At the time of emergencies when patient is bleeding heavily and needs blood transfusion it becomes essential to know the blood group of the patient to determine which blood groups from which the patient can receive blood from. This article will be useful for both doctors as well as public as it could be matter of life or death to known facts about blood groups and blood transfusion. Knowing this data is important as giving wrong blood to a patient can lead to mismatch transfusion (Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions) due to reaction between antibodies in recipient’s blood and surface antigens on Red Blood Cells (RBCs) in transfused blood. Complications of which includes head, chest and flank pain, fever, chills, anxiety, flushing, rigors, nausea and vomiting, urticaria, dyspnoea and red coloured urine. Late signs includes Generalized bleeding and hypotension.
Following table gives information about blood groups of individuals from which patient can receive blood from and blood groups of patients to which blood can be given (donated). There are many types of blood groups but I have only given details about most widely used types which is ABO type and Rh type. First letter is ABO blood group and +/- signs are about Rh positive (+) or Rh negative (-) blood. The ABO and Rhesus D groups account for the majority of reactions of clinical significance.
