Week 2: blood groups

A blood type (also called a blood group) is a classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells.Blood types are inherited and represent contributions from both parents. A total of 30 human blood group systems are now recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion.If an individual is exposed to a blood group antigen that is not recognised as self, the immune system will produce antibodies that can specifically bind to that particular blood group antigen, and an immunological memory against that antigen is formed. The individual will have become sensitized to that blood group antigen. These antibodies can bind to antigens on the surface of transfused red blood cells, often leading to destruction of the cells by recruitment of other components of the immune system.

O+	A+					B+	AB+	O−	A−	B−	AB−
Austria	30%					33%	12%	6%	7%	8%	3%			1%
Belgium	38.1%					34%	8.5%	4.1%	7%	6%	1.5%			0.8%
Canada	39%					36%	7.6%	2.5%	7%	6%	1.4%			0.5%
Denmark	35%					37%	8%	4%	6%	7%	2%			1%
Finland	27%					38%	15%	7%	4%	6%	2%			1%
France	36%					37%	9%	3%	6%	7%	1%			1%
Germany	35%					37%	9%	4%	6%	6%	2%			1%
Hong Kong, China	40%					26%	27%	7%	0.3% <0.3%	0.3% <0.3%	0.3%<0.3%			0.3%<0.3%
Ireland	47%					26%	9%	2%	8%	5%	2%			1%
Korea, South	35.2%					28.1%	26.1%	11.3%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%			0.05%
Netherlands	39.5%					35%	6.7%	2.5%	7.5%	7%	1.3%			0.5%
New Zealand	38%					32%	9%	3%	9%	6%	2%			1%
Norway	34%					42.5%	6.8%	3.4%	6%	7.5%	1.2%			0.6%
Poland	31%					32%	15%	7%	6%	6%	2%			1%
Sweden	32%					37%	10%	5%	6%	7%	2%			1%
Turkey	29.8%					37.8%	14.2%	7.2%	3.9%	4.7%	1.6%			0.8%
UK	37%					35%	8%	3%	7%	7%	2%			1%
USA	37.4%					35.7%	8.5%	3.4%	6.6%	6.3%	1.5%			0.6%