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Research reveals demand for O negative on the rise
Ethnic diversity has been cited as the likely cause for blood types in Australia becoming more `positive’ and boosting the need for O negative.
The findings were uncovered during a landmark study of 1.3 million Australian patients and nearly half a million blood donors conducted by Australian Red Cross.
There are eight basic blood types, A, AB, B and O, each of which can be `positive’ or `negative’.
The research was the first to look at Australian patient data, providing a more accurate picture of the nation’s blood types – which to date has relied on data from first-time blood donors.
Using blood donor data from the early 1990s, it was thought approximately 19 per cent of the population had a negative blood type, including 9 per cent who were O negative – the universal blood type.
The study, headed by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood lead researcher Dr Rena Hirani, showed only 14 per cent of the population had a negative blood type, and importantly, just 6.5 per cent were O negative.
Knowing the nation’s blood types and how they are changing is crucial, according to Dr Hirani.
“Your blood type is determined by your genetic background, in a similar way to your eye, skin and hair colour, and certain blood groups are more prevalent in certain countries,” she said.
Dr Hirani said the research also reflected the growing challenge to collect the universal O negative blood type, which currently makes up 16 per cent of hospital orders, although it is now known fewer than only seven per cent of patients have that blood type.
O negative blood can be given in emergency situations where a patient’s blood group is unknown and is often stocked in ambulances and rescue helicopters.