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Chart of Blood Types and All to Know About Them

Nov 23, 2017

Blood type is classified according to the presence or absence of substances inherited from one’s parents, called inherited antigenic substances. The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) recognizes 32 human blood group systems. The most important are ABO (it determines blood type - A, B, AB and O) and the RhD antigen that denotes the +/- status of the blood type (for example, A- or O+). Here lists some useful blood type charts based on ABO and RhD blood system.

Blood Type Transfusion Chart

Your blood contains antibodies and antigens, or natural defenses against foreign substances. Antigens (protein molecules), are found on the surface of red blood cells. Your blood also contains plasma, in which antibodies are found. Antibodies and antigens recognize any foreign substance in your body, and act to destroy the foreign substance.

Blood types are classified according to the ABO system:

A: contains A antigens and anti-B antibodies.
B: contains B antigens and anti-A antibodies.
AB: contains both A and B antigens but no antibodies.
O: contains no antigens, but contains both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.

Blood Type	% of Population	Can Give Blood to	Can Receive Blood from	Chance of Finding a Compatible Donor
A+	34.3%	A+, AB+	A+, A-, O+, O-	80% (4 out of 5)
A-	5.7%	A+, A-, AB+, AB-	A-, O-	13% (1 out of 8)
B+	8.6%	B+, AB+	B+, B-, O+, O-	60% (3 out of 5)
B-	1.7%	B+, B-, AB+, AB-	B-, O-	9% (1 out of 12)
AB+	4.3%	AB+	Universal recipient (can receive all blood types)	100%
AB-	0.7%	AB+, AB-	AB-, A-, B-, O-	14% (1 out of 7)
O+	38.5%	O+, A+, B+, AB+	O+, O-	50% (1 out of 2)
O-	6.5%	Universal donor (can donate to all types)	O-	7% (1 out of 15)

Notes:

O+ blood is found in nearly 40% of the population
People with type O blood must receive only type O blood
Type O blood is the only blood type that can be donated to people with other blood types.
Type O- is rare. Only 7% of the population has O- blood.
O- is the “universal donor type”; it is the preferred transfusion for babies and accident victims
Because of its scarcity and ability to be transfused into people with other blood types, there is always an urgent need for type O blood

Blood Type Inheritance Chart

Your parents determined your particular blood type. Blood type chart is used in cases of questionable paternity. The following chart explains how:

1. ABO Blood Type: determining child’s blood type (when parent’s blood type is known)

		Father’s Blood Type
		A	B	AB	O
Mother’s Blood Type	A	A, O	A, B, AB, O	A, B, AB	A, O	Child’s Blood Type
	B	A, B, AB, O	B, O	A, B, AB	B, O
	AB	A, B, AB	A, B, AB	A, B, AB	A, B
	O	A, O	B, O	A, B	O

2. ABO Blood Type: determining father’s blood type in questions of paternity

		Child’s Blood Type
		A	B	AB	O
Mother’s Blood Type	A	A, B, AB, O	B, AB	B, AB	A, B, O	Father’s Blood Type MUST Be:
	B	A, AB	A, B, AB, O	A, AB	A, B, O
	AB	A, B, AB, O	A, B, AB, O	A, B, AB	---
	O	A, AB	B, AB	---	A, B, 0

Notes:

For example, an AB mother and an O father can have a child with a blood type of A or B, but not O. An O child and an A mother means that the father’s blood type must be A, B or O (ruling out men with an AB blood type).

3. The Rh System

The Rh System is used to make the classification system more precise. The Rh factor, or the positive/negative aspect of blood, is inherited separately from the ABO classification.

		Mother’s Type
		Rh +	Rh -
Father’s Type	Rh +	Rh+, Rh-	Rh+, Rh-	Child’s Type
Father’s Type	Rh -	Rh+, Rh-	Rh-	Child’s Type

Notes:

The parents’ Rh factors may be incompatible. It is important for pregnant women to have a blood group test so that any complications don’t go untreated.
Rh- women who are of childbearing age should only receive Rh- transfusions to prevent complications with pregnancy.

Blood Type Population Chart

To ensure compatibility of transfusions, care must be taken to accurately blood type and carefully cross-match to avoid triggering an immune response.

The following chart illustrates the mix of blood types in the US population:

	Caucasians	African American	Asian	Hispanic
O+	37%	47%	39%	53%
O-	8%	4%	1%	4%
A+	33%	24%	27%	29%
A-	7%	2%	0.5%	2%
B+	9%	18%	25%	9%
B-	2%	1%	0.4%	1%
AB+	3%	4%	7%	2%
AB-	1%	0.3%	0.1%	0.2%

Notes:

The chances of adverse reactions are decreased when the donor and the recipient are matched ethnically. Example: since sickle-cell disease is prevalent among African-Americans, it is best to transfuse blood from African-American donors.

Blood Type Based Diet Chart

In his book, Eat Right For Your Type, Dr. Peter D’Adamo stated that diet can also cause a reaction in the blood. He promotes a blood-type-specific diet that restores the individual’s natural genetic rhythm. Dr. D’Adamo has assigned a comprehensive eating plan for each blood type, to maximize a person’s health.

Blood Type	Diet/Exercise
A (“agrarian”)	Primarily Vegetarian: soy protein, vegetables, grains. Exercise: gentle
B (“nomadic”)	Omnivore: meat, low-fat dairy, vegetables; avoid corn, wheat, lentils. Exercise: moderate
AB (“sensitive”)	Omnivore: seafood, dairy, most vegetables, tofu; avoid chicken, pork and beef. Exercise: calming.
O (“old”)	Primarily Carnivore: poultry, fish, lean meat; avoid grains, bread, legumes. Exercise: vigorous.

Notes:

There is a lack of solid evidence to support this diet and blood type chart.