Two years ago I was filling out a volunteer application at a children’s hospital and the form asked me to state my blood type. Fortunately, I knew off the top of my head that I was type O-positive, but I wanted documentation to confirm this information. I called my mom to see if the blood type was listed on my birth certificate – no luck. I checked my doctor’s health portal – also no luck.
This got me wondering: How can someone find out their blood type if they don’t already know it?
Not knowing yours blood type can be a problem when it comes to your overall health. Regardless of your age or health, it is important to know whether you are type A, B or O. Having this piece of information can be vital if you are ever in a medical emergency, and it also makes donating blood or filling out certain forms much 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 report knowing their blood type. Looking at your blood type can be vital to understanding your health, including yours heart health — and saving your life in an emergency — it’s important to know what kind of blood runs in your veins. The good news is you can find yours blood type is relatively simple and you have options. Below are three easy ways to find out your blood type.
Basics of blood type
Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive, and AB-negative. But what determines the blood type and what does this 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 that designate ABO blood groups. This is determined by the ABO gene. For example:
- Type A blood type has antigen A
- Type B the blood type has B antigen
- Type AB blood type has both A and B antigen
- Type O does not produce any A or B antigen
There are also Rhesus (Rh) antigens that determine whether the blood is “positive” or “negative”. If you have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you are Rh positive. If you don’t have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you have negative blood.
Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive, and AB-negative.
How to find your blood type?
Here are three main ways to determine your blood type:
- Have your doctor do a blood test
- Donate blood
- Use a blood test at home
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: a forward dial and a reverse dial.
During forward typing, the blood sample is mixed with antibodies against blood types A and B. Based on whether the blood cells clump together when mixed with the antibodies, your blood type can be determined from there. If your blood cells clump together when mixed with antibodies against type B blood, you have type B blood. If your blood cells clump together when mixed with antibodies against type A blood, you have type A blood.
To confirm the result, the next step is reverse typing, which means that a 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 contain antibodies against type A and type B. So if sticking occurs when serum mixes with type B blood cells, you have type A blood, and if sticking occurs when serum mixes with type A blood cells, you have type B blood.
I recommend calling your doctor’s office to see how much a blood type test costs out of pocket and if it is covered by insurance.
2. Donate blood
It’s an easy — and free — way to determine your blood type, but the results aren’t immediate.
If you are donating to a blood drive, you can simply ask the staff about your blood type. The blood is not usually tested immediately, so it may take up to several weeks to get the results.
With home kits, you can determine your blood type in just a few minutes.
3. Blood test at home
Home tests are relatively easy. You will usually start by wiping your finger with an alcohol swab, then you need to prick your finger with a disposable lancet to draw blood. You will then wipe blood on the provided card. Depending on how the blood dries, clumps, or spreads, you’ll be able to compare your bloodstain to a scorecard. In minutes you will be able to determine your blood type.
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