Do you know your blood type?

[AnneLovesGilbert]

DH didn’t have a clue but had a blood test at the GP today so asked in passing and was told they don’t have it on your digital records and despite having had two operations last year they don’t know. He’d never thought to ask anyone before.

I always thought mine was the same as both my parents, found out from some paperwork before a surgery it was different.

Neither of us can give blood but maybe if you can you know through that?

I found out I am A- when I was pregnant and needed anti-d injections. Have since had it confirmed when giving blood.

I don’t know my children’s blood types but my son must also be rhesus negative as I didn’t need the extra anti-d injection after his birth but I did with my daughter so she much be rhesus positive.

I found out mine at university (biology related degree) where we did a practical in how to determine blood type.

Confirmed again when I donated blood. Donor card states it.

Then mentioned again at appointments when I was pregnant.

AB+ the universal receiver. Can take anyone else's blood but only other AB+ people can take mine.

Yep, I'm A+ found out when I was pregnant.

Ah that makes sense! Thanks for the many replies. I have to say my GCSE biology is a long and distant past, but it's fascinating. I still don't understand 'why' we have different blood groups.

I still don't understand 'why' we have different blood groups

Same reason we have different genes for skin colour or anything else.

Generally it’s an evolutionary thing where a gene mutation confers an advantage so persists. O blood type, for example, is resistant to the malaria parasite.

Yeah, I think most people find out either through giving blood, requiring a transfusion or pregnancy. I found out during pregnancy.

I’ve always known (B-). I have 3 siblings and we all have different blood groups (one each of A+, A-, B+, B-). My mother is AB- (no one knows what my father’s blood group is). Both my DC are O+ (like their father).

Yes, B-. Used to sell the odd unit when working in KSA back in the 90’s as it is not too common a type.

I only found out when I was pregnant. I think the DC have theirs notes in their redbook because I was Rh-.

I'm O- anyway, but can't donate blood because of medication, which renders me rather useless.

@OublietteBravo

I’ve always known (B-). I have 3 siblings and we all have different blood groups (one each of A+, A-, B+, B-). My mother is AB- (no one knows what my father’s blood group is). Both my DC are O+ (like their father).

It looks like your mum was trying to grade you and your siblings

I’ve always suspected that I’m her least favourite child!

Even if you know yours they will check it before you have a transfusion.

In an emergency you’ll be given the universal donor which O-. Otherwise you’ll always be tested before needing a transfusion, which is why you don’t need to know. We don’t take your word for it as having the wrong blood can be extremely dangerous.

I’m ab- so very rare but not overly helpful.

Not a clue, why would I?

Yes, I’ve been giving blood since I was 18.

I know mine, I've been giving blood all my adult life, not sure if I knew before that or not, probably not.

Yes

O+ so is DH

Found out when giving blood but then forgot but I knew it was the common one that most people could receive. Been retested as I’m pregnant and figured I probably need to remember now.

So if I’m O+ and so is DH, will the baby also be O+ as it’s a recessive gene?

I only know from pregnancy and H got his via a DNA test.

So if I’m O+ and so is DH, will the baby also be O+ as it’s a recessive gene?

Baby will be O. Likely O+, but if both or you are carriers of the recessive rh- gene there’s a slight chance baby might be O-.

I’m O+, but my mum is O- so I’m definitely a carrier.

@InTheNightWeWillWish

If both parents are O+ then any children have a 93.75% chance of being O+ and a 6.25% chance of being O-. If both parents are O- then any children will be O- too. Not sure why there is a small chance of having a O- child if you are both O+ though!

www.omnicalculator.com/health/blood-type

Thank you @Hobnobsandbroomstick and @bluebluezoo I could work out the O side but I couldn’t work the +/- side.

Not sure why there is a small chance of having a O- child if you are both O+ though!

Because rh- is recessive. So parents could rh+/+ or Rh +/-. One gene from each parent. If you have one rh+ you are Rh+. You can only be rh - if you are rh-/-.

The chances of both parents being carriers of the recessive gene to produce a rh-/- child is very low.

@Hobnobsandbroomstick

"It might not be important to know your blood group but it is important to know if you have historic antibodies because they are not always picked up by the analyser each time. If you were in an accident and needed blood in another area to your local hospital trust the hospital may not know you have these antibodies. Therefore if you are worried ring your GP you are not wasting there time."

If you were in an accident and needed an urgent blood transfusion, then you would have two 'group and saves' taken (a blood test to determine your blood type. It is taken twice by different staff members to double check that it is definitely correct. You would then be given O negative blood which is the universal donor blood type, though males can technically also be given O positive. At my hospital we always have a few bags of O negative blood ready in case of patients with major haemorrhage.

Please don't worry or ring the GP!

That's not what I meant. I was talking about antibodies. The group and saves are to find out the blood group. I was talking about the antibody screen that goes along side the group and save. You can have a negative antibody screen and still have historic antibodies it just means the analyser didn't pick them up that time. Yes you get group O in an emergency but only because it's life or death an that's the only option. If blood transfusion knew about a historic antibody they can perform a serological crossmatch retrospectively.

This would be a rare situation and you shouldn't worry about it the reason I was making the point was that people were trying to discourage the OP from ringing her GP. If she is really that anxious she should be able to ring her GP. As should anyone who is feeling anxious about any medical issue and shouldn't be made to feel bad about it.

I'm O positive- common as muck. I know from pregnancy and from donating blood.