In the body of every living person there must be blood. And if in appearance, in physical and chemical composition, it is almost the same, there are still differences in it.
A bit of historyFour groups of human blood are distinguished according to the type of antigens and 2 large groups in relation to a certain Rh factor. But doctors did not always know about this. By transfusion of it, long ago, doctors tried to save the lives of people. In some cases, they succeeded, but most often such actions ended in the death of the patient. What was the reason, they found out only in 1901 thanks to the Austrian doctor, who discovered certain differences between the samples taken. In some cases, the blood normally took root, and in others, the red blood cells stuck together, which led to fatal consequences. It was this doctor who allocated 4 blood groups and made the transfusion almost completely safe for health. For which in 1930 he was awarded the Nobel Prize.
About the group
What is the difference, and why is there a different designation of a blood group? The whole point is the presence in the body of antigens - a kind of protein molecules that determine it to a particular group. Antigens are located in the blood serum and on the surface of red blood cells. And they are responsible for a certain reaction of the immune system to transfused donated blood. Differences in blood groups are the presence or absence of antigens A and B in it, plus the presence of antibodies to the same antigens in plasma.
DesignationWhat is the designation of a blood group? It should be noted that in our country and in Europe the marks are somewhat different, but they are not difficult to decipher. It is customary for us to distinguish groups simply by numbers - the first, second, third and fourth. Foreigners share antigen groups:
- 0 - designation of the first blood group;
- A is the second blood group;
- In - the third blood group;
- AB is the fourth blood group.
So what is the difference? So, in the first group (0) there are antibodies A and B exclusively in blood plasma. In the second (A) - antigen A is located on the surface of the well-known red blood cells, and antibodies B exist in the blood plasma. In the third (B) - antibodies B "live" on the surface of red blood cells (blood elements), and antibodies A - in the blood plasma; in the fourth, antigens (both A and B) are located on the surface of red blood cells - red blood cells.
About Rh factor
But what is the Rhesus factor? Does it affect the designation of the blood group? Of course it does. It is also an antigen that is located on the surface of red blood cells. It should be noted that almost all Asians have a Rhesus factor - 99%, but not all Europeans - 85%. There is a division into two large groups, people can refer to both Rh-positive (RH +) and Rh-negative (RH-). Therefore, if we take all units, there are eight blood groups. For example, Rhesus positive,
blood type two. The designation will be as follows: A Rh + (in Russia: II +).
Mixing
It is important for each person to know their own blood group designation, because often this can save his life if there is no time for certain tests. So, if the blood of the wrong group is transfused, red blood cells can clump together, processes similar to blood clots will start in the vessels, blood circulation will stop, and the person may simply die. Information may seem interesting that people with blood groups such as 0 (Rh-) and AB (Rh +) are considered universal. The former are ideal donors, the latter are universal recipients.