- Myth: I can’t donate if I have tattoos.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I got a piercing recently.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I’ve just been to the dentist.
- Myth: Blood can be manufactured.
- Myth: Blood donation is painful.
- Myth: Blood is only needed in times of emergency.
- Myth: Donating blood causes my body to start over producing blood cells.
- Myth: Donating blood makes you gain weight.
- Myth: Donating blood takes a long time.
- Myth: Donating blood will impact my ability to do my daily activities.
- Myth: Giving blood will harm me by taking away red cells or platelets that my body needs to function.
- Myth: I can catch an infectious disease by donating blood.
- Myth: I have a common blood type, so you don’t need my blood.
- Myth: Donating blood can harm my immune system.
- Myth: Other people are already giving enough blood.
- Myth: Vegetarians or vegans cannot donate blood.
- Myth: I cannot donate blood because I have diabetes.
- Myth: I can’t donate if I’ve had low hemoglobin (iron) levels in the past.
- Myth: I must make an appointment to donate blood.
- Myth: I should fast before I donate.
- Myth: I can’t donate blood when I’m on my menstrual cycle.
- Myth: Sometimes, needles and other materials are reused.
- Myth: I can’t donate blood because phlebotomists won’t be able to find my veins.
- Who can give blood?
- Where does my blood go?
- Which patients use what blood components?
- What types of photo ID are accepted?
- What tests are performed on blood?
- What is vCJD?
- What happens when somebody tests positive for an infectious disease marker?
- What can I eat to raise my hemoglobin levels?
- Is it safe to receive blood transfusions?
- I don’t have sickle cell anemia, but I carry the trait. Can I still give blood?
- How will I feel after I give blood?
- How often can I give blood?
- How much blood is taken?
- How long does it take?
- Can I give blood for myself?
- When was Carter BloodCare founded?
- Can people with high blood pressure donate blood?
- Can people who have tested positive for HIV or AIDS donate blood?
- Can gay or bi-sexual men donate blood?
- What is Apheresis?
- How long can blood be stored?
Blood Types
A, B, O and AB are the four main blood groups. Learn more about each type and its importance in the community.
What determines someone’s blood type?
Our different blood types are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens (unique substances) on the surface of our red blood cells. These antigens are an important part of blood donation and transfusion because patients cannot receive red blood cell transfusions from donors that have different antigens than their own red blood cells. Our body produces antibodies (part of our immune response) against antigens that are “foreign” to our body – thus limiting the blood types that patients can receive for transfusion.
While there are many different types of antigens on our red blood cells and throughout our body, there are 2 main blood antigen groups that determine our blood type: ABO and Rh.
ABO blood group
The A and B antigens, and their presence on our red blood cells determines if our blood type is O (lacks both A and B antigens), A (has the A antigen only), B (has the B antigen only), or AB (has both A and B antigens).
Rh blood group
The presence or absence of the Rh antigen determines whether we are (+) or (-).
Therefore, the 8 blood types are the following: O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-
Learn more about the genetics of how blood type is inherited.