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ABO blood group
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What is it?
The ABO group is a classification of human blood types based on the presence or absence of A and B antigen molecules on the surface of red blood cells. There are four ABO blood groups – A, B, AB, and O – determined by which antigens (if any) are present on the red cells and the corresponding antibodies in the plasma. For example, individuals with AB blood types have both A and B antigens on their red blood cells, whereas individuals with O blood types do not have either antigen.
Why it matters
ABO typing is critically important for safe blood transfusions and organ transplants. Transfusing incompatible blood (e.g. giving type A blood to a type B individual) can cause a rapid immune hemolytic reaction, which is life-threatening. Clinically, ABO group must be matched between donor and recipient to prevent acute hemolytic transfusion reactions and it is also considered in hemolytic disease of the newborn (though ABO incompatibility in pregnancy usually causes only mild newborn jaundice compared to Rh incompatibility).
Reference ranges
ABO Group is reported as either A, B, AB, or O. There are no reference ranges and no optimal range.
Storry, Jill R., and Martin L. Olsson. “The ABO blood group system revisited: a review and update.” Immunohematology, vol. 25, 2009, pp. 48–59.
Franchini, Massimo, and Giuseppe Lippi. “The intriguing relationship between the ABO blood group, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.” BMC Medicine, vol. 13, 2015, p. 7.
This information is educational and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your health history.
