Blood group system
Blood Group System
The Blood Group System (pronunciation: /blʌd gruːp ˈsɪstəm/) is a classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system.
Etymology
The term "Blood Group System" is derived from the English words "blood" (from Old English blōd), "group" (from Italian gruppo), and "system" (from Latin systema).
Types of Blood Group Systems
There are 36 recognized human blood group systems, organized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). The two most important ones are the ABO blood group system and the Rh blood group system.
ABO Blood Group System
The ABO blood group system is the most important blood type system in human blood transfusion. The associated anti-A and anti-B antibodies are usually IgM antibodies, which are usually produced in the first years of life by sensitization to environmental substances such as food, bacteria, and viruses.
Rh Blood Group System
The Rh blood group system (Rh meaning Rhesus) is the second most significant blood-group system in human-blood transfusion with currently 61 antigens. The most significant Rh antigen is the D antigen, because it is the most likely to provoke an immune system response of the five main Rh antigens.
Related Terms
- Antigen: A substance that is capable of stimulating an immune response, specifically activating lymphocytes, which are the body's infection-fighting white blood cells.
- Antibody: A blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen.
- Transfusion: The process of transferring blood or blood-based products from one person into the circulatory system of another.
- Rhesus Factor: A specific antigen, often called the Rh factor, that can be present on the surface of red blood cells.
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