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.

I get calls for my blood

i am not only B- but also CMV-negative.

Unfortunately I’m also anaemic at the moment so unable to give blood 😢

Another AB + signing in ... there are a lot of us on MN.
Blood bank in my hometown used to ask me to donate specially, as "rare" type !
But yeah, we are pretty useless.
I encourage DH (O-) & DC (all B so far) to donate. They have useful blood types.

This is my understanding, too. I'm AB+ and give blood once in a blue moon because it's such a rare type and because we're the 'universal recipient'. I'd give plasma if they wanted it, but they don't. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do have the key ring saying that I'm AB+, though. I'm very proud of that.

Yes, it’s normal.

I’m AB+, yes it’s rare in this country, but as it’s a universal recipient, it’s not really needed.

Occasionally I’ll get a text about plasma or platelets being needed, maybe once every 12-18 months.

Hit send too soon. DBro is also AB+ and he couldn’t remember his number when he signed up so he gave them mine, hence the texts.

Oh yes same. O- is the holy grail!!

I'm AB- and was told that they don't need my blood type. I would like to give blood because I want to give something back to the NHS who nursed my husband, but it seems I can't 🤔

Seems that experiences can vary wildly by area.

I’m O- and three times in the last year I’ve made an appointment to donate, waited months for the appointment to come round because they had none sooner, only to receive an email a few days before telling me they’ve had to cancel. Sadly I won’t be bothering again.

I'm AB- so a little rarer, and they are always desperate for my blood. It's still difficult to book an appointment using the app/website. On a few occasions they have been desperate enough to call me, and book me in a short notice by cancelling other people's appointments.

My blood has another quality about it (not sure what it's called) and it's used for neo-natal babies and their mothers... so maybe that's why they're always calling me?

This is really interesting OP - I'm AB+ too and have been kicking myself for a while about not giving blood (I'm very needle phobic!).

Ab+ is rare but not precious

Is AB+ the one where you can only give to AB+ but can take blood from anyone? I can see how that would be less useful, but they normally take it for research (like half bags) rather than turning people away.

I'm trying to work this out. If an AB+ person can only give to an AB+ person, then they should also only be able to take from an AB+ person, correct?

I'm O-, I can donate to anyone, but I can only take O-.

I worked with someone who had a very rare group, D or something, and was always being asked to donate.

No it just means no other blood group other than AB+ can take it, but AB+ can take that plus a few more

Sorry replying to @steff13

I’m o- and had to stop donating years ago as I always went dizzy, but I’ve never been offered tunnocks tea cakes or Jacob clubs 😲. It was always a boring, run of the mill, biscuit. I feel hard done by!

I'm O+ plus CMV negative, which means my blood is used for neonates. I'm always hunted down to confirm my next appointment as soon as I've donated. It's worth it for the crisps

I’m b- which is the second rarest type apparently. A family never is AB- and they lovetaking his blood.

DSis and myself are both AB+ and so is my DH.

It didn’t occur to me that’s why I couldn’t book an appointment though.

@newtb there is no such blood group as D. The D part refers to whether you are positive (have Rhesus D antigen) or are negative (don’t have Rhesus D antigen). Everyone is AB, A, B or O then either + or -

A- If I haven't got an appointment booked, I get stalked to book one. 🤣

I did think it was suspicious that there were zero appointments for months on end!

That’s strange, I’m Aneg and I’m regularly asked to donate. I go every 16 weeks at least and my blood is definitely used because I get a text a couple of weeks after donation telling me which hospital it has gone to.

I have no idea of my blood group. I know it's something negative due to pregnancy. It's one of those facts I simply can't retain.