To ask if anyone else can't donate blood due to their type?

[Glowup33333]

I've searched for an appointment between now and December 2025, even 2 hours away and there is nothing.
I am AB+ which apparently is a rare type that not many people can receive, so there is low demand for my blood. I donated a couple of years ago but I've been trying for a long time to get an appointment to no avail.
I'm eligible to donate plasma, but my nearest centre is 3 hours away (only 3 in the country) and I was told I may be refused at the appointment due to my weight not being what they required, so it didn't seem worth the risk.

It's a shame but not much I can do, has anyone else had this?

I am giving blood for the first time in March but have been told that my AB- negative blood is also not desirable as i think i can only help AB- and AB+ which is about 3-4% of the population.

I can't do platelets as I've not given blood before but hopefully that will be of more use eventually

I was told I may be refused at the appointment due to my weight

Can't they tell you the weight you'd need to be in order to donate?

I know that I cannot donate blood or plasma because I don't weigh enough.

Yes, AB+.

Basically got told don't call us, we'll call you 🤣.

Makes sense as only 2% of the population is AB+, and only people with the same blood type can receive it.

Only males can donate plasma btw, so if you're a woman then don't bother looking into it.

I have been asked not to give blood because it's difficult to get blood from me. Does it matter hugely? Nice to try to help out but I just thought oh well and haven't worried since.

I've been told on good authority that the majority of the time if you need a blood transfusion they just give you O- without checking anything else, as (almost) everyone can receive that.

The good news is that you can receive (almost) any type of blood should you need it.

Is it really a big deal? They don’t need as much of your blood as you say. You aren’t missing out on much except a free biscuit.

My dad was A-. After a transfusion, he got a letter stating that he was now AB- because of the type of blood that was used for his transfusion. I don't quite understand the situation, but assume that they had no A- in stock when he had his perforated stomach ulcer.

Only males can donate plasma btw, so if you're a woman then don't bother looking into it.
I'm pretty sure that isn't true.

I'm surprised that those of you with rare blood groups aren't sought-after for donations. Surely the low demand is precisely mirrored by the low supply, meaning that the few donors who have that group would be much needed?? (I mean, obvs I am wrong about that, but why???)

I'm the same type as you, op

Rare but not precious

AB+ here too, I have had my appointment cancelled a couple of times as they don't need my type. I also have the Ro subtype (i think its called) so im not sure if that makes it better or worse with needing this blood type. I've only achieved 10 times of giving blood in over 15 years but to be fair a lot of times I've been turned away due to low haemoglobin.
Do they ever call you? I usually get a call every few months asking if i can donate if i don't have an appointment booked, unfortunately I haven't donated for the last 3 years to due the haemoglobin issues.
It is frustrating when you want to donate, hopefully an appointment comes up for you soon!

Depends on your height and sex.
www.blood.co.uk/plasma/who-can-donate-plasma/

Only AB+ can receive AB+ (3% of the population)

But AB+ can also receive any blood type....making us universal receivers

My dad was A-. After a transfusion, he got a letter stating that he was now AB- because of the type of blood that was used for his transfusion. I

^

Is this actually true??

It can depend on the likelihood of people of a particular blood type donating. Some blood types are more likely in people of certain ethnicities, and there can be variation between different groups in how likely they are to donate, so you get a greater proportion of people needing the blood than donating.

I'm an O- donor and I get loads of calls reminding me to donate, and flattering me with messages about how valuable my blood is. Sometimes I feel it would be less pressuring if Dracula himself showed up at my front door.

I'm a B-, they don't want my blood as often either, no point in having loads hanging about if not necessary!

Women can donate plasma

www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/new-female-friendly-plasma-machines-will-enable-more-lifesaving-donations/i

An AB+ donor has three lots of additional "stuff" in their blood that other people might react badly to : (crudely speaking, A, B, And +)
So they can receive donations from other people who don't have that stuff (or only have some of it, eg a A+ donor) without serious ill effects, but they can't donate to anyone apart from another AB+

Only males can donate plasma btw, so if you're a woman then don't bother looking into it.

I think it might be true in Scotland, actually, as a friend would like to move from donating whole blood and isn't able to.

Certainly not true in England though, they take mine happily.

Edited to add - apparently some machines aren't 'female friendly', but they are being updated. Who knew?!

Thanks, @UnstableEquilibrium , that makes it clearer.

I’m A+ and apparently in demand but on a temporary suspension as when I went in last month (for what should’ve been my 10th donation) I got turned away due to low iron levels.

Booked to try again in June and hopefully will have heavier blood by then. 🤞🏻

Same here!

Another O here and I'm forever getting emails and texts. So it seems they'll contact you if you've got what they want!

Also O- and you do get bombarded to donate 🤣

Being O neg does make me feel a bit special - until I remember that the only 'special' thing about my blood is that it is so plain. It is the vanilla ice cream of bloods, or the ready salted crisps. No weirdy flavour that anyone could object to.