Blood is identified by its "type." There are four major blood types: A, B, AB and O. Each is divided into Rh positive or negative types.
| BLOOD TYPE |
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE HAVING THIS TYPE
|
| A positive |
34% |
| A negative |
6% |
|
| B positive |
9% |
| B negative |
2% |
|
| AB positive |
3% |
| AB negative |
1% |
|
| O positive |
38% |
| O negative |
7% |
*Source: American Red Cross, website, 2008 www.givelife.org
Type O is the most common blood type. Type O donors are referred to as "universal" because in an emergency, their red blood cells can be transfused to people who have any other blood type. Because any patient can receive type O blood, there is a need for O donors to give regularly.
For rare blood types, Rare Blood Donor Registries have been established by blood banking organizations. Individuals with rare blood types are asked to join these registries so, if a need for their special blood type arises, they will be contacted for a donation. For example, up to one-third of requests for rare blood is for blood types such as U negative and Duffy negative, which are found more commonly among African Americans. Rare blood may be sent anywhere in the world to help a patient.
Regardless of how rare or how common your blood type is, it's needed. Whatever your blood type, you are important to someone and should donate regularly.
