By The Numbers
The Components of Blood
Blood is made up of four different components:
red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma
Each of these parts plays a specific role in transfusion medicine. Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin which allows them to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. White blood cells fight infections and diseases. Platelets are the cells that create clotting when a person bleeds from a cut or injury, while plasma, the liquid portion of the blood, carries proteins and different types of blood cells around the body. New blood cells are made daily within the bone marrow in your body.7
Just as there are different components that make up blood, there are also eight different types of blood:
The most common type, O+ is found within 37.5% of the population and can be used in transfusions with any individual who has a positive blood type.
A+ is the second most common type found in 35.5% of the population.
The least common, AB-, makes up 0.6% of the population, while the universal donor O- is only found in 6.6% of the population. 8
This makes blood collection and distribution within our healthcare system more challenging and why we need constant blood donations.
[1] https://stanfordbloodcenter.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-facts/
[2] https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html
[3] http://givingblood.org/about-blood/blood-facts.aspx
[4] https://www.giveapint.org/ufaqs/how-many-pints-of-blood-are-in-the-human-body/
[5] https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-donations/blood-components.html
[6] https://www.ncbb.org/donate-blood/about-blood/expert-q/blood-facts/
[7] https://www.fairview.org/sitecore/content/Fairview/Home/Patient-Education/Articles/English/u/n/d/e/r/Understanding_Blood_and_Blood_Components_40309
[8] https://www.scbb.org/donor-information/right-type-right-time.html
If you can’t donate blood, you can still make a financial contribution and save a life.