Do Something Amazing- Give Blood

msmicawber

I've always assumed that if you've received plasma, that doesn't count as a transfusion - is that the case?

Sola

Got my donor card today - I'm O neg which is great as anyone can have my blood in an emergency. Going now to schedule my 16-week appointment.

Am I right in thinking my parents must also have been Rh neg? Is there any way of telling which blood group they may have been, or does it not work that way?

Was also looking at bone marrow donating but I don't fit the criteria on the Anthony Nolan site - nearly 41, slipped discs, IBS, polycystic ovaries ... shame but there you go.

msmicawber

Well (drags out A level Biology here ...) O is recessive, so if one parent is either AA or BB, then you can't be O. However, if one parent was AO and the other either AO or BO, then you could still end up O. If you have any siblings and know their blood types you may be able to work out your parents' blood types.

As for the rhesus factor, I believe it's the opposite, and the + is recessive, so both your parents could be positive, but +- rather than ++, resulting in you being negative (--).

I'm dragging this up from my memory of 30 odd years ago, so please feel free to correct me.

Rikki

msmicawber wrote: »

Well (drags out A level Biology here ...) O is recessive, so if one parent is either AA or BB, then you can't be O. However, if one parent was AO and the other either AO or BO, then you could still end up O. If you have any siblings and know their blood types you may be able to work out your parents' blood types.

As for the rhesus factor, I believe it's the opposite, and the + is recessive, so both your parents could be positive, but +- rather than ++, resulting in you being negative (--).

I'm dragging this up from my memory of 30 odd years ago, so please feel free to correct me.

Haven't got a clue.


Mines red if that helps.

Sola

msmicawber wrote: »

Well (drags out A level Biology here ...) O is recessive, so if one parent is either AA or BB, then you can't be O. However, if one parent was AO and the other either AO or BO, then you could still end up O. If you have any siblings and know their blood types you may be able to work out your parents' blood types.

As for the rhesus factor, I believe it's the opposite, and the + is recessive, so both your parents could be positive, but +- rather than ++, resulting in you being negative (--).

I'm dragging this up from my memory of 30 odd years ago, so please feel free to correct me.

Thanks - I've no idea if you're right so I'll do some more investigating. I have no contact with my family (parents and a few half-siblings that I know of) so I don't know what blood types they are.

torbrex

Rikki wrote: »

Haven't got a clue.


Mines red if that helps.

I am with you on this one, I turn up at the donor suite, they stick me with a needle, I have a chat, 90 minutes later they take the needle out and stick a plaster over the hole.
That is all I really need to know.

Sola

Was also looking at bone marrow donating but I don't fit the criteria on the Anthony Nolan site - nearly 41, slipped discs, IBS, polycystic ovaries ... shame but there you go.

I have been on the bone marrow panel for about 16 years and have been called once for further testing but was not a close enough match. I would very much like to donate bone marrow before I get too old as I believe it to be one of the ultimate gifts that any human can give another.

noonesperfect

Sola wrote: »

Got my donor card today - I'm O neg which is great as anyone can have my blood in an emergency. Going now to schedule my 16-week appointment.

Am I right in thinking my parents must also have been Rh neg? Is there any way of telling which blood group they may have been, or does it not work that way?

Was also looking at bone marrow donating but I don't fit the criteria on the Anthony Nolan site - nearly 41, slipped discs, IBS, polycystic ovaries ... shame but there you go.

Hi Sola,

I don't know if this will really help you find out what blood group your parents may have been, but it gives alot of detail about the different groups
http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/e13basic.html

Did the SCA test come back negative, if so, that's excellent news. It sounds like you've got plenty on your plate as it is.

sillyvixen

you cant be to carefull with blood - the 2 most dangerous medical drugs are blood and oxeygen!!

torbrex

When I gave my latest donation this week, I was gifted an 'I am a platelet donor' T-shirt and being the dottled old fool that I am I left it lying on the table when I came away. I hope that it will be put aside for my return as it is the one thing amongst all the key-rings, pens and tie clips that I would acctually use.

noonesperfect

I didn't realised they don't make use of your red blood cells and plasma every time you donate.
Having recently checked my donation history (Blood Donor Online) I found that on one occasion they used only my red blood cells and the other plasma. Generally they do use both though, I'm pleased to say.