial and ethnic groups typically see a different distribution. For instance, 45 percent of Caucasians are type O, but 51 percent of African-Americans and 57 percent of Hispanics are type O, according to the Red Cross. This Wikipedia page has the blood type distribution in every country.
Type O is the most demanded blood type in hospitals, both because it’s the most common and because O-negative blood is a universal donor type, meaning it is compatible with any blood type. Conversely, type AB-positive blood is called the universal recipient type because a person who has it can receive blood of any type.
How blood type is determined
Like eye color, blood type is genetically inherited from your parents. Whether your blood group is type A, B, AB or O is based on the blood types of your mother and father. For instance, if your mum is AB and your dad is A, you can expect to be A, B, or AB. If mum is AB and dad is O, the child will have an A or B blood type. When both parents are A, the child will have either O or A.
Credit: Red Cross.
Blood is essentially made up of two types of blood cells (red and white), platelets, and a fluid called plasma. About half the blood (45%) is made up of blood cells, with the remaining 55% being plasma. Millions of blood cells are produced daily in the bone marrow, the soft spongy material that fills up bone cavities.
Besides the ABO classification, there’s also another blood type grouping that involves Rhesus (Rh) factors. The name comes from the Rhesus monkeys, in which such proteins were first discovered. Rhesus factor D, which is the most important, is present in 85% of people, making them Rhesus positive. The remaining 15% are grouped Rhesus negative. The Rh grouping can be very important in some situations. For instance, a baby’s life can be endangered if it inherits a Rhesus positive blood type from the father while the mother is Rhesus negative — in such a situation, the mother can form antibodies against her own baby’s blood.
Blood groupings and transfusions
Credit: Red Cross.
In order to safely perform a blood transfusion, it’s essential that a patient receives a blood type that is compatible with their own. If the blood type is incompatible, the red blood cells can clump together, producing clots that block blood vessels and cause death. Generally, for the ABO grouping, blood transfusions follow these rules:
People with Rh-positive blood can receive either positive or negative donations but those who have Rh-negative blood can only receive other Rh negative blood.
Doctors will test your blood before you are allowed to donate or receive blood. However, in the event of an emergency when the patient’s blood type is unknown, type O blood will be used.
It’s important to note that there are more than 600 other known antigens, the presence or absence of which creates “rare blood types.” The ABO grouping works just fine for most people, but in some rare cases, certain blood types may be unique to specific ethnic or racial groups. For instance, many patients with sickle cell disease require an African-American blood donation. That’s why it’s still ideal to match a blood donation type to its recipient exactly, accounting for both antigen types and Rh factor.
What is the most common blood type? How to find out what group you are
WITHOUT it, the human body would simply stop working.
But not all blood is equal, and in the event of a transfusion it’s important you know what blood type you are, as mixing incompatible blood types can be fatal.
What is the most common blood type?
Blood group O is the most common blood group.
Almost half of the UK population (48 per cent) have this blood type.
Type O is the most demanded blood type in hospitals, both because it’s the most common and because O-negative blood is a universal donor type.
This means it is compatible with any blood type.
What blood types are there and what do they mean?
Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in a liquid called plasma.
Your blood group is identified by antibodies and antigens in the blood.
There are 4 main blood groups (types of blood) – A, B, AB and O.
Your blood group is determined by the genes you inherit from your parents.
Each group can be either RhD positive or RhD negative, which means in total there are technically 8 blood groups.
How does your blood type affect your chances of dying from coronavirus?
New research says that those with blood type A an AB are more vulnerable to coronavirus and more likely to experience severe symptoms.
If you have blood type O you are less likely to be infected.
How do I find out what group I am in?
To work out your blood group, your red cells are mixed with different antibody solutions.
If, for example, the solution contains anti-B antibodies and you have B antigens on your cells (you’re blood group B), it will clump together.
If the blood does not react to any of the anti-A or anti-B antibodies, it’s blood group O.
A series of tests with different types of antibody can be used to identify your blood group.
If you have a blood transfusion – where blood is taken from one person and given to another – your blood will be tested against a sample of donor cells that contain ABO and RhD antigens.
If there’s no reaction, donor blood with the same ABO and RhD type can be used.
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What are the dangers of using the wrong blood in a transfusion?
Receiving blood from the wrong ABO group can be life threatening.
If someone with group B blood is transfused with group A blood, their anti-A antibodies will attack the group A cells.
This is why group A blood must never be given to someone who has group B blood and vice versa.
As group O red blood cells do not have any A or B antigens, it can safely be given to any other group.
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What Is The Most Common Blood Type?
There are eight different blood types and each one holds a unique power to save lives.
But the most common blood type is O+, accounting for more than a third of all people (37%). This means there is a higher demand for this blood type when it comes to blood transfusions.
Why are there different blood types?
There is evidence that the different blood types have evolved over millions of years, with type A being the most ancient.
The difference between the various blood types comes down to sugars that cover the surface of red blood cells. These sugars can be misinterpreted as foreign invaders by the body’s immune system when they don’t match up correctly, making a mismatched blood transfusion potentially deadly.
For this reason, it is extremely important to find a compatible blood match for transfusion patients. With O+ being the most common blood type, having an available blood supply is critical.
What is the best donation procedure for those with O+ blood?
Those with O+ blood type (who meet certain criteria) are encouraged to choose Double Red Cell Donation. This kind of procedure takes twice as many red blood cells from the donor while leaving the platelets and plasma behind.
It’s an efficient way for O+ donors to get more bang for their donation buck by helping to save even more lives!
Those who are unable to meet the height/weight requirements for Double Red Cell Donation may still complete a traditional Whole Blood Donation. This procedure utilizes red blood cells, platelets, and plasma, and one donation can help save up to three lives!
Discover how you can best help those in your community by targeting your blood type and learning which donation method is best for you!
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What does your blood type mean for your health?
If all you know about your blood is that it’s red, you have some catching up to do.
Blood is made up of a lot of different components. There are red and white blood cells, which carry oxygen and help fight infection, respectively. There are platelets, which help your blood clot. And there’s plasma, which provides the body with things like nutrients and hormones. Your plasma contains antibodies, which are substances your immune system uses to fight foreign invaders like germs and bacteria.
Your blood also contains antigens. These are proteins and other molecules present on the outside of your red blood cells; they determine what type of blood you have. Blood is further classified by its rhesus factor (aka, Rh factor). If your blood contains the Rh D factor—the most prevalent and important of the Rh factors—you have a positive blood type. If your blood lacks it, you have a negative blood type.
Categorizing blood according to type is important for things like blood transfusions, which replace blood that’s lost through surgery, accidents, and bleeding disorders. Mixing one type of blood that’s incompatible with another—thanks to things like antigens and Rh factor—can be fatal.
Healthy blood is essential for a healthy life. From typing to transfusing, here’s what you need to know about your blood and your health.
How many different blood types are there?
The vast majority of people have one of eight blood types. Blood types are based on the antigens (or lack of them) found on your blood cells and whether or not your blood contains the Rh D factor. Blood is typed according to an ABO blood group system. If your blood has A antigens, you have an A blood type. If you have B antigens, you have a B blood type. Some people have both A and B antigens, giving them AB blood. And people with an O blood type have neither A nor B antigens.
Each of those types are further broken down based on their Rh factor. For example, some people have A positive blood while others have A negative. A very small number of people have what’s called Rh null blood (also called gold blood), meaning it has no Rh factors at all. This is extremely rare, occurring in only a handful of people worldwide.
What is the most common blood type?
Blood type by rarity
What’s my blood type? How to find out
There are three ways you can find out your blood type.
These tests aren’t foolproof, though. “There are certain scenarios in which we find discrepancies in our blood typing,” says Dr. Sharma. “This can occur in a person with a blood cancer, for example, or in someone who has had a recent blood transfusion or stem cell transplant.”
What your blood type says about you
What does your blood type say about your heritage?
Your blood type is inherited from your parents—and you can’t change it any more than you can change your eye color.
Each parent contributes one of their two A, B, or O alleles (a form of a gene) to a baby’s blood type. The O allele is considered recessive, which means it’s not always expressed. So if a woman with OO alleles has a baby with a man who has BB alleles, the baby will have a B blood type.
What other combinations can occur? Emory University School of Medicine put together this chart:
| Parent #1’s alleles | Parent #2’s alleles | Baby’s blood type |
| AA or AO (Type A) | AA or AO (Type A) | Type A or O |
| AA or AO (Type A) | BB or BO (Type B) | Type A, B, AB, or O |
| AA or AO (Type A) | AB (Type AB) | Type A, B, or AB |
| AA or AO (Type A) | OO (Type O) | Type A or O |
| BB or BO (Type B) | BB or BO (Type B) | Type B or O |
| BB or BO (Type B) | AB (Type AB) | Type B, A or AB |
| BB or BO (Type B) | OO (Type O) | Type B or O |
| AB (Type AB) | AB (Type AB) | Type A, B, or AB |
| AB (Type AB) | OO (Type O) | Type A or B |
| OO (Type O) | OO (Type O) | Type O |
Your Rh factor is also inherited, and like your blood type, you inherit one of two Rh alleles from each parent. So a baby receiving an Rh-positive allele from each parent will be Rh positive, and one receiving a negative Rh allele from each parent will be Rh negative. If you have one positive and one negative Rh allele (making you Rh positive, as the Rh-negative allele won’t be dominant), you could pass either one down to your child. Whether or not your baby will be Rh positive or negative will depend on what is also passed down by the other parent.
Who can I donate blood to?
Blood type compatibility chart
What’s the best blood type to donate?
What happens if you’re in an emergency with no time for a blood type test? You’ll receive O- blood. Without any antigens or Rh D factor, O- blood is compatible with all other blood types. For that reason, people with O- blood are referred to as “universal donors.”
What is the healthiest blood type?
Can your blood type make you prone to certain diseases? While some experts say any possible effect blood type plays on health is insignificant at best, others say there’s a valid connection.
“The ABO antigens that make up our blood type are not only expressed on the surface of red blood cells, but they are also present in other human tissues as well,” says Dr. Sharma. “This provides the basis for ABO blood type to have clinical significance for various health outcomes outside the blood system.”
Are their diets based on blood type?
Naturopathic doctor Peter D’Adamo, ND, came up with a weight loss plan known as the blood type diet. This eating plan says a person should eat according to their blood type. For example, if you have type A blood, you’d eat a vegetarian diet. If you have B blood, you can eat most foods, and those with type O blood should only consume protein and vegetables.
But a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that blood type had no effect on body weight, body fat percentage, plasma lipid concentrations, or glycemic control in individuals consuming a plant-based diet, thereby debunking the merits of the blood type diet.
Does blood type affect personality?
You may be wondering whether your blood type predicts your personality traits. While this is a popular belief, there is no scientific evidence to support the idea. In fact, according to a recent study, no correlation was found between personality and blood type. Similarly, research has found no significant correlation between blood type and intelligence.