World Blood Donor Day celebrated worldwide on June 14, 2008, gives a standing ovation to the ‘warm blooded’ altruistic people who have donated their blood to save the lives of people they have not even met or heard of. Underlining the importance of voluntary blood donation amid the increasing demand for blood to support medical and surgical procedures, the theme for this year encourages people to ‘give blood regularly’.

Blood donation is a procedure by which an individual donates blood voluntarily either for immediate use in a transfusion or to be stored for later use. Blood donations may be scheduled either at hospitals or at a local convenient location. NGOs or other voluntary groups may sponsor Mass blood collection or blood donation drive. Not everyone is suitable for blood donation. An ideal blood donor needs to meet certain criteria.

The discovery of human blood groups was made in 1901 by the famous Austrian scientist Dr. Karl Landsteiner. A blood group individuals will have type A antigens on the surface of red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma. There are about 20 different subgroups of which A1 and A2 subtypes are the most common. B blood group individuals will have type B antigens on the surface of red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in your plasma.

Austrian scientist Dr. Karl Landsteiner divided the blood group into four categories being A, B, AB, O. He found that if these categories were not matched properly it could cause clumping or agglutination in the arteries and veins of the recipient and lead to a bad reaction that could sometimes even result in loss of life. Blood Group calculator which will give the probabilities for your child’s blood group in just 3 simple steps.

The Slide Animation provides you with comprehensive explanation on different aspects of blood groups, blood typing and blood donation. Blood group O is considered as an universal donor and blood group AB - an universal recipient. The red blood cells carry antigens on its surface and an antibody is used to find out if blood is compatible before it can be transfused.