B Blood Type

Blood type B is one of the four blood types, or groups, of the ABO blood typing categorization. Those with blood type B can accept certain blood types but not others. Transfusing the wrong blood type can lead to an immune response which destroys all the invading cells, clumping of the blood, and even death.

Surface Markers

Surface markers on the red blood cell membrane distinguish blood groups from each other. Type A has a different one from type B. Type AB has both of these markers. Type O has neither.

Type B Recipients

The immune system of someone with type B blood identifies type A surface markers as foreign. Therefore, type A and AB blood transfusions are incompatible for a recipient with blood type B. Such recipients can receive types B and O.

Type B Donors

Compatible recipients of type B blood include those with type B or AB blood. Those with type A and O blood reject type B infusions.

Blood Type B Frequency

Type B blood appears in less than 5% of the North and South American population. Only 16.7% of humanity has it. This is not the rarest blood type though. Type AB is, at 2.7%.

World Distribution of Type B

The highest incidence of type B blood is found in central Asia. A map of world type B distribution is available at the Palomar College website.

References

• Death of Transplant Recipient Due to Blood Type Mix-up
• Distribution of Blood Types
• Distribution of Blood Types

Resources

• Palomar College: Distribution of Blood Types