Rarest Red: Is Your Blood Type in High Demand?

Every blood owner should also donate blood regardless of whether their blood type is rare or common!

Nothing in your daily life is affected by your blood type so it is possible not to give your blood type (or blood group) much thought but in the world of blood donation, blood type is of paramount importance. Have you ever wondered why a blood type like O is considered a universal donor or why the demand for A and B negative blood types is high? Have you asked yourself if there really is a rare blood type and If there is such a blood type, what is the rarest? Let us sail together to find these blood types and whether or not they are in high demand

Okay, what is a blood type?

Blood contains red blood cells which supply your body with oxygen, white blood cells responsible for fighting infections and platelets which aid in clotting. Those are not the only blood components. Your Blood contains another entity called antigens and they are special mixtures of protein and sugar, found on red blood cells and are inherited from biological parents. Along with antibodies, antigens are resident in your plasma and produce immune responses. These antigens determine your blood type and dictate if you fall under the rare or common ones. To know your blood type, you have to know that the different types are commonly categorized in two main methods.

1. The ABO method

In this method, the significant antigens are divided into two groups, A and B. Based on your genetic makeup, your blood cells may carry one or both antigens. The blood types are classified as:

• Blood group A with A antigens on the red blood cells.
• Blood group B with B antigens on the red blood cells.
• Blood group AB with both A and B antigens on the blood cells.
• Blood group O, your blood type is said to be type O if neither of these antigens is present.

Thankfully, as people with this medical condition do not need the excess blood, it need not be wasted as it can help other people.

2. The Rh (Rhesus) factor method

The Rh antigen is an additional antigen that may be present on the surface of red blood cells. The cells are referred to as Rhesus positive Rh+ if they contain the antigen. They are regarded as Rhesus negative Rh- if they lack it.

When these two methods of classification are combined, it results in the eight most common blood types. Most individuals have one of these:

How is blood type inherited?

So, the genes you inherit from your parents determines the combination of antigens and proteins in your blood. One gene is inherited from each of your parents to make yours. For instance, you could have the AB blood type if you receive an A gene from one parent and a B gene from the other. Conversely, type O is antigen-free and inactive against blood types A and B. In other words, your blood type would be A if you were to inherit an O from one parent and an A from the other.

The rarest blood type and how frequently they are demanded

Blood type AB is considered rare and least prevalent, at 2.7% in Nigeria. Even though AB negative blood is uncommon, there is little demand for it, therefore finding a donor is not usually difficult.

The R Null (Ro) subtype of Rhesus positive blood

Less than 50 people worldwide have this blood type, making it the rarest blood group. This blood type is known as the Golden Blood type, the blood has no Rhesus antigen (protein) in the red blood cells. It is a subtype of the Rh positive blood and it is possible that you have it if your blood type is O positive, A positive, B positive, or AB positive. The concern with the golden blood group is that Ro donations are extremely rare and challenging to come by. If a Ro person needs blood, they must rely on the assistance of a limited group of frequent Ro donors.

Nonetheless, there are certain other blood types that are rare but are also in high demand.

Other rare blood types

In Nigeria, blood group O is the most prevalent among the population, with a frequency of 55.3%. However, despite its prevalence, it is considered rare because there are not enough voluntary donors to meet its demand.

O- negative: The most sought-after blood type, O- negative donors, are also comparatively uncommon; they are utilized in emergency scenarios and other circumstances where a patient's blood type is unknown. Furthermore, O- negative red blood cells are the universal red cell donor, meaning that individuals of any blood type can receive transfusions of O- negative red blood cells.

O- positive: Individuals with blood group O- positive are able to donate blood to all other Rh positive blood types as well as to other O- positive individuals. O- positive blood is in high demand because more than 80% of people have a positive blood type. This blood type is of extreme necessity, hence, it is also the blood type for which shortages may arise frequently.

As you may have guessed, any donor with A- negative or B- negative blood type is also rare, and usually, they are the best match for recipients who are respectively, A- negative or B- negative.

Who is my blood type compatible with?

You can only donate blood to someone with compatible blood antigens. Blood donors who match Rh- can donate to both Rh- and Rh+ recipients. Receiving blood from an incompatible donor can result in a life threatening immune system reaction. For instance, Rh- recipients cannot receive blood from persons with Rh+ blood.

Is my blood type in demand?

Blood type compatibility is the primary factor that explains why different blood types are most desired in various circumstances.

• All things considered, O blood types, both positive and negative, are mostly in demand for emergency situations where a patient needs blood immediately.
• Blood type AB is the most demanded for plasma donations. Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that carries every other part of blood through your body. Although any other blood type can make a plasma donation but type AB+ or AB- are highest in demand.
• A positive and B positive are the types needed most times for platelet donation. Platelets help your blood to clot and around half of platelet donations aid cancer patients receiving the treatment because chemotherapy tends to destroy platelets along with the cancer cells.

Something to remember

While everyone's blood generally has the same appearance, what lies beneath the surface is classified using a sophisticated system.

All blood types are truly unique to the hospital patients who are awaiting a potentially life-saving blood transfusion!

Don't wait until you are called upon before you donate blood because whatever your blood type, it is needed, it is in high demand.