March 28, 2008, Newsletter Issue #88: All Humans are One of Four Blood Types: A, B, AB and O
Tip of the Week
Your blood type was determined by your parents, just like your eye color. Humans have only four blood types to choose from; A, B, AB, and O. These types are named for the kinds of protein that exist on the red blood cell's surface.
If you've ever had a blood transfusion, you know that your blood type is an important piece of knowledge. Some blood types are not compatible with one another, so the donated blood must be of the right type to mix with the transfusion recipient's blood. If the wrong blood types are mixed, clotting will occur, a dangerous situation that can cause death.
Called the "universal donor" because it can be transfused to all blood types, type O- blood donors are always in demand. Only 6 percent of the American population has this type of blood. People with type AB+ blood are called "universal recipients" because they can receive any of the other blood types. Only 4 percent of the American population has this blood type. The most common blood type is O+, with 37 percent of the population having this type.
If you don't know your blood type, your doctor can perform a simple laboratory test on a blood sample to determine it.
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