Human Blood Group Systems
Thirty major blood group systems (including the AB and Rh systems) are currently recognised by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). Thus, in addition to the ABO antigens and Rhesus antigens, many other antigens are expressed on the red blood cell surface membrane. For example, an individual can be AB RhD positive, and at the same time M and N positive (MNS system), K positive (Kell system), and Lea or Leb positive (Lewis system). Many of the blood group systems were named after the patients in whom the corresponding antibodies were initially encountered.
The ISBT definition of a blood group system is where one or more antigens are "controlled at a single gene locus or by two or more very closely linked homologous genes with little or no observable recombination between them".
Read more about Human Blood Group Systems: Blood Grouping Postulates, Rare Blood Types, Blood Group Systems
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