How to Find Out Your Blood Type

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By bobojo
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Find Out Your Blood Type

Do you know what blood type you are? Unless you have had a baby, a blood transfusion, or donated blood, chances are you don't know.
There are easy and basically painless home tests you can use to determine your blood type. The test is called EldonCard Blood Type Kit.
Home tests are for individual one time use. There are several companies online selling the test so shop around.
In my experience, the test is very accurate. Home blood typing kits are not intended to be a screening test before a blood transfusion or donation. Your doctor, or a laboratory must perform those tests.
Every two minutes in the United States, someone needs blood. Only five percent of the population able to donate blood actually donate. If you are able to donate blood, please consider donating. Link to the Red Cross at bottom of article.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Home Blood Type Test Kit
Bravery (You will have to stick your finger.)

Step 1

Red Blood Cells

First, Blood is made up of Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Platelets, and Plasma.
Red Blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin that binds to oxygen and they transport that oxygen to your tissues. Red blood cells also remove carbon dioxide from your tissues.
White blood Cells fight infections.
Platelets are what make your blood clot.
Plasma is made up of various proteins and salt.
Step 2

White Blood Cells

There are four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. To figure out your blood type you need to know what antigens and antibodies your blood contains. Antigens are protein molecules found on the surface of your red blood cells and antibodies are protein molecules found in your plasma.

A type blood has A antigens on the surface of the red blood cells and B antibodies in the blood plasma.
B type blood has B antigens on the surface of the red blood cells and A antibodies in the blood plasma.
AB blood types has both A and B antigens on the surface of the red blood cells and no antibodies in the plasma.
O blood types have no A or B antigens on the surface of the red blood cells, but, has both A and B antibodies in the blood plasma.
Step 3

Activated Platelets

Another thing to consider when finding out your blood type is your Rh. Rh is a protein called Rhesus. If you have the protein Rhesus you are Rh positive, if you do not have Rhesus, you are Rh negative.
Most people are Rh positive and can receive both Rh+ and Rh- blood. If you are Rh- you can only receive Rh- blood. Knowing your Rh factor is very important during pregnancy. Your doctor will do a blood test to figure out your Rh factor.
Step 4

Donated Plasma

O+ is the most common blood type. AB- is the rarest blood type.

O blood type is considered the universal donor. People with O blood can donate to A, B, AB, or O blood types, but can only receive O blood.

People with A blood can donate to A or AB blood type and can receive A or O blood.

People with B blood can donate to B or AB blood type and can receive B or O blood.

People with AB blood can donate to AB blood type and can receive, AB, A, B, or O blood.

People with Rh positive blood can donate to Rh positive blood type and can receive Rh+ or Rh- blood. People with Rh negative blood can donate to Rh- or Rh+ blood types but only can receive Rh- blood.
Step 5

test kit

Order a Blood Type Kit online. The instructions included with the kit are very easy to follow. If you are nervous about sticking your finger, I suggest you have someone else do that step for you. You do not have to send away for the results, everything you need to determine your blood type, including Rh factor is included in the kit. Results in about five minutes.