Vital Fluid
Blood is red
Blood type (or blood group) is determined, in part, by the ABO blood group antigens present on red blood cells.
What do you really know about your blood types? Why the terms are "positive or negative" added to a blood type actually? And why are negative blood types an issue of concern? Well, here are the facts 1) Antigens-Blood contains different chemicals for different functions, and "antigens" are one of them which produce antibodies. 2) A, B, O grouping-are the three most important human antigens and are classified according to their location on the surface of the erythrocytes. A person's erythrocyte may carry an A antigen, B antigen, AB antigens or no antigens at all(which is O)! 3) RH factor- this is another type of antigen in the blood, most people all over the world are Rh-positive. A person without RH antigens in the blood is RH negative. People usually worry to find a Rh negative blood donor as only a small percentage of people carry it. 4) Pregnancy and RH factor-This is a concern for pregnant mothers with a RH negative blood type and where the father is a RH positive. The child may inherit the father's RH factor. Complications may arise because the mother and baby's blood supply is separate and only a small amount of baby's blood reaches the mother's blood stream usually during delivery and the mother may develop antibodies; which may cause damage to the next baby the mother conceives. But not to worry anymore ! To facilitate the second child's birth without complication an anti-Rh is given to the mother after the delivery of the first child, so it can also be given during the first pregnancy. Thus, donating blood for people with RH negative is highly recommended
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