# I don't know my own blood type. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569 "2006-05-12T20:54:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![beebee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47774/32.png) [@beebee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beebee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/41 "2006-05-14T07:54:23Z")
they won’t take my blood. i had hep A in 1990. my daughter also had it, but she was 5yrs (now 22 yrs), so they take hers - if she weighs enough, she is a tiny little thing. i’m A+. (only fools are positive.)(are you sure?)(i’m positive.) ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/42 "2006-05-14T11:49:00Z")
It makes me smile to log on of a Sunday afternoon and see three sequential threads titled; I have 480 books… I’m covered in scabs! I don’t know my own blood type. If only they were by the same poster 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EnderWay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@EnderWay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnderWay)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/43 "2006-05-15T05:07:08Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > They test your blood again before transfusing you anyway. They have to. I can’t imagine that it would be any different in the miltary. Because on the battlefield you might need an immediate transfusion to save your life! ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/44 "2006-05-15T09:51:56Z")
> [@EnderWay](#): > > Because on the battlefield you might need an immediate transfusion to save your life! Or rally driving. My parents’ mechanic sorts out rally cars for a living now, I was amused to note the blood types of driver and navigator on the side of the car beside their names 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/45 "2006-05-15T15:11:13Z")
O neg here. The Red Cross loves me, and calls me often. In fact, they recently called me and now I’ve got a donation all set up for July 7 near my home. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/46 "2006-05-15T15:41:46Z")
I’m A+. Typing our own blood was one of the first labs they got us to do in medical school (the first one was dissecting a mouse). I’m not allowed to donate, or I would. My mother is A+, dad is O- (both unable to donate, mum because she grew up in a malarial endemic country, and dad because of his medication). We don’t know what my husband is, his dad is AB+ and his mum is O+, in theory he can be anything except O, and might be Rh+ or- depending on whether his parents are heterozygous or homozygous. I think he’s not A+, as we’ve never been bitten by bedbugs (filthy Spanish Youth hostels I’m afraid) on the same night, despite sleeping in the same bed. Apparently bedbugs acquire a taste for a certain blood type and don’t feed on the “wrong” people…although I could have read that on the back of a cereal packet. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/47 "2006-05-15T15:46:38Z")
O+ here. First found out when we typed our blood in school once, would have found out when I became a blood donor anyway. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/48 "2006-05-15T16:04:03Z")
We typed our blood in school (7th grade, about age 12). I was the one who got poked a bunch of times because some of the girls thought it would be cute to screech at the sight of needles. (even though the needles were TINY and inside a disposable plastic thingy). Stupid girls. I’m A+. I give blood when I can, which isn’t often as I like to get tattooed and pierced. My iron is good, though, so when I go, I can always give. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/49 "2006-05-15T17:32:04Z")
I don’t know what’s the policy elsewhere, but in Spain for over 20 years now they retest you before giving you blood. They don’t care if you have been a blood donor for 50 years, if you have an engraved plaque, or if you swear on top of 60 Bibles and as many Qumrans that you’re A+. They’ll still test you. So I do know I’m A+ but nobody will ever ask except as an exercise in family genetics. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/50 "2006-05-15T20:35:57Z")
I’m O-. I know this because my local Red Cross has me on speed dial. I once got a call from them asking to donate, AS I WAS GIVING BLOOD! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/51 "2006-05-15T20:37:01Z")
A[sup]+[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/52 "2006-05-16T02:15:08Z")
Mine is A-neg. I had to look at my medical paperwork to find that out. The only reason I know this is because it’s one of the questions that Japanese people ask you when they’re getting to know you – though they don’t care about the Rhesus factor – and I’ve been asked what my blood type is at least 1000 times in the last few years. Apparently, some Japanese doctor who was doing work with blood typing in the 1930s postulated a connection between personality and blood type and that weird-assed superstition has persisted. It’s kind of like asking someone what their zodiac sign is. I also can’t conceive of a medical situation where your knowing this information would be useful. Medical personnel always have to type you because taking your word for it could kill you. ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/53 "2006-05-16T04:05:56Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I, and all my siblings, are AB+ which is supposedly kind of rare, and apparently universal. I can receive any blood, but my blood can only be given to other AB+ Me too! And I know a disturbingly high number of other AB+ souls. I tell people that our quizbowl team is one in a million, since all four of us are AB+ (actually 1 in 1,234,568 if [this site](http://anthro.palomar.edu/blood/table_of_ABO_and_Rh_blood_type_frequencies_in_US.htm) is to be believed) And I like to tell my (non-AB+) friends that I can take their blood, but they can’t take mine! Ha! Although it’s quite disheartening to think that all of the blood I donate Can only be used on 3% of the population. ☹ (Since AB+ is a universal acceptor, but can only be accepted by other AB+ folks.) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/54 "2006-05-16T12:28:39Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Oh by the way, I can’t imagine there really is a situation where you would actually need to know, because as **KayElCee** points out, some people may think they know and are wrong. Hence in an emergency situation where someone’s life depends on knowing their blood type, they would be quite foolish to take your word for it. I wear a medicalert tag that lets any responder to know I am diabetic, allergic to pennicillan and AB- blood type. One stop shopping=) I suppose I could do teh SS trick and have it tattooed in my left armpit=) ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/55 "2006-05-16T12:42:16Z")
B+ here. I never knew my blood type until I came to Korea. It’s weird… not knowing your blood type in Korea is like not knowing your birthday. There is a popular theory here in Asia that your blood type determines your personality (like astrological signs). According to said theory, B types are supposedly aggressive and bitchy. O types are laid-back and accepting, A types are shy and sensitive, and AB types are indecisive and a bit weird. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/56 "2006-05-16T14:56:55Z")
I’m A+, the girlfriend’s A+ so we’re assuming our baby is also A+. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/57 "2006-05-16T16:05:09Z")
**Pushkin** , baby could be positive or negative, A or O, depending on whether you and her mother are homozygous or heterozygous. e.g. both of you could be A+ with recessive O and - (AO±) or homozygous for A and positive (AA++) or homozygous for A and heterozygous for rhesus (AA±) or homzygous for rhesus and heterozygous for A (AO++) A is dominant over O and rhesus positive is dominant over rhesus negative (think of it as like blue eyes and brown eyes). So: AA++gives you A+ AO± gives you A+ AA± gives you A+ AA-- gives you A- AO-- gives you A- OO± gives you O+ OO++ gives you O+ and OO-- gives you O- So, in theory your little one could be any of the above (but A+ is most likely). ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/58 "2006-05-16T16:58:48Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > Another A+, cmv negative. > > I gave blood 35 times in my life, could have done more, but too caught up in various aspects of life. Now I can’t anymore. Also A+ CMV- . I haven’t given blood in years (used to do it pretty regularly) because I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding for the past 5 years. I really ought to start up again. I’ve donated platelets (twice) but I seem to have difficulties. It takes much longer for me than most people and I feel like hell after. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/59 "2006-05-16T17:46:21Z")
Another former blood lab guy here; typing blood used to be part of my job. I’m a boring old O+. ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569/60 "2006-05-17T00:56:07Z")
I’m O+ which is stated on my Red Cross card. What would happen if someone were to receive a transfusion of the wrong blood type? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-my-own-blood-type/356569.md?page=4)