5 ways to know your blood type, and why you should know it

Knowing your blood type is important for things like blood transfusions, surgeries, pregnancy, and emergencies.

You have several options to find out whether your blood type is A, B, AB or O, and whether you are positive or negative for rhesus factor (Rh factor), a type of protein on the surface of cells that can affect the compatibility of your blood with someone else’s blood.

Your blood type may already be recorded in your medical records if you have had blood tests, had surgeries or had prenatal tests. You can ask your doctor if he has this information available, or check the results of previous laboratory tests. Hospitals also store your medical records, which you can access to find out your blood type.

Your doctor may order a blood test to classify your blood. Blood typing is a procedure in which a health care provider draws a blood sample to send to a laboratory, where a laboratory technician can perform certain tests that reveal your blood type.

Blood donation centers write your blood as part of the treatment. They do this so doctors can make sure your blood type is compatible with the recipient’s when your blood is needed. After donating blood, you may receive a donor card that lists your blood type.

You can purchase a home blood type testing kit to determine your blood type at home in minutes using a finger prick. These kits are available online, in pharmacies or in some supermarkets. It is important to use only FDA-approved or FDA-approved tests.

About 80% of people secrete the antigens that tests use to determine blood type in their saliva. These people may be able to find out their blood type through a saliva test, which may be a good option if you have a fear of needles or blood.

However, saliva tests may not accurately determine whether your blood type is positive or negative.

Your blood type depends on whether certain antigens are present on the surface of red blood cells. Antigens are substances that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to your body. The ABO system classifies blood types into A, B, AB, and O based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens:

• Type A: He has antigens
• Type B: Has B antigens
• Type AB: It contains antigens A and B
• Type S: It does not have A or B antigens

Each of the four main blood groups may be positive (+) or negative (-) for the Rh factor, making up eight blood types.

Your blood type It can affect your ability to give or receive blood from people with different blood types. Most blood types are only compatible with the same blood group or O blood group.

O negative is known as the universal giver Because it does not contain an antigen, it does not elicit an immune response even if the recipient has a different blood type. Only 7% of the population in the United States has this blood type, which is useful in emergency situations where the recipient’s blood type is unknown.

A positive AB is known as the universal recipientAs it contains all antigens and can receive blood from all blood types without complications. Less than 4% of the US population has AB positive blood.

RS factor It is also an important consideration during pregnancy. If you have Rh-negative blood but your developing fetus has Rh-positive blood, your body may respond in negative ways. Treatments can help solve and prevent problems.