Is it normal to not know what your blood type is?

87% Normal
74 Comments

As the title says, I have no clue what my blood type is. I don't remember my doctors ever telling me what it was and my family doesn't know either. My family thinks that I probably have my parents blood type which is either A or AB, but I have the strangest feeling that I may be O. I have had blood tests before, but after I received the results I was never told what my type was. I didn't find this concerning until much recently. I'm in my late teens now and I'm going to college next year. I'm worried that I might get into a health crisis and that because I don't know what my blood type is it could complicate the situation.

I am by no means trolling. I'm 100% serious. Is this normal? Has a similar situation ever happened to you?

Voting Results
87% Normal
Based on 95 votes (83 yes)
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Comments ( 74 )
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    I got an A+ on my blood test.

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    • Allistalla
      11 years ago

      I do not think they usually tell you unless you ask or they need to know it for a specific reason .

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      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        I ask for my medical records. Thats how I found out.

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  • whiteshirt
    11 years ago

    very normal. I think because people tend to not care about it until they are in medical situation.

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  • wigsplitz
    11 years ago

    No, it's NOT normal to not know. It's a life or death thing, why wouldn't you know?? I'm the superior type, of course O positive....the universal donor, but I don't donate.....I'd hate to think some asshole got to live longer due to my blood.

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      It's a shame we can't choose where our blood goes.

      I know that not knowing could have its risks but it's more of a fail on both my doctors and family. The only thing we know about my blood is that I have sickle-cell trait. It makes no sense for doctors not to tell their patient or their families what their blood type is. I always thought that it was somewhat mandatory for people to know these things, but I guess not.

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      • wigsplitz
        11 years ago

        It IS mandatory.

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  • dom180
    11 years ago

    I don't know mine either. All me friends seem to know theirs. I've had blood tests for other things often - I had one just last week - but I never remember to ask what my blood type is.

    The only anti-fun fact I've got about blood transfusion is that, even in the UK, where we usually have such good equality under the law, openly gay people still can't donate blood. That makes me sad and slightly sick at the world we live in, where people with the kindness to do something that not enough people are prepared to do are prohibited because of something beyond their control like sexuality.

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    • JellyLove
      11 years ago

      Effin Brits.... Why do people dislike gays so much? What makes people think that they have a right to dictate who someone loves? I bet every person on parliament or whatever has had a gay fantasy!

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    • Allistalla
      11 years ago

      were I am at they let anyone give if you take a test you have to get checked to see if you have any desisese or affection you may spread .

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    • wigsplitz
      11 years ago

      I agree with you, but I also disagree the same....I mean, yeah, it sounds wrong but can you imagine what would happen if someone got an infection from a transfusion? Not saying that gays are the only ones who can spread infections.....not at all....there is protections in place for ALL "risky" people, but better safe than sorry. Do you feel it's just as unfair that a tattooed person is prohibited, or a person who has used IV drugs (cleanly) 10 years ago?? it's just a precaution, and rightly so, I wouldn't want to chance it. OK, so I can live through my accident, but I get a death sentence from HIV or Hep C?? Come on.

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      • dom180
        11 years ago

        Gay people do carry a much higher risk of HIV than straight people (2% of the US male population is gay, and gay men account for 61% of HIV infection). I'm no expert, but surely this issue is covered by the fact that the blood is still tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, certain other infectious diseases and syphilis in all donors before it is used.

        I do think it is very unfair that anyone who can pass a blood test is denied the chance to donate blood. The example of gay people is, in my view, the most unfair because I believe that homosexuality is not a free choice, where as getting a tattoo and using IV drugs are free choices. I do think all those cases are unfair though.

        I should point out that, in the UK, gay men are only deferred if they have had gay sex in the last 12 months. They're not barred outright, although this is still unfair because if the blood test is passed, that means the blood is safe, no matter who it came from.

        Of course, blood tests are not 100% accurate. The chance of a false-negative in a HIV test is 3 in 1000, relatively high. Double-testing would be more expensive, but would negate the chance of this happening to incredibly unlikely.

        References I used for facts, in case they're interesting or useful:

        http://carm.org/statistics-percentage-population-hiv-infected

        http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/faqs/

        http://www.blood.co.uk/can-i-give-blood/exclusion/

        ... and finally, the invaluable Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV_test#Accuracy_of_HIV_testing

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        • wigsplitz
          11 years ago

          Interesting....

          Homosexuality isn't a choice but exposing yourself to HIV by risky behavior IS a choice. Of course, straight people do that too, not saying they don't....they probably ask everyone about their sexual habits I'd imagine.

          I guess it's just about safety, why take any extra risk? Is it more unfair to put a patient at risk, to be more fair to potentially unsafe donors? Sorry but I'd err on the side of caution, fuck 'feelings' when it comes to risks like this. Can't HIV be present in the blood but be undetectable for a long time? Yeah it sucks that some people who want to do a good deed are turned away but I still think it's better than putting innocent people at risk just to spare someone's feelings.

          Medically, I don't think ANY unnecessary risks should be taken in most cases. (I'd really only exclude elective surgeries, it's a conscious choice to do so, so if something happens, the person knew what they were getting into) With all the lawsuits nowadays anyway, who can afford to take even the smallest risk? People sue you for giving them CPR sometimes.

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          • Allistalla
            11 years ago

            Having sex is a chioce too no sex is a option ^^. Just saying . No sex means no sexuelly trasmitted desiseses

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          • dom180
            11 years ago

            Maybe certain people, like you, could choose to not to accept blood from people of groups that have a higher risk. The gay, tattooed and IV drug using donors, along with any donors from a group with a slightly higher risk would have all their blood in separate stores so people who don't want to take the risk don't have to.

            There would be a check-box system, and anyone who doesn't want to be exposed to "risky blood" wouldn't be forced to be. Anyone who didn't check it would have their blood being taken from anyone, which may expose them to blood with a higher chance of being "unsafe".

            As I personally believe it is a negligible risk and I believe in the validity of the blood-testing, I would happily not check the box and take any blood. If you wanted to remain ultra-safe, you could check the box and not be exposed to blood from people of more unsafe groups.

            Do you think that sounds like a fair way of running things to you? :)

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      That's horrible! I thought europe would have more sense than that. It's a shame that stereotypes like that exist. Straight people can be horny and have STD's. It would make more sense to test them first.

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    • thinkingaboutit
      11 years ago

      They assume gays guys have unprotected anal sex, which they statistically do. In the US, you're not allowed to donate if you've had unprotected sex or have sold sex. Lol It doesn't really stop anyone.

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      • Captain_Kegstand
        11 years ago

        Or if you have gotten a tattoo in a non accredited shop.

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  • tori
    11 years ago

    I'm O negative. I didn't know till after the birth of my daughter. They did a cross check on blood types on my daughter and I. I needed a shot because her RH factor was positive. They told me I needed it because of the antibodies my body built up while pregnant with her could kill the next baby.
    So, find out. It's always good to know.

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    • got11
      11 years ago

      Haha exact same blood type and story!

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    • BurnaBaby27
      11 years ago

      I found out mine after I had my son..sadly, I don't remember what they told me. Kudos to you for paying attention :}.

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      • tori
        11 years ago

        You can always ask your doctor. Since they told you, it's got to be in their records somewhere! ;)

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        • Allistalla
          11 years ago

          Auctully not nesccarrly they do not keep records on that sadly they just ask for more blood please . I tryed getting mine and tehy did countless blood tests but they siad they never bothered writing it down .

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          • tori
            11 years ago

            Wow! That's crazy! I made sure they put it into my records for that time(which I hope never comes) when I can't speak for myself if something horrible happened to me. Being O negative I cannot receive any other blood type. I was told it could make me very sick or die if I did get a different blood type.

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            • Allistalla
              11 years ago

              they always say that and I do not like blood drawings so I let it go .

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        • BurnaBaby27
          11 years ago

          You're right. I'll make note of that :}}

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    • Java
      11 years ago

      I am too O:

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  • pamieknuckles
    11 years ago

    Knowing that might save your life one day

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  • anti-hero
    11 years ago

    My blood type is HIV+ is that a good one?

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  • gncp
    11 years ago

    read this article about blood types and traits:

    http://www.openzine.com/aspx/ReadMore.aspx?lid=77&zineID=0&divid=307&ID=11217&IssueID=2836

    I'm AB+ and the trait suits well to me.. :D

    If you don't know you're Blood type maybe you can assume having a certain blood type based on your traits and personality. And check if its right when you formally have a laboratory blood test.

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  • kasu
    11 years ago

    You should do a blood test again. I for one share the same blood-type like my mum, AB. My dad had B and my sister has A, so I guess it's normal.

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      I had my blood taken yesterday and I was so shook up that I forgot to ask:/

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  • GuessWho
    11 years ago

    I also only found out recently, but I don't remember. I have it written down somewhere.

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  • iEatZombies_
    11 years ago

    I'm in my mid twenties; I still don't know.

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  • Smartasscookie
    11 years ago

    If your parents have A and AB then surely you can't be O, you'll either be A or B?
    I'm A but not sure about positive/negative

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      It depends if they have the recessive alleles or not. Than again, I don't even know what their blood types are either.

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      • Smartasscookie
        11 years ago

        oh, well I'd probably get it tested anyway, its a handy thing to know if ever you needed an emergency blood transfusion rather than go through all the testing. When I did it, they only took a small sample from my lower arm and I got my results on the same day

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  • NoraBaker
    11 years ago

    I thought everybody knew their blood type. I'm really surprised at this. Perhaps in some countries it's common to know and in others it isn't. Apparently, in the US it isn't.

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      I'm surprised that I'm not the only one that doesn't know. In certain Asian, the majority of the population knows. In Europe, apparently most people don't know. Then again, Asia and Europe have different views on blood types/taboos.

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  • alv1592
    11 years ago

    I didn't know mine either until I donated blood. I'm O positive. You're probably the same type as one or both of your parents.

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  • NeuroNeptunian
    11 years ago

    My husband has no idea what his blood type is. I am tempted to try to have him give blood so I can find out. My blood type is A+. My Mom told me. I gave blood and found it to be true.

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  • Captain_Kegstand
    11 years ago

    I have absolutely no idea what my blood type is. Hopefully I will never get into a situation where I need to know or i'll be up a creek!

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  • howaminotmyself
    11 years ago

    I only found out my blood type because I got sick and they had to test it. Most doctors won't let me give blood, my blood pressure is too low and I pass out.

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      Yay, You're back!

      At least you got to find out. I had a weird "health crisis" in Britain. I thought I had a blood clot in my leg so they took my blood. They told me it was negative, but I never got to find out or ask them what my type was:( I have health issues so I don't know if I'd ever be able to give blood. I do think that if you get your blood drawn for testing or donation that they should tell you what your blood type is.

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      • howaminotmyself
        11 years ago

        I had to request it. Otherwise they wouldn't have checked. Seems dumb to not automatically do that. But whatever, I was curious.

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        • wigsplitz
          11 years ago

          They check it when you're born.....your parents failed to tell you. YOu should bitch them out for that. That's fucked up.

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          • howaminotmyself
            11 years ago

            Naw, no bitching from me. I don't blame them for forgetting. It's not like it hurt me.

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  • thinkingaboutit
    11 years ago

    If you parents are A , B, or AB...you are not O. You can only be O if both your parents have O blood.

    I guess it's helpful to know but anti-sera testing is pretty quick. Besides O blood is useful for a reason (you can pump it in to anyone).

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      It's still possible. If they have the recessive alleles than there's still the chance of having a offspring with type O.

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      • thinkingaboutit
        11 years ago

        Yeah, your right but he said that his parents are A and AB.

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        • Avant-Garde
          11 years ago

          I'm the OP. I don't think my mother even knows her blood type or any of my family members. It's just a guess on their part.

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          • thinkingaboutit
            11 years ago

            then donate blood. they will tell you.

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            • Avant-Garde
              11 years ago

              I'm scared of needles and I have some health issues.

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  • BlueAlice
    11 years ago

    I found out when I decided to give blood at about 19 or so (I'm B+).

    It doesn't sound that abnormal to me going by the comments on here, but I have no idea whether it's especially common or not as blood isn't something I talk about with my friends.

    Sometimes you can't give blood after you become pregnant (As is the case with my mum) because of anitbodies or something.

    Also, if you end up going to Korea/Japan... DO NOT tell people who ask you what your blood type is. I suppose a medical professional might want or need to know [possibly, but very unlikely], but hopefully you'll never have to be in that situation.
    They believe in blood horoscopes and people get harrassed simply because of something that's as uncontrollable as skin colour.
    There's a Korean film called My Boyfriend is Type B [i.e. A cheating bastard(!)]

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      I was reading that in asia they base personalities on blood types and that it's a popular subject. If I ever do go, I could always say that's it's my business or change the subject. In europe, it's apparently a taboo to ask people about their blood types because it's a form of stereotyping.

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      • BlueAlice
        11 years ago

        I would just simply say you don't know if it were me, but changing the subject could work.

        I didn't know it was taboo to ask people in Europe about their blood type!

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  • dappled
    11 years ago

    Me neither. I'm not allowed to give blood and the one time I had a blood test for other things, the hospital lost the results.

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    • wigsplitz
      11 years ago

      Pssh just don't tell.....technically I can't either but I don't by choice not by their "rules". They only know what you tell them.

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        I know why you were trying to protect me, and I do appreciate it. :)

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      • wigsplitz
        11 years ago

        tattooed
        IV drug user
        unprotected butt sex....whatever.

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    • Captain_Kegstand
      11 years ago

      Why can't you give blood? If its not too personal to ask.

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        Nah, I don't mind saying. I had a tropical disease as a toddler (which almost killed me, but remained unidentified). Because it was prior to modern screening, the regulations are that I'm not allowed to give blood. Although someone told me recently that even better screening these days means that I probably could give blood as long as I declared my illness and when it happened.

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        • Captain_Kegstand
          11 years ago

          Wow, they never found out what kind of disease you had? And I wonder if they could find out some way with modern medicine, or just declare you clean now?

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          • dappled
            11 years ago

            Rare tropical diseases are still hard to diagnose because, well, they're rare. The first question a doctor will often ask is what country you've been to. That really helps narrow it down. But I hadn't been out of the country. How my sister and I got infected is a mystery. I think they just treated the symptoms (which were pretty dire, my sister technically died twice) and made diagnosis a second priority.

            I'd like to know what I had because it could have made a great story if it was something like Q Fever, visceral leishmaniasis, or guinea worm disease. :D

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            • Avant-Garde
              11 years ago

              Perhaps, you came in contact with someone that had come back from a foreign country or a animal/insect?

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            • Captain_Kegstand
              11 years ago

              Hell ya! That would be awesome to be able to say you survived some illness that nobody has EVER heard of!

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      • aussiewolf
        11 years ago

        homosexuals arent allowed to give blood.. either that or HIV positive.

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        • Avant-Garde
          11 years ago

          Or he could have a health condition. I think they won't accept blood from people with certain conditions or traits. For instance, if you had sickle cell blood they probably wouldn't allow you to give blood donations.

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          • dappled
            11 years ago

            I'm mildly anaemic but they don't care about that. It's because I had an unidentified tropical disease.

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          • aussiewolf
            11 years ago

            oh... well ive only heard that they wont accept blood here if you are gay or have HIV. maybe i should read up a bit more on it....

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            • iEatZombies_
              11 years ago

              I have mono, nobody'll take my blood.

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