What are special concerns about rare blood types?

Rare types of blood are more common than most people are aware of. There are four main blood types - A, B, AB and O - but more than 600 different antigens can be found in the blood types themselves. Problems occur when transfusions are needed and antigens are not compatible. Approximately one in 1,000 has a rare blood type. Approximately one out of 10,000 is classified as a very rare blood type. Common blood types share the common characteristics of antigen. For example, people with ab-positive blood can donate and receive from anyone. People with o-negative blood can transfuses for anyone, but can only get a transfusion from another O-negative individual. Possible combinations are lengthy and complex and become even more for people with rare blood types. The results of such a transfusion can result in shock, kidney failure and even death. Blood banks usually have very low or non -existent stocks. An individual with rare blood is often encouraged to give regular blood to his own bloodAnd in an emergency he deposited it in a local hospital.

Rare blood could be reluctant to travel outside their home country because of the possibility that a suitable donor may not be available. This is especially true if one travels to East Asia, where there are limited blood supplies. In the US, the American Red Cross and the American Blood Bank Association (AABB) have established a rare donor (ARDP) program. ARDP maintains a database of donors and reserves of rare blood. The European database and a bank of frozen blood of rare groups operating under the auspices of the European Directorate for the properties of medicinal products of healthcare operates a similar program.

Some rare types of blood are found in specific ethnic groups. Duffy-negative blood is found only in a small percentage of the African American population and is very difficult to locate it if necessary. Transfusions can usually be received only from another AfricanHo American donor, preferably with the same rare type. Even more rare is the Blood Group Bombay, which is incompatible with all types A, B and O. Those whose blood is from this group are only compatible with each other.

It is estimated that someone around the world requires blood transfusion every three seconds. This is reflected in more than 23,000 people a day. A person with rare blood should not be afraid of such statistics, but should take preventive measures to ensure that its specific type is available if necessary.