Blood Group Blood Test, from our experts to you.
Dr Sam Rodgers MBBS, MRCGP

Chief Medical Officer meet our doctors

Expert Image

What is
a blood group?

There are four main blood groups and eight blood types, but some are rarer than others. The two most important blood group systems for transfusion are ABO and Rh. Your blood group depends on which antigens occur on the surface of your red blood cells - and this is passed onto you by your parents. For more on this, read our blog: what is blood and what does it do?


What can I learn
from this test?

This test will tell you which blood group you are in. That's important as not all blood types are compatible with each other.

Red blood cells have various proteins on their surface called antigens. Also, blood plasma contains antibodies which will attack certain antigens if they are present. There are various types of red blood cell antigens. Combining the above types will give you your blood group.


Who is
this test for?

Common reasons to know your blood group are if you're having surgery soon, if you need to have a blood transfusion, or if you are pregnant. Accidents and other emergencies can often be dealt with more efficiently if you know the blood group of the people involved.


What's Included?

Haematology
Select profile for more information

Blood group Red blood cells have various proteins on their surface called antigens. There are various types of red blood cell antigens - the ABO and rhesus types are the most important. Different combinations of these types give several different blood groups. There are four main blood groups: A, B, AB and O with each group being either RhD positive or RhD negative, resulting in a total of eight main blood groups. Your genetic make-up which you inherit from your parents determines which antigens occur on your red blood cells and therefore which blood group you are.

How to prepare
for your test?

Special Instructions

Prepare for your Blood Group Blood Test by following these instructions. Ensure that the person taking the samples does NOT affix printed label with your details on to samples. Patient name, DOB and ID must be hand written on each sample. Incorrectly labelled samples WILL NOT be analysed.