Why You Need to Know Your Blood Type and 3 Methods to Identify Yours
About two years ago, I filled out an application to volunteer at a children’s hospital in my city and was asked to list my blood type. Luckily, I knew by heart that I was type O positive, but I wanted to find documentation to confirm this information. I called my mom to ask if my blood type was on my birth certificate — no luck. I checked my doctor’s health portal — also no luck.
I wondered: how can someone determine their blood type if they don’t know it yet?
Not knowing you blood group can be a problem when it comes to your overall well-being. Regardless of your age or health, It is crucial to know whether you are type A, B or OThis information can help you in emergency situations or make filling out certain forms a little easier.
If you have no idea what your type is, you’re not alone. According to a 2019 CBS News poll, only 66% of Americans said they know their blood type. Considering blood type can be vital to understanding your health, including your heart health — and to save your life in an emergency — it’s important to know what kind of blood flows through your veins. The good news is that you can find out blood group is relatively simple and you have options. Below are three easy ways to find out your blood type.
Basic knowledge about blood groups
Blood type is categorized into one of eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive, and AB-negative. But what determines blood type and what does that blood type mean?
Blood types are determined by antigens — a substance that triggers an immune response — on the surface of red blood cells. There are ABO antigens, which indicate ABO blood types. This is determined by the ABO gene. For example:
- Type A blood group has the A antigen
- TypeB blood group has the B antigen
- Type AB blood group has both the A and B antigens
- Type O does not produce A or B antigen
There are also Rhesus (Rh) antigens, which determine whether blood is “positive” or “negative.” If you have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you are Rh positive. If you do not have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you have negative blood.
The blood type is divided into one of the following eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive, and AB-negative.
How can you determine your blood type?
There are three ways to type your blood:
- Have your doctor do a blood test
- Donate blood
- Use a home blood test
1. Clinical test
One of the easiest and most effective ways to determine your blood type is to have your doctor perform a test. A professional will draw blood and then perform two tests on the blood sample: forward typing and reverse typing.
During forward typing, the blood sample is mixed with antibodies to both blood types A and B. Based on whether the blood cells stick together when mixed with the antibodies, your blood type can be determined. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies to blood type B, you have blood type B. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies to blood type A, you have blood type A.
To confirm the result, the next step is reverse typing, which means that the blood sample without red blood cells — called serum — is mixed with type A and type B blood cells. Type A blood will have antibodies against type B blood in the sample, and type B blood will have antibodies against type A blood. Type O blood will have antibodies against both types A and B. So, if there is sticking when the serum is mixed with type B blood cells, you have type A blood, and if there is sticking when the serum is mixed with type A blood cells, you have type B blood.
I recommend that you contact your doctor to ask how much a blood type test costs and whether it is covered by your insurance.
2. Donate blood
This is a simple and free way to determine your blood type, but the results are not available immediately.
If you donate blood at a blood drive, you can simply ask the staff what your blood type is. Blood is usually not tested right away, so it may take a few weeks to get the results.
With a home test kit you can determine your blood type within minutes.
3. Home blood test
Home tests are relatively simple. You usually start by wiping your finger with an alcohol swab and then prick your finger with a disposable lancet to draw blood. You then wipe the blood onto the card provided. Depending on how the blood dries, clumps, or spreads, you can compare your blood spot to a results card. Within minutes, you can determine your blood type.
