Need to know my blood type asap!!

[footymum]

I need to find out my blood type asap!! a good friend's daughter will poss require bone marrow trans and I'm sure I'm the same blood type..will a GP have this info on their system and could I just phone and ask them for it...thanks everyone...footymum

[yogi-bear]

Hi footymum,

Your GP should have your blood group on their records....problem is, it's after 7.00pm and they may be shut....( mine does stay open till 8.00pm on certain nights though, so maybe not)...... otherwise ring in the morning to ask them. Good luck :0) x

[sara3]

it's not as simple as just your blood type, it's incredibly hard to get a perfect match even within a family. I've been on the bone marrow register for about 20 years and I've never been matched with anyone in need.

but go ahead and be tested.. good luck :o)

[4getmenot]

if its only a possibility she will then wait to see if she needs it then put your name down or even do it anyway there are always people who need bone marrow. Or in the meantime give blood, you will find out blood type then and help lots of people too.

[Buenchico]

You'll need to have more than just the same blood group. Any prospective donor has to have their cells tested against those of the potential recipient ("tissue typing") to see if there are sufficient genetic similarities for a transplant. The chances of any random individual being able to provide a sufficiently good match are extremely low. (There will probably be only a handful of possible donors available, if any, from the 400,000 registered donors in the UK). It's usually only close family members who might be able to become donors. (Even then, there's no certainty that a family member will have a sufficiently close genetic match).

Your doctor will only know your blood group if there's ever been a reason to record it. If he knows it, you'd have to ask in person as no doctor would give out personal information to a phone caller.

Chris

[sara3]

↑ and that's why we should all register as blood donors.

[Eve]

Just in case you have ever registered as a blood donor it's on the front of the cards they give you.

As said above, there is a lot more to it. I'm gutted they won't take my blood any more due to my having an autoimmune condition and the medication I'm on. I keep checking every now and again and am hoping they will be able to take it again at some point in the future. Even when I could give blood they couldn't take platelets as I don't have enough...there are all sorts of possible problems even just with blood.

It's a great thing you want to do though and I hope you think about being a general donor if you aren't already.

[bednobs]

i'd just like to add that there is no "asap" about it when looking for a bone marrow donor. People need a long work up for a BMT so knowing tonight or even this week is not urgent

[237SJ]

Footymum. don`t think it`s as simple as a blood type match. You say your friend`s daughter might need a bone marrow transfer. There are many other factors involved in tissue typing and there are systems in place to deal with that. Please try not to worry and fret. The powers that be that have access to donor registers will sort that out.

[karenmac60]

Jenna I have the same problem in that they won't take my blood as I had a transfusion in the late 90's at the height of the BSE thing, and so supposedly I'm a risk for CJD. The thing that really bugs me about it is I was vegetarian during the whole BSE crisis and so would be at much less risk than someone who ate beef every day but had never had a transfusion!

[hollie1586]

they tell you if you go give blood!