Type O blood is one of the four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on the surface of red blood cells. People with type O blood have neither A nor B antigens on their red blood cells. There are two types of O blood: O positive and O negative.
Type O blood is important because:
- It is the most common blood type. This means there is a high demand for O blood donations, especially O negative blood.
- O negative blood is the universal blood type. This means that O negative blood can be transfused to anyone, regardless of their blood type, making it essential in emergencies.
- O positive blood can be transfused to people with A+, B+, AB+ and O+ blood types. This makes it another important blood type for transfusions.
Here are some interesting facts about Type O blood:
- O positive is the most common blood type, followed by A positive.
- Research suggests that people with type O blood may have a lower risk of heart disease.
- Mosquitoes are more attracted to people with type O blood.
