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I asked my doc for that info last time I went but got fobbed off with some waffle about them not having that info - surely that can't be correct?
Anyway, how do I find out if the doc won't tell me? (short of getting myself damaged enough to need a transfusion)
Sign up as blood donor 🙂
you can buy a kit (iirc off e bay) we used it when we needed the details for an overseas mtb race entry form
I found out mine by donating blood, but id be very surprised if it's not on your medical records. Try asking another GP
Well that's what I thought, its not as if I haven't had a whole series of operations over the years that will have required a transfusion.
Hmm, wonder why they wouldn't tell me?
It won't be on your medical records unless you have had a type test. Routine sampling and testing is not done for no reason.
Please don't use the Blood Donor method unless you intend to continue to donate. Your first donation would only be used for tests to check your suitability to donate. A waste of money and resources that could be used for a genuine donor.
Just ask your GP for a type test. You may have to pay.
#I'llGetOffMySoapboxNow.
EDIT: If you've had a transfusion you wouldn't be allowed to donate anyway.
Your GP didn't want to tell you you are adopted. 😉
I asked my doctor about this years ago, and he was pretty dismissive, couldn't understand why I wanted to know, but eventually caved in and took a sample. He basically said that if you need a transfusion or give blood it gets checked, but otherwise it's not important.
My reason was because my dad had a rare group, and I was curious about mine. Turns out I'm boring O+
Count Zero - pretty much the answer I was given!
I only really want to know for I.D. purposes, so I can have my blood type on the meditag thing. Don't suppose its that important but I'd like to know.
I'm adopted? <starts internet search for shortarse millionaires...
Bernie Ecclestone - DADDYYYYYY!!!!!
😆
What about Dudley Moore way cooler
Please don't use the Blood Donor method unless you intend to continue to donate. Your first donation would only be used for tests to check your suitability to donate. A waste of money and resources that could be used for a genuine donor.
Not true - the first donation is perfectly viable. Blood tests are done by siphoning off a few ml of blood before draining the rest into the plastic bag.
I only do it for the free biscuits, anyway.
Isn't Dudley Moore dead though?
The question is why aren't you a blood donor? Get signed up and get donating. You'll find out your type and hopefully help save a life in the process. It's a win win situation. Plus free biscuits. 🙂
I cant be a blood donor for several reasons I'm afraid.
Fair doos. I'd press your doc for a test then. I presume you're willing to pay if necessary?
Yeah, mo worries about paying for it. How much is a test?
About a fiver.
Pointless having it on a meditag thing anyway to be honest. If you come to see me in an emergency your getting O -ve (or maybe O +ve if I'm in that sort of mood). If you need it for an op, your getting a crossmatch before you go in.
We don't and can't rely on a tag dangling around someone's neck.
If it's just coz you're interested, you're probably going to have to pay. Your GP may not have this info on his system as you generally only get crossmatched/transfusions at hospital (meaning the results are on their system) and is of no relevance to your GP.
It does seem strange after all these years of various blood samples I still don't know my blood type!
I think I said O- on my MSA license as I couldn't be arsed with the doctor I had at the time.
My blood type is about 6%ABV at this time of night
Join the forces and they will print it on your dog tags free of charge
Still can't see why you need to know...
Go give blood if it really is some thing you think you need to know.
If you do take up blood donatering (I know you can't, just speaking hypothetically, like), stick at it and become a component donor, they can then tell you your haematocrit. 🙂
(Maybe they keep that info for whole blood donors, but I didn't find out mine till I switched to component. )
Haha, was it over 50? 😛
had mine done at a private clinic - 60 quid.
took blood , sent it away - 2 days later i got a letter and a card with the data on.
requirement of work to carry it with me when out of the country.
some of our guys have it sewn into their coveralls under their name - dependant on the country they are working in.
Your haematocrit is on any standard full blood count, just not usually the most useful piece of information on there so regularly gets ignored... For what it's worth mine is usually 0.49 - 0.51, with a haemaglobin of 17. something, so I'd always be in trouble with the authorities... (all natural, honest your honour).
[i]Pointless having it on a meditag thing anyway to be honest. If you come to see me in an emergency your getting O -ve (or maybe O +ve if I'm in that sort of mood). If you need it for an op, your getting a crossmatch before you go in.[/i]
Right, piqued my interest. You can give me the wrong blood? How does that work? And what will I do with it?
Never mind, just read up on it. Very interesting. Every day is a school day.
As others have said, Of absolutely no relevance to most men in the UK.
Women will get tested when pregnant but this is mainly about rhesus comparability, not ABO groups.
Anyone who needs a transfusion will be tested again, even if they had a transfusion at the same hospital the previous day. If there isn't time they are given O -ve.
Do not waste your GPs time by asking for the test. We ain't doing it.. If you need it for overseas occupation or forces reasons, your employers will sort it.
had mine done at a private clinic - 60 quid.took blood , sent it away - 2 days later i got a letter and a card with the data on.
requirement of work to carry it with me when out of the country.
some of our guys have it sewn into their coveralls under their name - dependant on the country they are working in.
😯
PMC?
PMC ? ?
private military contractor.
Naw oil and gas.
Do not waste your GPs time by asking for the test. We ain't doing it.. If you need it for overseas occupation or forces reasons, your employers will sort it.
+1 idle curiosity that gives you no actual benefit.
had mine done at a private clinic - 60 quid.
For all the good it will do post me £50 and I will tell you, no need for a blood sample I can just tell by looking at you 🙂
Sign up to give blood. Seriously. You can sign up for transplant donation but tbh theres a massive chance youll not be able to. Giving blood means you are a real use every three months.
I was told that my blood is used for premature babies and transplants? (CMV-) And its AB-.
Anyone can confirm?
Sign up to give blood. Seriously. You can sign up for transplant donation but tbh theres a massive chance youll not be able to
He can't. As when it's comes to donating blood there's a massive chance you can't, I can't for a few reasons.
Right, piqued my interest. You can give me the wrong blood? How does that work?
Type O blood can be given to more or less anyone as the red cells don't express A or B antigens; type AB recipients can be given any type as they have natural A and B antigens so don't produce antibodies to these.
As above, I'm not sure this is particularly useful info to have; a full cross match involves more than ABO and Rhesus, and in any case the hospital would have to recheck regardless of what your ID tag says - it takes about 15min to get type specific blood, and 30 min for a full cross match.
He can't. As when it's comes to donating blood there's a massive chance you can't, I can't for a few reasons.
I can't, but not for any medical reasons. Thanks to the wonders of mad cows the British aren't allowed to give blood in Spain!
It's actually extremely rare to be in a situation (outside a war zone) where you need to receive immediate blood and therefore need to know your blood type. As others have said, the risk of receiving the wrong type means we wouldn't rely on a tag and would give O neg if really pushed but can get most people a decent match within 30 minutes (if you phone up the blood bank and say you'll use up their precious O neg they usually get their arses into gear). Clearly the military would run out of O neg pretty quickly as they do have this sort of problem a lot but they have access to people's records (and they guys are known healthy) so they can do this.
Cross matching is now much more complex than in the past, particularly if you've previously received blood as you develop other antibodies that need to be tested. Those with complex typing issues need to be typed every few transfusions anyway as its an ongoing process. The times when you should carry a card are if you have previously had blood cancers or know you have a weird set of antibodies as we would then call up the blood service and get specific (irradiated/typed etc.) blood on order.
So, if your company says you need it: their occ health doc can arrange. If its for a race, then go private. Also, you're GP is unlikely to hold this record, it would be the hospital and (for reasons stated above) they may not wish to release this information without a discussion.
I can't, but not for any medical reasons.
I've been banned for the last 10 years because I visit West Africa a lot on business (as they assume we all just shag HIV hookers when on business)....
This is the first year I've not been (other than to SA), not sure if they'll take me back....
"For all the good it will do post me £50 and I will tell you, no need for a blood sample I can just tell by looking at you"
not sure my work will buy that 😉
Fake a receipt and then just guess? What's the worst that can happen?
not sure my work will buy that
That was for the Curios OP, if you need it for work then obviously private clinic/GP and pay. More that it's not something that the NHS should be doing because somebody is interested.
I have always known mine, everyone in the Netherlands does. Probably gets tested at birth I presume. And yes, a boring O+
Simone