Do you know your blood group?

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!

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?

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.

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!

A negative. Extra injections when my babies were born

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.

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! ??

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.

I am O-, Dh A+. First DD was very slightly jaundiced and I was given the jag. Then I miscarried at home, no blood tests and no antibodies jag given.

When DD2 was born she was bright yellow, severely jaundiced and rushed straight to intensive care, put in an artificial sunlight machine. blood tests taken from her heel, also me and OH who was A+. She pulled through and we went home with strict orders to place her in sunlight whenever there was some.

6 weeks later my very excited GP, who had previously been a paediatrician, turned up at our home and explained that he had been asked by the hospital to collect more blood samples for research. Apparently, a very rare variant factor of group A blood had recently been discovered by researchers and locally the only known carrier was my DH. He explained in detail that ABO and RH were the main factors but not the only ones causing incompatibilities, between blood groups. In our case I had developed antibodies against this factor during previous pregnancies and that is what had caused DD2's severe jaundice.

I was advised that neither I nor my DH and DDs should every be a blood donor but I would be safe to have another baby as they would simply change the baby's blood in utero and all would be fine!!! I immediately decided that my family was complete.

Not really sure what all this is about.
My family and I all know our blood groups. The information was given to us by various hospitals at various times when treatments were needed.
Also, I thought that we could now access our medical records if we so wished.

AB+ve At university in Cardiff, studying human biology, we had to test our own blood to determine our blood group. Three of us, in a class of maybe 15 students, got AB as our result. Serious doubt was cast on our accuracy since fewer than 3% of the population are AB. Cheek! I went straight next door to the Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, where the Blood Transfusion Service were holding a donor session and became a donor! I admit it was not a public spirited decision but a determination to prove I was right! Hah! I was right! (I carried on donating ?)

Luckily, AB is the universal recipient for blood transfusions (discounting other factors) so we can receive type O, A or B blood as well as AB.

Maggiemaybe

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!

Your blood group is not always on your medical records and doctors do not seem to be willing to test you.

Why is it so important to know?

You’re right, Chestnut (I’ve just checked). It’s not seen as necessary, because a sample always has to be taken anyway before blood is given, as there could be a mistake on the records.

You learn something new every day.

If you know your blood group and carry it with you, you speed up blood transfusion treatment in an emergency. You also leave the "universal blood" for treatment for those that don't know it. I am O Rh neg so my blood is fine for anybody but I have never been able to give it because of my medication.

There is a thorough check when giving blood to a patient, mistakes are not made I used to be a donor before i developed hypertension and had to take medicine for this. I am A RH neg Good to know but not necessary to know.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Became a blood donor in the 60s and was given a little book with blood details in it and for stickers for each donation. No longer the system but through this yes I know my blood group.

A positive for me found out when I gave blood. DH A negative

I was also given a yellow card with my blood group printed out on it, this was with my first pregnancy.

O positive. Known since my blood donor days. Have a note of it in mobile phone case with drug details but maybe a discrete tattoo would be more use.

I’m O Negative, same as my mum. Anybody can have my blood but I can’t have anything but negative blood from same group as my body would fight it. I’ve been a blood donor for years and learned that early on. Also second and subsequent pregnancies had to be tested for antibodies as my body might reject a foetus with positive blood. Think that’s right.

Yes, I know my blood group. I would change Doctors had I ever been refused such information.

It's evident that some medical practitioners think, from posts here, they have a right to refuse their patients access to medical records. They have no such right. It could possibly be argued that patients are unlikely to understand notes in their records; that they might be worried by something they read and would be unaware of, but the bottom line is that copies of their medical records must be released to a patient - on provision of his or her signed and dated authority to the clinician for this. It is quite normal to have to pay a fee for the copies provided - in the same way that a Bank will often charge for copy statements or documents. But the patient has the right to copies of their own medical notes and records if they wish to have these at any time.

Yes, I seem to have always known it. I think it will have been recorded when I was having treatment at Alder Hey as a small child. Boring old O+ like most people ?

Of course! I'm a blood donor.