Two years ago I was filling out an application to volunteer at a children's hospital and on the form I was asked to indicate my blood type. Luckily, I knew by heart that I was type O-positive, but I wanted documentation to confirm this information. I called my mother to see if my blood type was on my birth certificate – no luck. I checked my doctor's health portal – no luck there either.
This made me wonder: How can anyone know their blood type if they don't already know it?
Not knowing your blood group can be a problem when it comes to your overall well-being. No matter your age or state of health, it is crucial to know if you are type A, B or O. Having this information can be vital if you ever find yourself in a medical emergency, and it makes donating blood or filling out certain forms much easier.
If you have no idea what your type is, you're not alone. According to a 2019 CBS News poll, only 66% of Americans say they know their blood type. Considering blood type can be essential to understanding your health, including your heart health – and to save your life in an emergency – it is important to know what type of blood is circulating in your veins. The good news is to discover your blood group is relatively simple and you have options. Below are three easy ways to find out your blood type.
Blood Type Basics
Blood type is classified into one of eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive, and AB-negative. But what determines the blood type and what does this blood type mean?
Blood types are determined by the antigens – a substance that triggers an immune response – present on the surface of red blood cells. There are ABO antigens, which designate ABO blood groups. This is determined by the ABO gene. For example:
- Type A the blood group has the A antigen
- Type B the blood group has the B antigen
- Type AB blood group has both A and B antigens
- Type O does not produce any A or B antigen
There are also Rhesus (Rh) antigens, which determine whether the blood is “positive” or “negative”. If you have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you are Rh positive. If you don't have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you have negative blood.
Blood type is classified into one of eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive, and AB-negative.
How to find your blood type?
Here are three main ways to determine your blood type:
- Ask your doctor to do a blood test
- Donate blood
- Use a home blood test
1. Clinical test
One of the simplest and most effective ways to determine your blood type is to ask your doctor to perform a test. A professional will draw blood and then perform two tests on the blood sample: direct typing and reverse typing.
In direct typing, the blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Depending on whether the blood cells stick to each other when mixed with the antibodies, your blood type may be determined from there. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type B blood, you have type B blood. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type A blood, you have type A blood.
To confirm the result, the next step is reverse typing, which means that the blood sample without red blood cells – called serum – is mixed with type A and type B blood cells. Type A blood will contain antibodies against type B blood in the sample and type B blood will have antibodies against type A blood. Type O blood will contain antibodies against types A and B. So if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with cells type B blood cells, you have type A blood, and if sticking occurs when serum is mixed with type A blood cells, you have type B blood.
I recommend calling your doctor's office to find out how much a blood type test costs and if it is covered by insurance.
2. Donate blood
This is a simple – and free – way to determine blood type, but the results are not immediate.
If you are donating to a blood drive, you can simply ask the staff for your blood type. Blood is usually not tested immediately, so it can take up to a few weeks to get results.
With at-home kits, you can determine your blood type in just a few minutes.
3. Blood test at home
Home tests are relatively simple. You will usually start by wiping your finger with an alcohol wipe, then need to prick your finger with a disposable lancet to draw blood. Then you will erase the blood on the card provided. Depending on how the blood dries, clumps or spreads, you will be able to compare your bloodstain to a scorecard. In just a few minutes you will be able to determine your blood type.
To learn more, try them seven ways to get more exercise in your daily routine.
#Blood #Type #Ways #Find
,
