Calling Blood Type AB Donors

American Red Cross, New York-Penn Blood Services ^ | New York-Penn Blood Services

[Winged Hussar]

Calling Blood Type AB Donors

We have received an urgent request from the United States Department of Defense for type AB plasma. We will be shipping them 100 units a week thru mid-August. We ask for your help at this time. As a blood type AB donor, the plasma in your body is universal – it can go to anyone of any blood type. Who uses plasma? Burn patients, trauma patients, even our troops wounded in battle. Type AB is also rare. Only 4% of the population is type AB, so you can imagine how in-demand your plasma must be. You can give just your AB plasma through a special type of blood donation called apheresis. Donations can be made at a local American Red Cross donation center near you. One donation can give enough for up to four patient doses. You would have to donate whole blood up to four times to equal the same number of patient doses as one apheresis plasma donation.

[Winged Hussar]

This is for the men and women in uniform who are protecting our freedom.

Please spread the word.

[MeanWestTexan]

Damn it, I hate giving blood, but I am AB.

Oh well, I’ll get drunk off of just a little wine tonight.

[Spktyr]

Unfortunately, I’m Type A. :(

[gjones77]

Your title is a little off.

Blood and plasma are slightly different, plasma is the liquid component of blood and AB is the universal donor when it comes to plasma.

With blood O- is the universal donor and AB is the universal recipient.

[Smedley]

Damn it, I hate giving blood, but I am AB

Yeah, I'm AB negative and hate giving blood, but do so 3-4 times a year. I figure I'll need it one day and need the karma points.

[Tunehead54]

Get going! I just called - I'm an O-Neg "Universal donor" and donate regularly every 60 days or so but ONLY AB plasma is good for universal plasma use. Thanks in advance. ;-)

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Bump!

[surrey]

I’m AB- also. Can they use mine?

[mathluv]

I am A-, but have never been able to donate. (not sure why - once was because I had or was having surgery in the next 12 months.)

[SeaHawkFan]

I’m AB- also. Can they use mine?

What's the alcohol content?

[kalee]

My whole famnily are O-, Red Cross calls us all the time.

[Mark was here]

Is the Red Cross going to sell the blood to the government?

Don’t be fooled into thinking the Disaster Relief folks are the same as the Blood Business.

The blood business cynically uses disaster images to push their business.

I would not mind donating if the Red Cross was not involved.

[fanfan]

Ping

[RikaStrom]

I’m AB- too, guess I will be donating this weekend.

[Man50D]

Some AB Blood Type Stats:

AB+
4% of patients can receive your red blood cells.
All patients can receive your platelets.
All patients can receive your plasma.

AB-
All patients can receive your Platelets.
5% of patients can receive your red blood cells.
All patients can receive your plasma.

[GBA]

I used to donate all the time but the Red Cross doesn’t want my blood any more. I lived in Germany for 6 months in 1987 and that makes my blood a risk for mad cow. I have barked at the moon a few times, but that doesn’t mean I’m mad or a cow.

[Old Grumpy]

“I hate giving blood, but I am AB.”

I’m AB+ and hate giving it too, as it takes a LONG time for them to get a pint out of me.

[AnnaZ]

I'm AB+, but, frankly, have issues with the Red Cross. Are they going to sell what I might donate?

[redhead]

AB+ here, also. I don’t qualify to donate to apheresis, but can give whole blood, and it’s time. My son and I will go on Monday (blood bank is closed Thurs-Sun).

[surrey]

Thanks for the info.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I am AB negative, if they will ensure that my plasma is only used for our military personnel I might bite.