The Research
Blood testing and research has been underway for decades now at the Red Cross. Scientists specializing in the field have been hard at work, collecting and studying the blood that falls into their hands. Red Cross itself is the largest single supplier of blood in the United States, responsible for nearly forty percent of the blood supply nationwide, and distributing it to thousands of hospitals and transfusion centers. Our scientists were some of the first to begin searching and developing cures for viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and the West Nile virus. Annually, the Red Cross collects 6.5 million units of blood from donors across the country, and continually delivers them to those in need1.
On average, human adults have around four to six liters of blood in their body. The function of blood is universally the same; it transports oxygen and circulates nutrients. But not all blood is the same-- there are many different blood types, and each one possesses their own qualities. Blood types vary depending on the types and quantities of different proteins in the blood, such as antibodies or antigens2. People's blood types are dependent of the amount and presence or absence of such molecules. Blood type is, most often, inherited from your parents.
Certain blood types can only donate to others of the same or specified blood types-- in short, not all blood can be intermixed. Mingling two incompatible blood types can result in clumping or other harmful circumstances2. There are four main blood types: Type A, Type B, Type AB, and Type O. Each one can branch into being either positive or negative. Type A has A antigens on your blood cells, and B antibodies in your blood plasma. Type B, rather, has B antigens on the red blood cells, and A antibodies in the plasma. Type AB consists of both A and B antigens on your blood cells, and neither in your plasma. Type O is a relatively neutral type-- it has neither A nor B antigens, but both A and B antibodies2.
In addition to having A and/or B antigens, there are many people who also have something referred to as an "Rh" factor. People with it are considered Rh+, and people without are considered Rh-. A person with Rh- can only develop Rh+ if they receive a transfusion from someone who is Rh+. Those with Rh+ cannot lose the antibodies, but will have no problems with receiving a transfusion from someone who is Rh- 2.
On average, human adults have around four to six liters of blood in their body. The function of blood is universally the same; it transports oxygen and circulates nutrients. But not all blood is the same-- there are many different blood types, and each one possesses their own qualities. Blood types vary depending on the types and quantities of different proteins in the blood, such as antibodies or antigens2. People's blood types are dependent of the amount and presence or absence of such molecules. Blood type is, most often, inherited from your parents.
Certain blood types can only donate to others of the same or specified blood types-- in short, not all blood can be intermixed. Mingling two incompatible blood types can result in clumping or other harmful circumstances2. There are four main blood types: Type A, Type B, Type AB, and Type O. Each one can branch into being either positive or negative. Type A has A antigens on your blood cells, and B antibodies in your blood plasma. Type B, rather, has B antigens on the red blood cells, and A antibodies in the plasma. Type AB consists of both A and B antigens on your blood cells, and neither in your plasma. Type O is a relatively neutral type-- it has neither A nor B antigens, but both A and B antibodies2.
In addition to having A and/or B antigens, there are many people who also have something referred to as an "Rh" factor. People with it are considered Rh+, and people without are considered Rh-. A person with Rh- can only develop Rh+ if they receive a transfusion from someone who is Rh+. Those with Rh+ cannot lose the antibodies, but will have no problems with receiving a transfusion from someone who is Rh- 2.
Finding Your Blood Type
Discovering your blood type is a rather simple process. A person must first give their blood to a lab, where it will be tested with reagents, each including one or more of the three different antibodies. From there, it's really only a matter of observation. Doctors watch for agglutination, which shows that the blood is not compatible with that certain other type. It's easiest to decipher a person's blood type by first finding out what type of antigens are in the blood2.
Up until now, it's been reasoned that the four aforementioned blood types were the only ones that existed. Type A (which can donate to other Type A's or Type AB's), Type B (which can donate to other Type B's or Type AB's), Type AB (which can only donate to other Type AB's), or Type O (which can donate to any other blood type)3. But recent research has indicated that there is a fifth, new blood type, much like Type O, and often mistaken for such.
Up until now, it's been reasoned that the four aforementioned blood types were the only ones that existed. Type A (which can donate to other Type A's or Type AB's), Type B (which can donate to other Type B's or Type AB's), Type AB (which can only donate to other Type AB's), or Type O (which can donate to any other blood type)3. But recent research has indicated that there is a fifth, new blood type, much like Type O, and often mistaken for such.
The Discovery of Type P
Type P, often mistaken for Type O, possesses many similar qualities to that of the latter type. It possesses neither A nor B antigens, but has A, B, and AB antibodies. This makes it fully compatible with all other blood types. Like Type O, there are no molecules on the surface of the red blood cells that could potentially create a negative reaction5. Because no immune response can be triggered, people with Type P are also universal donors. Because Type P possesses AB antibodies, it is much more resistant to diseases, and can fight off infections nearly three times as fast as A or B antibodies.
Type P is most similar to Type O blood type, and because of the striking similarities, can often be mistaken as type O. The antibodies in Type P that set it apart from Type O are hard for medical scanners and lab tests to find and accurately determine, which is why it has been kept under wraps and off the radars for such a distinctive amount of time. Some scientists are still relatively skeptical of the possibility that Type P is an actual blood type, and not a fluke or misreading from faulty machinery. It is too early to tell if Type P truly exists can "supersedes" the other blood types, but modern technology and further studies are keeping positive, and leaning in favor of the answer to be yes.
The characteristics of Type P are not only apparent in the blood stream; it's believed that people with Type P have an increased success rate at fighting off viruses, which can prolong their lives. It is also being guessed that those with Type P tend to have eyes in fairly abnormal colors, as far as iris-coloring goes, such as gold or purple. Scientists have limited tangible proof of such claims, but as they work to discover the truth behind Type P and the qualities it internally and externally possesses, they are coming closer and closer to aforementioned conclusions.
Type P is most similar to Type O blood type, and because of the striking similarities, can often be mistaken as type O. The antibodies in Type P that set it apart from Type O are hard for medical scanners and lab tests to find and accurately determine, which is why it has been kept under wraps and off the radars for such a distinctive amount of time. Some scientists are still relatively skeptical of the possibility that Type P is an actual blood type, and not a fluke or misreading from faulty machinery. It is too early to tell if Type P truly exists can "supersedes" the other blood types, but modern technology and further studies are keeping positive, and leaning in favor of the answer to be yes.
The characteristics of Type P are not only apparent in the blood stream; it's believed that people with Type P have an increased success rate at fighting off viruses, which can prolong their lives. It is also being guessed that those with Type P tend to have eyes in fairly abnormal colors, as far as iris-coloring goes, such as gold or purple. Scientists have limited tangible proof of such claims, but as they work to discover the truth behind Type P and the qualities it internally and externally possesses, they are coming closer and closer to aforementioned conclusions.