Blood Group

The Blood Group Test is performed to learn about the type of blood group a person has. The Blood Group Test becomes very important when a person either wants to donate blood to somebody or wants to receive blood from someone. (This is called ‘blood transfusion’) Doctors first determine the donor’s blood group before using their blood for a transfusion to another person. This is important because if the donor’s blood is not compatible with the receiver’s blood group, then there can be many serious complications for the receiver. The kinds of antigens present on the surface of blood cells help determine the blood group. Antigens are entities that help in differentiating between the body’s own cells and foreign cells. These can have dangerous effects on your body as, when the antigens identify any cell as foreign, they go on to destroy it. Based on the kinds of antigens present in blood cells, there are four major blood groups. Type A (which has the A antigen), Type B (which has the B antigen), Type AB (which has both A and B antigens) and Type O (which has neither A antigen nor B antigen). Rh positive has Rh antigen and Rh negative does not have Rh antigen. Ideally, someone with Type A blood group should only receive blood from someone else with the same blood group after making sure that their blood groups match with the help of a Blood Group Test. However, some blood groups can also receive blood from other blood groups. This happens as, in these cases, the antigens don’t view the other blood cells as foreign elements that can cause danger. Thus, the Blood Group Test is used to know the blood group of a patient, donor, receiver of blood transfusion. In India, there can be a shortage of the matching blood type for transfusion, especially in remote areas. Sometimes, people also face complications because of receiving an incompatible blood group. To avoid and overcome these incidents, it is better to have your and your family’s blood group test done beforehand and know your blood group. This will be helpful in both donating and receiving blood.