Blood Group Test - More Information

The blood type test, sometimes known as an ABO blood group test and blood type blood test, checks the blood group and Rh type.

A blood type is a classification assigned to one's blood based on the presence of specific proteins on the red blood cells. The blood type test is used to categorize specific antibodies and antigens that exist on one's red blood cells (RBC). Although more than thirty different types of blood group categorization schemes exist, the most common ones used in the United States are A, B, AB and O and a +/- that indicates ones RhD antigen status. The Rh (Rhesus) portion of the blood type test checks for the presence of the D antigen. People with the blood group O can donate blood to people with any blood type but can only receive type O blood. People with the blood type AB can receive blood from any other type but can only donate blood to people with AB blood types.

People get a ABO blood group blood test for many reasons. Blood transfusion is a common reason as the recipient's blood needs to be accurately matched to the donor's blood to avoid something called a transfusion reaction. A potentially life-threatening condition, a transfusion reaction can lead to the destruction of one's red blood cells and severe organ dysfunction.

Most people keep the same blood type for life but, in rare cases, it can change. For example, people who have undergone a bone marrow transplant or experiences a severe medical condition like cancer or an autoimmune disease might change blood types. Blood type testing is also being studied for its usefulness in staging advanced viral diseases.

To get a blood group test near you at Quest Diagnostics, simply order online and get your blood drawn at the lab. Once your blood type lab report is ready, it will be available for download. As can be seen on the sample blood group lab results above, the ABO group and Rh types will be reported.