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Do you know your blood group?

(184 Posts)
Chestnut Sat 27-Mar-21 11:59:27

Well, do you? I don't understand why doctors won't test your blood group if you request it but apparently the only way you can find out is if you donate blood, which is not possible for everyone. I think that's unacceptable, everyone should have their blood group recorded on their medical record.
There are home test kits, not sure how accurate they are:
Home Test Kit

effalump Mon 29-Mar-21 12:31:28

Wouldn't your blood group be noted on your records when you have blood tests? Mind you, if you're quite young you won't be blighted with high blood pressure yet and having to have annual blood tests.

TrishJ Mon 29-Mar-21 12:23:41

I have had this problem for years. GP wants £20 to test me, really!! They say that you don’t need to know it, I said well what if I had an accident, they said Paramedics and ER will give blood that’s ok until they can cross match, which they will do even if you know it! So I still don’t know it! ??

Glenco Mon 29-Mar-21 12:18:25

I'm A negative and my husband is A Positive. All my babies are A positive so had to have an injection at birth to prevent jaundice. The first baby was a bit jaundiced It didn't cause a problem, but I believe it can.

GrammaH Mon 29-Mar-21 12:10:24

A negative. Extra injections when my babies were bornshock

SueLindsey Mon 29-Mar-21 12:01:21

I'm O Positive. When my daughter was 6 I didn't know what her blood group was and thought I should know in case of emergencies. When I asked our gp he refused to tell me.
Never did work out why. Is it in case i was trying to check who
her dad was? Not the case, I definitly knew!

Daffydilly Mon 29-Mar-21 11:46:16

I'm o negative, the universal donor. I used to donate regularly but after 2 blood transfusions and cancer they don't want it any more.

Growing0ldDisgracefully Mon 29-Mar-21 11:42:05

Interesting thread, as husband and I were discussing this earlier today, because of an article published suggesting different blood types had more or less resistance to covid.
Neither of us have any idea which group we are. It is also interesting the mixed responses in here, in that some people seem to have been routinely informed, yet others meet with resistance if they ask their GP for this information. Surely we are entitled to know, this information is after all, personal to us?

Maggiemaybe Mon 29-Mar-21 11:30:48

The important thing is, of course, that the details are on our medical records, which they are, and can be quickly called up. I don’t think any medical professional would rely on what we know, or think we know - we could so easily get it wrong!

Cindersdad Mon 29-Mar-21 11:16:41

The only reason I know my blood group is that I happen to be a regular blood donor. I'm B+ which doesn't always match my personality. It seems that way back I had ancestors from Asia. My blood goes to help patients with Sickle Cell problems among many others.

Flakesdayout Mon 29-Mar-21 11:14:58

I am A negative with Anti C + D. I carry a card. I got my anti bodies when pregnant as my sons are A positive. If I have a transfusion that blood must be irradiated, which means my white blood cells wont attack it. I carry a card for this too. It is all very interesting. I do think there should be a system whereby these details can be reached quickly if needed.

pen50 Mon 29-Mar-21 11:11:05

I know mine because I donate: O+. Partner doesn't know and can't donate - Type 1 diabetic. My kids were typed at birth, both O+ too - as was their father. Does seem a bit odd that we aren't routinely typed.

Diane318 Mon 29-Mar-21 11:06:08

I was told my blood group, which is O Negative, when I was pregnant (51 years ago). Because of this, my husband's blood group had to be researched, and he was O Positive, which was very relevant at the time. Fortunately, I had 2 healthy daughters without them being compromised by the Negative/Positive issue. However, sadly, I had a problem with my third pregnancy (a boy) who was still born when I was 7 months pregnant. I still don't know if the Negative/Positive issue was the problem.

AlisonKF Mon 29-Mar-21 11:03:48

I always assumed that information on one's blood group would save time in emergencies. Mine is O rhesus negative. This mattered when my second child was born with jaundice and had to stay in hospital for a week.

greenlady102 Mon 29-Mar-21 10:59:41

Elegran

Checking takes time. If you need an emergency transfusion, speed could be vital. It is something worth knowing - if you have an allergy you probably carry a card to say so, and being Rhesus negative is similar as having an allergy to Rhesus positive blood.

As for Redhead not being told the blood groups of her children - why ever not? She would have been told if they had allergies.

In a real emergency you get plasma. There is far more to blood groups to be known before you get an actual transfusion so knowing you are o+ or whatever doesn't actually speed things up, especially if you have recently had a transfusion.

cossybabe Mon 29-Mar-21 10:47:18

O yes, I know mine is O

sazz1 Mon 29-Mar-21 10:46:55

Yes I know my blood group from my maternity records.
If someone is having a haemorrhage they can give group O Rh negative to all other groups as its the universal donor

Ali08 Mon 29-Mar-21 10:46:41

I'm RH + A. I've known since I was a teenager. I think we should be tested at birth or very soon after. It's one of those things that I feel is important to know in case of accident, or if someone needs blood in an emergency and you know your blood group then you could maybe help!
I also think our fingerprints, footprints and ear prints should be kept on file along with DNA for future help if a child goes missing etc.

Craftycat Mon 29-Mar-21 10:45:26

Yes I do. Rho positive.
I found out aged 18 when I went to be a blood donor for the first & last time.
I had no idea I was needle phobic & passed out cold as soon as I saw the needle. They did not take the blood & suggested I wasn't really up to it & I should not bother again I never did!
Still cannot look at needles but know to look away now

Pippa22 Mon 29-Mar-21 10:43:42

I am AB+ and know as I was a blood donor but stopped when I was 71. There is less demand for blood now as many surgeries are performed in a less invasive way so fewer transfusions.

Estrellita Mon 29-Mar-21 10:41:37

I am A positive. My husband is AB negative. Our two daughters are A negative and had to have an injection after most of their pregnancies.

amazonia Mon 29-Mar-21 10:36:15

I'm AB positive but never had any problems giving blood. I found out during A Level biology - finger prick tests and thought I had done something wrong because I was the only one!

Chestnut Mon 29-Mar-21 10:07:49

Hetty58

Yes, I've known since my first pregnancy. I'm O positive, so was my husband, therefore all the children are. It's a good one to be, health wise, too.

Hetty, according to the chart I just posted you could have an O Neg child, so unless they've been tested you wouldn't know.

Hetty58 Mon 29-Mar-21 09:59:46

Yes, I've known since my first pregnancy. I'm O positive, so was my husband, therefore all the children are. It's a good one to be, health wise, too.

harrigran Mon 29-Mar-21 09:23:45

All women are tested for blood group when they attend ante natal clinics.
I am A+

Maggiemaybe Sun 28-Mar-21 12:36:18

I’ve always known that I’m B neg - my mother was told when I was born. I asked each time after the birth what our DC were and was told straightaway. With my third the doctor asked me what the first two were - when I said A neg and B neg he quipped that this one must be C then. He was O pos. smile