# Do you know your blood type? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2018, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539 "2018-07-25T03:06:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/1 "2018-07-25T03:06:22Z")
I don’t. Should I? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/2 "2018-07-25T03:10:55Z")
Yes, for time of donating or receiving blood. Might help in a situation where you need blood urgently but it would take doctors too long to do the whole testing thing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/3 "2018-07-25T03:14:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Yes, for time of donating or receiving blood. Might help in a situation where you need blood urgently but it would take doctors too long to do the whole testing thing. Somehow, my father was convinced (and therefore I believed him) that I was O-. It wasn’t until I donated blood in high school that I found out I was, in fact, A+. Thanks, dad! ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/4 "2018-07-25T03:14:43Z")
Yes. If I forget, it is on my driver’s license. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/5 "2018-07-25T03:19:43Z")
I do, though I didn’t know it until I started donating blood, around a decade ago. (A+, I got the highest grade. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/6 "2018-07-25T03:21:41Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Yes, for time of donating or receiving blood. Might help in a situation where you need blood urgently but it would take doctors too long to do the whole testing thing. O-negative is the universal donor. In an extreme emergency, that can be given without cross matching. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/7 "2018-07-25T03:41:17Z")
**Moderator Action** Since this is more of an informal poll and an opinion thing, let’s move it to IMHO (from GQ). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/8 "2018-07-25T03:46:42Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/9 "2018-07-25T03:51:36Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Action** > > Since this is more of an informal poll and an opinion thing, let’s move it to IMHO (from GQ). Blood type is an opinion? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/10 "2018-07-25T04:00:48Z")
Mine is boring old O+. My father had a rare type. If you need to find out, just go and donate blood. And remember you need to remind yourself of it twice a year. I don’t know if donating my blood saved someone else’s life, but it probably saved mine. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/11 "2018-07-25T04:38:03Z")
Yes, I know my blood type from donating blood and platelets. Do you know if you are CMV negative? ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/12 "2018-07-25T05:11:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Somehow, my father was convinced (and therefore I believed him) that I was O-. It wasn’t until I donated blood in high school that I found out I was, in fact, A+. Thanks, dad! Was that because he’s O-? Do you know your mother’s blood type? Sorry, this just reminds me of some of the stories my Mom’s told us of being a nurse… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/13 "2018-07-25T05:22:23Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > Was that because he’s O-? Do you know your mother’s blood type? Sorry, this just reminds me of some of the stories my Mom’s told us of being a nurse… I believe my mom is A+ and my dad is O-. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/14 "2018-07-25T05:34:21Z")
I’m positive mine is B-positive. 🙂 I know mainly because I’m a regular donor of blood and platelets at my local blood center. And it is on my old dog tags. (And so is my social security number, not a good thing) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/15 "2018-07-25T05:51:43Z")
Another A+ here. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/16 "2018-07-25T06:04:00Z")
Yeah. I found out in high school science class and never forgot it. B+. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/17 "2018-07-25T06:05:19Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Blood type is an opinion? 😕 Whether you need to KNOW it or not is an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![jsntodd10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@jsntodd10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsntodd10)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/18 "2018-07-25T06:14:52Z")
O- blood here. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/19 "2018-07-25T06:24:50Z")
AB+. Universal recipient, bitches! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539/20 "2018-07-25T07:28:49Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Blood type is an opinion? 😕 “Do you know your blood type?” is basically an informal poll. “Should I?” is asking opinions. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-blood-type/818539.md?page=2)