Why is it necessary to know the designation of the blood group?

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 history

Human blood distinguishes four groups according to the type of antigens and 2 large groups with respect to a certain Rh factor. But doctors did not always know about this. She was transfused long ago by doctors trying to save people's lives. In some cases, they succeeded, but most often such actions resulted in death of the patient. What was the reason, they learned only in 1901 thanks to the Austrian doctor, who discovered certain differences between the samples taken. In some cases, blood normally took root, while in others - the erythrocytes stuck together, which led to fatal consequences. It was this doctor who identified 4 blood groups and made the transfusion almost completely safe for health. For that in 1930 he was awarded the Nobel Prize.

About the group

What is the difference, and why there is a different designation of the blood type? It's all about the presence in the body of antigens - a kind of protein molecules, which 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 response of the immune system to transfused blood. Differences in blood groups are in the presence or absence of antigens A and B in it, plus the presence of antibodies to these same antigens in the plasma.

Designation

What is the designation of the blood group? It should be noted that in our country and in Europe the marks are somewhat different, but they are easy to decipher. At us it is accepted to distinguish groups simply on figures - the first, second, third and fourth. Foreigners also divide groups of antigens:

• 0 - the designation of the first blood group;
• A - the second blood group;
• В - the third group of blood;
• AB is the fourth blood group.

So what's the difference? So, in the first group (0) there are antibodies A and B exclusively in the blood plasma. In the second (A) - antigen A is located on the surface of all known red blood cells, and antibodies B exist in the blood plasma. In the third (B) - antibodies В "live" on the surface of erythrocytes (blood elements), and antibodies A - in the blood plasma; In the fourth antigens (both A and B) are on the surface of red blood cells - red blood cells.

About the Rhesus factor

And what is the Rh 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 the Rhesus factor - 99%, but not all Europeans - 85%. There is a division into two large groups, people can be treated as Rh-positive (RH +), and Rh-negative (RH-). Therefore, if you take all the units, there are eight blood groups. For example, Rhesus is positive, the blood group is second. The designation will be as follows: A Rh + (in Russia: II +).

Mixing

It is important for every person to know his designation of the blood group, because often this can save his life if there is no time for certain tests. So, if you transfuse the blood of the wrong group, clots of red blood cells may occur, blood clotting processes begin in the blood vessels, blood circulation stops, and a person can simply die. Interesting information may seem that people with blood groups such as 0 (Rh-) and AB (Rh +) are considered universal. The first are ideal donors, the latter are universal recipients.