Blood typing?

[Lynnie]

I am surprised you were not given that info at the hospital when he was born, we were.

Ha! No kidding. There are records of this, but getting them is another story. I did have my current internist run for blood type a few years ago. Got it, was told it, and quickly forgot it!

They have the records, though. I am not the really common type nor the dangerously uncommon type. Kinda like politics - somewhere in the middle.

 

[scooterbug44]

What movie is it "I'm an A, or a B - pretty sure it's a letter."

 

[barefootguy]

Don't go to Sacred Heart. It cost us $1000 for a simple blood test there. That was the no insurance discount!

Is there someplace to have simple blood typing done locally without donating blood or making a regular doctor's appointment? I know I can order a blood typing kit online, but was wondering if any local clinics offered the service, or if the kit is sold locally.

 

[Lynnie]

A positive or negative
B positive or negative
AB
O (positive? negative?)

And, I think there are others......it's not just A or B. Some of these can receive all; some can receive only one or two. I think one of the O's is very rare and so finding that blood match can be an issue. This is why at the blood bank, they check your blood type and must label it before sending it to hospitals. Also, they screen for blood disorders and diseases....some people are carriers of certain disorders, but not infected therefore not knowing they are carriers.

Blood banks do a lot of good for us...I remember a few years ago the banks were low. Go give blood, sb44, and get your blood type so you know.

 

[Poodleone]

Go to a blood drive; have them do a blood type; get on the table and act freaked out when you see the needle and tell them you just can't do it; eat a cookie and have a cup of punch; get an "I tried" sticker; donate $5 to the Red Cross...done and done.

You don't get typed at the drive during the pre-screening, that happens at the lab after donation. If you have donated before, your type will beon record but each unit is typed independently of who donated.

A positive or negative
B positive or negative
AB
O (positive? negative?)

And, I think there are others......it's not just A or B. Some of these can receive all; some can receive only one or two. I think one of the O's is very rare and so finding that blood match can be an issue. This is why at the blood bank, they check your blood type and must label it before sending it to hospitals. Also, they screen for blood disorders and diseases....some people are carriers of certain disorders, but not infected therefore not knowing they are carriers.

Blood banks do a lot of good for us...I remember a few years ago the banks were low. Go give blood, sb44, and get your blood type so you know.

All of the common blood types (O,A,B,AB) also have an Rh facor (positive or negative). The only "rare" type is the one that isn't on my shelf in the blood bank when I need to do a crossmatch. Yes, summertime is definitely a time of shortage- please donate. O pos (the most common type) can be "rare" when folks aren't donating as much as they used to. Some of the largest sources of donated blood are schools (closed during the summer) and corporations (closing due to economy). Approximately 5% of the population donates for the other 95%. I always tell people who can't donate (for many, many reasons) "Yes, but you can help encourage those who do or those who never have".

 

[SHELLY]

You don't get typed at the drive during the pre-screening, that happens at the lab after donation. If you have donated before, your type will beon record but each unit is typed independently of who donated.

Must have changed in the last several years. I've had my blood typed before donating, but haven't been able to give blood for quite some time because I spend time in the UK (mad cow and all). BTW, I'm O+

.

 

[Lynnie]

You don't get typed at the drive during the pre-screening, that happens at the lab after donation. If you have donated before, your type will beon record but each unit is typed independently of who donated.



All of the common blood types (O,A,B,AB) also have an Rh facor (positive or negative). The only "rare" type is the one that isn't on my shelf in the blood bank when I need to do a crossmatch. Yes, summertime is definitely a time of shortage- please donate. O pos (the most common type) can be "rare" when folks aren't donating as much as they used to. Some of the largest sources of donated blood are schools (closed during the summer) and corporations (closing due to economy). Approximately 5% of the population donates for the other 95%. I always tell people who can't donate (for many, many reasons) "Yes, but you can help encourage those who do or those who never have".

Why, thank you! I didn't realize pos and neg were called Rh. Poodleone, are you a medical professional? What are the current reserves? Or, do you receive national numbers like this? Thank you for helping me on this!

 

[scooterbug44]

What is the percentage of the population that meets all the qualification to donate blood?

Some of the criteria is a bit outdated IMO (for instance the one that no gay men can donate) and changing it would up the donations.

 

[Lynnie]

When I had a bone graft, my surgeon instructed me to give a couple of pints of my own blood, just in case! I think blood banks can hold your own in reserves? Poodleone?

Being underweight, they wouldn't allow you to give.......this is no longer my issue! But, I'm not sure what guidelines they go by now.

Good thread!

 

[Will B]

Yes, summertime is definitely a time of shortage- please donate. O pos (the most common type) can be "rare" when folks aren't donating as much as they used to.

Type O blood is the universal blood. It can be given to people with other blood types. It's not necessarily rare when people aren't giving as much (that's a given) so much as it is that type O blood gets used more often. Out of B? Reach for O. Out of A? Reach for O.

Too bad type O people can get only type O.