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 (RBCs). These antigens may be
proteins,
carbohydrates,
glycoproteins, or
glycolipids, depending on the blood group system. Some of these antigens are also present on the surface of other types of cells of various
tissues. Several of these red blood cell surface antigens can stem from one
allele (or an alternative version of a gene) and collectively form a blood group system. Blood types are inherited and represent contributions from both parents. A total of 35
human blood group systems are now recognized by the
International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). The two most important ones are
ABO and the
RhD antigen; they determine someone's blood type (A, B, AB and O, with +, - or Null denoting RhD status).