Are you my type? Blood type, that is

Apheresis technician Stephanie Stringfield, 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, monitors the intravenous insertion on Jim Parker’s arm as he begins his platelet donation at the Keesler Blood Donor Center a year ago. His wife, Linda, looks on in the background. The Parkers visited Keesler as part of a cross-country quest to donate platelets at all 20 Armed Services Blood Program centers. Keesler was their 14th, and as of July, they’d made it to 16 centers. As of ASBP’s July report, Jim has donated 287 times and Linda has donated 200 times. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Are you my type? Blood type, that is

Published Sept. 8, 2011
By Lisa Lynn
Keesler Blood Donor Center

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Did you know that there are four different blood groups? Those types are A, B, AB, and O.

A person's blood group is distinguished by tiny markers known as antigens which cover the blood cell surface. Group A blood has A antigens, Group B blood has B antigens, Group AB blood has both A and B antigens and Group O blood has neither A nor B antigens.

People with blood type AB- and AB+ are potential universal plasma donors. This means plasma can be transfused to people having all blood types.

People with blood type AB+ comprise 3 percent of the population. People with this type of blood are universal recipients. This means that they can be transfused with any type of blood in emergency situations.

O+ donors are needed more frequently than any other donor. Because O+ is the most common blood type, 38 percent of the population, it's needed more often by people requiring blood in hospitals.

Seven percent of the population has O- blood. People with O- blood are potential universal red blood cell donors. This means that their red blood cells can be transfused to patients with all types of blood.

It's important to remember that one unit of blood can save up to three lives. Blood and blood products are used for patients of all ages for both military members and their families. Blood must be available for routine military medical treatment facility operations, as well as contingency operations. Donations help ensure that blood is available when it's needed the most. Your donation could save a life - today.

For more information, call 376-6100 or log on to www.militaryblood.dod.mil.