O Blood Type Cells and Antibodies

An adult man has approximately 5 liters of blood circulating in the body. This blood has different types of cells floating in the fluid known as plasma (contains other salt and proteins besides the cells). These cells include – red blood cells (transports oxygen to the body tissues and removes carbon dioxide from them), platelets (necessary for blood clotting), and white blood cells (to fight infection). Antigens and antibodies are certain protein molecules present in the blood. Different types of blood groups can be identified by the presence or absence of certain antigens and antibodies. The antibodies are located in the plasma of the blood and the antigens are placed on the surface of the red blood cells. The types and combinations of these antigens and antibodies vary among different individuals and depend on your inherited genes from your parents. The most 2 common types of blood group systems known today and used as reference for blood transfusions are ABO and Rh systems. Before blood transfusion blood compatibility is a very important criterion as blood agglutination or clumping can occur in case of incompatibility which can be dangerous for life.

Antibody Blood Group – O Positive

Blood group A has B antibodies in your blood plasma and A antigens on the surface of your red blood cells. Blood group B has A antibodies in your blood plasma and B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells. Blood group AB has no A or B antibodies in the plasma and has both A and B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells. Blood Group O has antibodies A and B in the blood plasma and neither of A or B antigen on the surface of the red blood cells. This is absolutely normal and the way our system is made. You can not question the rule of nature, like how blood group AB doesn’t have antibodies A and B in the plasma, blood group O doesn’t have antigen A or B on the surface of your red blood cells. But both these blood group are perfectly normal. Many individuals may also have an Rh factor on the surface of their red blood cells. This is also a kind of antigen and those who have this antigen, including blood group O are called Rh+. In those individuals who lack this antigen are called Rh-. So a person with O blood group may or may not have Rh antigen on the surface of their red blood cells. These blood details are very essential during blood transfusion or while family planning.