What's your blood type?
25 Jun 2024
Meet the NHS Blood and Transplant team for a quick finger prick blood test and learn your type.
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On Tuesday 2 July, members of the public who are curious about to becoming a blood donor can find out their likely blood type by speaking to the NHS Blood and Transplant team at Whittington Hospital.
A quick finger prick blood test allows the NHS Blood and Transplant team to give you a tailored message about your blood type, why it is useful and how often you should donate blood.
A quick finger prick blood test allows the NHS Blood and Transplant team to give you a tailored message about your blood type, why it is useful and how often you should donate blood.
The NHS Blood and Transplant will be setting up their ‘what’s your blood type’ stall at Whittington Hospital's atrium on Tuesday 2 July from 10.00am to 3.00pm.
Ethnically matched blood saves lives
Many people mistakenly believe all blood is the same and therefore it shouldn’t matter who donates it but that’s not true.
Some people are born with a very unique Ro blood subtype. You might this subtype it if you have O positive, A positive, B positive or AB positive blood.
Only 2% of regular blood donors have the Ro blood subtype, and it tends to be more common in people from Black ethnic blood types. In fact, you’re 10 times more likely to have this subtype if you are of Black African Black Caribbean, or mixed heritage.
This kind of blood subtype is very special because it’s used in treating sickle cell disorder – a disorder of the blood that affects the shape and function of the red blood cells, resulting in crippling pain called a ‘crisis’ and chronic anaemia.
Each year, a regularly transfused patient with sickle cell will need an average of 100 blood donors to stay alive so it’s really important for people with the Ro subtype to give blood to help patients like, nine-year old Miai who lives with sickle cell disorder and has already had eight transfusions.
Some people are born with a very unique Ro blood subtype. You might this subtype it if you have O positive, A positive, B positive or AB positive blood.
Only 2% of regular blood donors have the Ro blood subtype, and it tends to be more common in people from Black ethnic blood types. In fact, you’re 10 times more likely to have this subtype if you are of Black African Black Caribbean, or mixed heritage.
This kind of blood subtype is very special because it’s used in treating sickle cell disorder – a disorder of the blood that affects the shape and function of the red blood cells, resulting in crippling pain called a ‘crisis’ and chronic anaemia.
Each year, a regularly transfused patient with sickle cell will need an average of 100 blood donors to stay alive so it’s really important for people with the Ro subtype to give blood to help patients like, nine-year old Miai who lives with sickle cell disorder and has already had eight transfusions.
Save up to 3 lives in 1 hour.
Regardless of your blood type, NHS Blood and Transplant need ALL kinds to meet day-to-day patient needs and to cope with emergencies.
The NHS Blood and Transplant team can talk you through the steps about becoming a blood donor, and the process of getting your first appointment booked so if you are able to visit their stall, please do take the time to have a conversation with the team.
You can find out more about donating blood on the NHS Blood and Transplant website.