Medically reviewed by Amelia MacIntyre, DO One of the most important characteristics of blood is its type. Knowing your blood ...

Healthcare professionals classify blood type according to the presence or absence of antigens, which are proteins attached to red blood cells. Of the eight main blood types, AB- is the least common.

What makes your blood different from someone else’s is your unique combination of protein molecules, called antigens and antibodies. Antigens live on the surface of your red blood cells.

Your blood type may be the secret to understanding how healthy your heart is.

The immune system responds to an infection by producing antibodies that recognize and bind to the cell surface of the ...