Blood Typing

 

Do you know your blood type?

This potentially life-saving information can be critical in a medical emergency or disaster crisis when immediate blood transfusion or replacement is required.

We determine your blood type using a simple finger-prick test, which uses the basic forward antibody method of blood hematology to easily and quickly provide the patient with their blood type (A, AB, B or O) and rhesus factor (Rh negative or Rh positive) in a few minutes.

 

The Blood Types

Your blood type is determined by what kind of antigens your red blood cells have on the surface. Antigens are substances that help your body differentiate between its own cells and foreign, potentially dangerous ones. If your body thinks an incoming cell or protein is foreign, it will begin to destroy it, causing swelling and other immune reactions.

The ABO blood typing system groups your blood into one of four categories:

  • Type A has the A antigen
  • Type B has the B antigen
  • Type AB has both A and B antigens
  • Type O has neither A nor B antigens
 

Important reasons you should know your blood type:

Improving your Diet: Eating a diet based on your blood type could make you healthier. The foods you eat react with your blood type. For example, type O blood is suggested to have a high-protein diet with lean meats and light on grains. Type A is encouraged to eat meat-free and focus on fruits, vegetables, and beans. Studies have shown that this diet can have a huge impact on one’s health, particularly with weight loss and energy boosting!

Medical Emergencies: Doctors need to know what blood type you have in order to prevent the risk of giving you an incompatible blood type during surgery or for another medical need. Getting an incompatible blood type can cause your blood cells to clump, which can be life-threatening. In almost all cases, hospitals will run a blood test first. In the case of an emergency, a blood transfusion of the universal donor blood type, O-negative, may be done. However, for some circumstances, the exact blood type may be needed for transfusion. It’s always good to be able to tell them what your blood type is, even if they will test it to be sure.

Donating: There is a constant need for blood donations. Sometimes certain blood types will be called out to the public to donate if possible due to an emergency or low supply. It’s important to know your blood type so you can donate for that particular need! People with type O-negative are universal blood donors, meaning they can give blood to any blood type. Whether you’re O-negative or another blood type, each is needed. Also, having a blood test done is the first step to becoming a bone marrow donor, which could save someone’s life as well.

Predicting Disease Risk:Not all of the results are conclusive, but studies have shown that some blood types have slightly higher risks of certain diseases. Type AB, A, and B have increased risks for blood clots. Studies have shown that these blood types were 40% more at risk of having deep-vein thrombosis, blood clots in the lower legs that can be dangerous. Type AB, A, and B also have increased risks for heart disease. Type A has an increased risk of stomach cancer, but also, a higher rate of fertility. Type AB and B have higher risk for pancreatic cancer and type O has the lowest stroke risk. The results of some of these studies are preliminary, and of course there are more risk factors like high blood pressure, weight, diet, and so on. Regardless, it’s good to be in the know, and it gives you an incentive to control the other risk factors.

 
 

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