I've seen references to both "O negative" and "O positive." Does anyone with recent medical knowledge know which it is?

It's me! O positive.

There's universal donor and universal receiver.

O+ isn't it, I think, because someone with - blood can't handle +.

the universal blood donor type is O negative, which has no antigens in it, so anyone can have it. it's kind of rare, though. O positive can be transfused into any positive person. The universal recipient is AB positive, which has all the antigens, so those people can receive any kind of blood. there are lots of permutations of who can get what, i believe. the main thing is, all blood is good, and there are shortages around the holidays, so go donate some. it's a fabulous gift when done in someone's name or memory, too.

*deedee*

My dad is AB- and apparentally it's one of the rarer blood types so the Red Cross was always calling him to donate.

Well, that was until he was traveling too much to donate regularly and the Red Cross lady on the phone yelled at me on the phone and then gave him attitude the next time they got him on the phone. Dad said he won't donate to them until they find better people to call.

And from what others have said, the attitude on the phone isn't unique. What a shame, there's already so few people who donate blood and then they lose people because of their attitude...

Yeah that is pretty sad. Donating blood is a good thing after all and helps out those in need. You're incredibly selfish if you stop someone from donating blood becuase you have an attitude problem.

I used to donate but was told they don't want me any more, sobs. My crime is having acupuncture, even though they use new needles every time.

The problem is that the practice is not as well controlled and monitored as the more conventional medical and surgical techniques. Reputable practioners of acupuncture undoubtedly have high standards of hygene, but there are possibly others which do not. The risk, though small, is too great for those accepting blood from donors.

Does any body know how you would get to be 0+/-? I mean what your parents would have to be. I've always wondered. Also If I've had a blood test would my doctor know my blood type? If he does, can I just ask him and he'll tell me or what? I think it's important that I know, but I have an irrational fear of needles, so I'm hoping my doctor already knows lol

"Does any body know how you would get to be 0+/-? I mean what your parents would have to be. I've always wondered."

My biology may be a bit rusty, and since I am writing this at work, I cannot consult any of my reference books at home to check on this, however, if my memory serves me correctly, to inherit the O blood group, only one of your parents needs to be an O.

The + and - refers to the Rhesus factor. If both your parents are -ve, they don't have the factor, so you cannot inherit it. If only one of them has it, you could be either positive or negative, depending upon whether you inherit it from that parent. If both are positive for the factor, you will be positive.

(I hope I've remembered all that correctly!) Hope this helps.




"If I've had a blood test would my doctor know my blood type? If he does, can I just ask him and he'll tell me or what?"

I don't know if your country is the same as Australia, but over here, blood typing is not done automatically just because you have had a blood test. Normally blood typing is only done by the pathology lab if it has been specifically requested.

Nemesis, it is important that you know your blood type. If your blood type is rare, you may even want to stock up with some of your own blood with a hospital or blood bank if you are told that you need surgery in the near future.

My blood type, O positive, was determined many years ago when I joined the military. It wasn't voluntary, but mandatory, in case of an injury requiring transfusion.

It doesn't take long for a hospital lab to type your blood in case you are injured and comatose, but you can't be given whole blood until the typing is done.

The first time I had ever had blood drawn, I fainted dead away. Probably because I watched the corpsman take it and he used a much larger and duller needle than is used today. Now, I get blood drawn every year for my annual physical and it's really painless. Just don't look!

I know it's important, plus I'm just curious. I think I'll ask my doctor about it, thank you for the information.

You usually can be given blood while it is typed and crossed, as long as it is O-. There are of course exceptions, but those are extremely rare.

In theory, the O negative group is the "universal donor" because this blood group contains no A, B or Rh antigens. Although you might be able to receive a different blood type in theory, the situation in reality is that the blood is always matched exactly where possible. This is because there are other antigens besides A, B and Rh which can be present.

I'm O Rh -. I suppose thats why the vampires from Canadian Blood Services call me every 61 days for a fresh pint...

Woody,

You have the same blood type as my six-year old son who happens to love the character "Woody" from "Toy Story" a lot. I have to buy a new CD every time the old one can't be played anymore.
It is not a common blood type here in my country (the doctors had to confirm and reconfirm so that there was no mistake) but supply is available in case we need it. We do not know where he gets it because neither one of us is 0-.

snhha

My husband is O neg. Most medical facilities will only transfuse O neg. I am O pos. The blood bank dont get half as excited over my contributions as they do over my husbands.