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Original poster

how did you find out your blood group?

35 replies

crapbarry · 28/02/2011 09:58

my friend and his wife are expecting a baby at the moment (after a previous loss), and he wants to know his blood group to find out if she needs Anti-D. He's just been told he will have to go private to get his blood group tested, as it's not considered a medical issue by the NHS. The home-tests he's used are inconclusive, so he isn't trying them again. How do you find out your blood group without actually being pregnant/giving blood? (he can't give blood for various reasons)

I gave blood when I still could (my work involves blood-borne pathogens so I can't now), so that's how I found out mine - and as I'm O+, didn't need to know my DH's.

OP posts:

CornflowerB · 28/02/2011 11:29

I used to work in genetics and the incidence of non-paternity is very high (i.e. the father of the child is not who the mother thinks, or says it is - I think it was about 10% in the research we were doing). For lots of reasons women may not want to reveal the real father of the child. The NHS has to put the health of the child first and it is just more straightforward to give all Rh- women anti-D. Rhesus disease is very serious and life threatening. Why doesn't she just have it? Apologies if there is a good reason like she is needle phobic or somthing. I'm Rh- and it never even occured to me to get my husband tested - I just had it. Anyway, it is far more likely that he is Rh+ than Rh- so they will probably go to lots of trouble and find out that she will have to have it anyway.

2plus2more · 28/02/2011 11:29

We had this same problem. Interestingly a friend of mine who is a GP in NI said they will offer to test the father (as long as there is no doubt about his identity and yes - they will generally take the mother's word for it!), but here in Scotland my husband wasn't offered the test. He could not give blood because of taking anti-malarials within the last few years (at that time you had to wait 10 years after taking anti-malarials before you could give blood again) so had to pay (I think it was about £20) to be tested. I know the risks of rhesus incompatibility as my aunt was a nurse who treated women who lost their babies as a result of it, (before anti-D was routinely given) and so obviously was happy to have the jabs if necessary, but I didn't want to get them if I didn't need to. GP did the test and then just sent my husband a bill for it.

What annoyed me more was that even though all 4 of my children were tested when they were born (if baby is rh+ the mother needs another jab after the birth, if they are rh- they don't), we never got told their blood types. I don't know why they couldn't have just told us as they had done the test anyway.

Original poster

crapbarry · 28/02/2011 11:29

thanks bucaneve - it's not her blood status that's in doubt, they know hers, it's her DHs, and he can't find the info anywhere - his parents think he's +, as they are, but there's no guarantee !

OP posts:

beijingaling · 28/02/2011 11:30

S'ok! I'm A-, DH is o +, dd is a + so I know of what I speak :)

I think that you have an approx 70% chance of getting the fathers rh but it really doesn't matter as she/ baby will be checked anyway. There's nothing to 'prepare' for either so no real need to know in advance.

One point though is when did she mc? Some drs give the jab after a mc. I had the jab after I lost my dc at 6w but I was later told this isn't usual practice in the Uk by my ob.

beijingaling · 28/02/2011 11:34

Sorry... To add... After 12w I think u get the jab.

Not sure my statistics btw... Just something I read once!

Zamboucca · 28/02/2011 11:35

My GP refused to do a blood group test for my ds recently, saying it would have to wait till he's old enough to give blood, and find out that way.

We're going to a hospital clinic to have the other blood tests - can I just offer them money to test for his blood group privately, or is it more complicated than that?

mousymouse · 28/02/2011 11:36

I was told the blood type of dc2 (but don't have it in writing), but for dc1 I was neither told nor is it in the notes.
annoying, I know. would save another blood test later in life if it is done at birth (and recorded).

Checkmate · 28/02/2011 11:44

Don't know another option rahter than having it done privately.

Though, given he's north American, do his parents know? Its routinely tested for out there, when a baby is born, and all over their notes.

My DH knew he was rhesus negative, as am I, so of course I turned down Anti-D. I am not going to accept a blood product that I have absolutely no need for. Each midwife in each pg I've had, has got me on my own (not hard, since men rarely come to ante-natal appointments) and explained very clearly, that I need to tell them if there is any chance at all that DH isn't the father, ad they can secretly give me anti-D and he will never know. As there has been no doubt, I have never needed it.

There is a small risk to accepting a blood product. And I know I don't need it.

Zamboucca · 28/02/2011 11:53

Yes, I want to find out my dc's blood groups so that we can exchange blood within the family rather than rely on blood products from strangers.

oldraver · 28/02/2011 19:29

Do they know the policy in their HA ? Most will give Anti-D anyway in pregnancy some like mine will give it if anti-bodies show up. I had Anti-D in pg with DS1 (24) but not with DS (5) policy for my area had changed

Is it that they want to avoid Anti-D if its not needed ?

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