Health Care Talk

Blood Groups

Blood can be divided into four main groups- A, B, O and AB. These depend on the presence or absence of antibodies which will attack and break down the red cells of a deferens group, e.g. if blood group A is given to a patient of group O-the antibodies of the patient destroy the transfused red cells causing severe illness with shaking and fever.

The A, B, O groups can be further sub-divided into rhesus positive and rhesus negative (see RHESUS FACTOR).All patients must receive the correct ABO and rhesus group blood for successful transfusion.

Patients often wish to know their blood group. The best way to find out is to enroll as blood donor. You will be tested immediately. In disputed paternity, blood groups can sometimes be used to prove that a man is not the father; they can never prove that he is.

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