Can't give blood until further notice as my blood type is too rare?

[Clubtropicanadrinksarenotfree]

Has anyone else heard this? I've been trying to get an online appointment for ages but it kept saying they were fully booked which I found odd, as they always need blood donations.
It said they were full for the next year which just didn't seem right, so I went into the centre on Friday.
I have given blood there before a few years ago, but I was told that as my blood type is very rare they generally don't need any more of this type, so that's why I can't get an appointment ever.
It's a shame but what can I do, just keep trying.

Ah I suppose it makes sense, if they have a good stock of A+ to give to the many A+ patients, then they can save the O- for other blood types?

This thread has reminded me to book an appointment!

I still have the letter from the blood transfusion people dumping me. Essentially to tell me "it's not us, it's you"

Us AB+ people are takers not givers though! 😝Women AB+ blood is even more useless because they don't take either plasma or platelets (can't remember which) from people who may have been pregnant.

How can I find out my blood group without donating?
My veins are rubbish and I was taken off the list because I'm more hassle than my blood is worth.
But they never got any!
What if I'm O neg!

If you're whole blood is not needed the. Just donate plasma or platelets if you want to help. Plasma you can donate every couple of weeks as well.

I'm O- and constantly get no barred with texts, calls and E-mails. It's never ending. But then when I try and book an appointment there's none for three months 🤷🏼‍♀️

Also they've reduced frequency for all donors to give blood, used to be 12 weeks but they shifted it to 16wks - all because a lot of surgeries are keyhole non-invasive procedures so less need for loads of blood. - so they were having to throw away donated blood as it has a limited shelf life. Primarily here though yes down to how 'useful' your blood type is in terms of how many people can receive it. Being willing is great though and I'm sure they're grateful to have potential donors on call in case of need. Treat yourself to a Tunnocks tea cake or some Tuc biccies anyway

Maybe it depends on where you live as to how "keen" they are to get you in?

Thanks for all the info, I'm not taking it personally was just interested to hear if others had had this issue

I’m O neg and love the special hotline facility too!

I'm O negative but can't donate because I had a blood transfusion when DD was born. It wasn't in the UK but they still don't want me donating here in UK. It's quite frustrating as they were running out of O neg when I was having the transfusion so I know it's not always easy to get hold of.

Also not sure if I misunderstood but I'm fairly sure when I went she said that only men can donate their plasma?

It means recipient demand is low so the blood service won't take what isn't needed.

I'm AB- they said not to call them, they'd call me some years ago. They haven't.

I'm AB- I think that's rare one

My dad and son both give blood regularly but they told me, AB+ to bugger off very politely and to wait to be called am quite reassured by how many of us there are on here

They used to let women donate plasma and still can in theory but they have to test for presence of 'baby antibodies' (non-science informed term) if you've been pregnant (I used to donate platelets and they keep saying they'll see if they need from women again, but it clearly isn't a priority)

Curious to know why you were offended?
It's about demand and supply. The blood service doesn't take what isn't needed, to avoid wastage.
As ex nhsbt staff, I can tell you there's an immense amount of logic and sense behind this.

I remember after the 7/7 bombings they were really low on blood and my phone was ringing off the hook (O neg). It was like 'orange club biscuits for life if you would just come in and open your veins.' awful.

"Fresh frozen plasma from female donors is not currently used because it is more likely to contain antibodies that could cause a serious reaction when given to a patient." Taken from this page:

www.blood.co.uk/why-give-blood/how-blood-is-used/blood-components/plasma/

Exactly my problem too. Frustrating when you want to help, but it can't be helped.

I used to work in processing at a blood bank.

AB's are useful for universal plasma but generally only male donors are used for plasma products.

We were told that the AB (and A I think) plasma products were sent to war zones where trauma meant not always possible to match (this was about 15/16 years ago).

Female blood units are used for red cells & pooling platelets - but 3x Female platelets often would be pooled with male donor plasma.

If you are getting regular calls for appointments particularly if you are a B blood group there may be a specific patient requiring your blood I.e. thalassemia patients require regular transfusions and tend to be from the same backgrounds as are more commonly B. Additionally the blood products going to people requiring regular transfusions require more processing - as I recall they require spinning in a centrifuge 3 times rather than one so increased likelihood of a pack bursting.

I’m o- used to be underweight, but don’t think I am any more, however they’ve really reduced the blood donation service and no longer have a clinic near me.

How weird I was literally just thinking about this today, and I’m AB+ too!! Only 2% of the population but half of them must be on this thread

Universal recipients but limited donors (blood wise). Correct about the plasma/ platelet donation though. Anyone can receive AB+ plasma and AB+, A+, B+, O+ can receive AB+ platelets.

I would definitely donate plasma/platelets but unsure how to express interest and would have to undergo the testing for antibodies, too

I'm A rhesus negative and have never been able to donate blood. FIL was the same and he couldn't either,he was told that it's too rarely needed.

Same here. I got a "thanks but no thanks" letter when I lived in England. They're not so fussy in Wales, especially as AB+ has plasma that can be used in neonatals and research.