Blood Groups: ABO and Rh System
- Title
- Blood Groups: ABO and Rh System
- Description
Blood Groups: ABO and Rh System
Blood group classification is crucial for safe blood transfusions.
ABO System
- Discovery: Discovered by Karl Landsteiner in 1901 (Nobel Prize 1930).
- Types: A, B, AB, O — determined by antigens on the red blood cell surface.
- Universal Status: AB is the universal recipient; O negative (O−) is the universal donor.
Rh Factor
- Discovery: Discovered in 1940 by Karl Landsteiner and Alexander Wiener.
- Classification: Rh+ (positive) contains the antigen; Rh− (negative) lacks it.
- Clinical Significance: Rh incompatibility during pregnancy can cause hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Summary of Types
- Main types: A+, A−, B+, B−, AB+, AB−, O+, O−.
- Statistics: O+ is the most common globally; AB− is the rarest.
- Category
- Medicine
- Year of Discovery/Development
- 1901
- Key Person/Organization
- Karl Landsteiner