Blood group pondering

[Pine Marten]

I've thought about this for a while, and wondered what y'all thought - I've been a blood donor on and off since I was 21, and have always known my blood group, O negative, and those of the first, late, Mr Marten and our three kids.

The current Mr Marten has no idea what group he is, and when he finally asked at his surgery they said they didn't record such things anymore. His late mother was, and his brother is, diabetic so he gets checked fairly regularly. I would have thought that knowing your blood group was a useful thing - I remember Hancock's The Blood Donor and him ending up getting his own blood back because it was rare! Isn't it good to know because of possible medical situations or emergencies?

Also, when my first child was born in 1981 with O pos blood like her dad, we had the possible 'blue baby' thing as it was called then, so I do feel that blood groups should be noted in people's records as a matter of course. Any thoughts...?

 

[Northerner]

I'm the same as you - surprised they don't hold it. I'm B+, which is a bit rare, and my Mum was AB-. Even though she was a blood donor they never took any from her because it was so rare that they needed her to be 'on standby' in case they needed to take blood at short notice. If she'd donated regularly then she might not have been able to donate again if needed.

 

[Robin]

I wonder if it's so easy to check these days, they don't need you to know in advance. The 'blue baby' thing, they'll check during pregnancy, and give you the injection if you're negative. A friend of mine queried whether she needed it, as her husband was negative too, and was told she'd be getting it anyway. It occurred to her afterwards, they probably can't take the mother's word for it that the husband is actually the father of the baby!

 

[grainger]

My blood type is detailed on my notes and my maternity notes. Maybe it's dependant on the hospital?

 

[Pine Marten]

It seems to have been usual to record it up until recently, from what I can gather. I just think it is such a basic and useful thing to know, and I was quite surprised when Mr Marten said his surgery didn't have it.

NB. After my first baby was born and they found she was O pos I did indeed have that injection in order to protect further babies. This was 36 years ago, so I don't think it was routinely done then! Incidentally that same baby WhatsApped me the other day to ask (again) what group she is, so I replied, adding 'Why?' She said, it was for an online quiz.... 🙄

 

[Greyhound Gal]

I had no idea what I was (A-) until I needed a transfusion a couple of years ago, despite my blood being taken hundreds of times for tests previously. My doctors have no record of blood groups.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Back in the 70's we learnt our blood groups in school science lessons by each taking a blood sample from ourselves and testing it.

 

[Pine Marten]

Maybe the only sure way then to find out is to become a blood donor! They were always pleased to see an O neg like me - 'come in, come in...' they'd say, with a beaming smile 🙂 ...always good for some tea & biscuits and an hour or so off work going to the mobile blood unit

 

[Copepod]

@Pine Marten - has current Mr Marten ever had reason for his blood group to be tested? If he wants to know, and can donate blood, that's one of the best ways to discover. I still have my O Rh+ve certificate from becoming a blood donor in about 1986. I'm still upset that since type 1 diabetes diagnosis, I am no longer allowed to donate blood or plasma, as I did through my 20s.
Ahead of surgery, blood will always be tested for blood goup, plus other things such as haemaglobin, HBA1c etc. It's only in emergencies that universal donor blood group O Rh -ve will be used. These days, other factors are investigated, beyond A/B/AB/O and Rhesus +ve or -ve. No medic would rely on eg tattoo of blood group, as often favoured by members of armed forces, as reliable information before giving a blood transfusion.

 

[Pine Marten]

@Pine Marten - has current Mr Marten ever had reason for his blood group to be tested? If he wants to know, and can donate blood, that's one of the best ways to discover. I still have my O Rh+ve certificate from becoming a blood donor in about 1986. I'm still upset that since type 1 diabetes diagnosis, I am no longer allowed to donate blood or plasma, as I did through my 20s.
Ahead of surgery, blood will always be tested for blood goup, plus other things such as haemaglobin, HBA1c etc. It's only in emergencies that universal donor blood group O Rh -ve will be used. These days, other factors are investigated, beyond A/B/AB/O and Rhesus +ve or -ve. No medic would rely on eg tattoo of blood group, as often favoured by members of armed forces, as reliable information before giving a blood transfusion.

Well, he's had plenty of blood tests - like most of us of a Certain Age he's got various pills, but he's never been told what group he is and he's not ever asked 🙄. He's not a blood donor and is now too old at 68 (even if he wanted to...). I still think it's one of those useful and interesting things to know about the workings of the body 🙂.