Does the Rh blood type still belong to the ABO blood group system?
RH blood type and ABO blood type are two distinct blood group systems, so the RH blood type does not belong to the ABO system. During routine blood testing, both the Rh and ABO blood types must be determined. Generally, 99% of people have Rh-positive blood; if someone has Rh-negative blood, special care must be taken during transfusion to ensure that only Rh-negative blood is used.
RH and ABO blood types are different concepts, yet both are part of the human blood group system. The ABO blood type is determined by the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells, classifying blood into four types: A, B, AB, and O. In contrast, the RH blood type is determined by the presence or absence of the RH antigen on red blood cells, resulting in either Rh-positive or Rh-negative classifications.
Therefore, RH and ABO blood types are two independent blood group systems. However, in clinical practice, both systems are typically considered together to determine a person's complete blood type. For example, a person's blood type could be A Rh-positive, B Rh-negative, O Rh-positive, etc.