Through the Rare Blood Program, CBS makes sure lifesaving rare blood is available to patients whenever and wherever it’s needed.ĬBS manages the national supply of blood, blood products and stem cells, and related services for all the provinces and territories (excluding Quebec). But if someone in need has rare blood, finding a matching donor can be hard. Whenever a blood transfusion is required, time is of the essence. The least common type is AB-negative (AB-), less than one per cent of the population has it. The highest percentage of blood type in Canada is O-positive, coming in at approximately 39 per cent, which is why there is the greatest need for type O blood. There are more than 600 known antigens - and some combinations of antigens are far less common than others. The surface of red blood cells contains proteins called antigens. People with type AB-positive (AB+) are considered universal recipients for red blood cells as they can receive them from any other blood type donor. The O-negative blood type is considered to be the universal basepoint as it can be used in any emergency situation as the red blood cells contained in O-negative blood can be used when there is no time to test a patient’s blood type. These eight blood types are: O-positive, O-negative, A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, AB-positive, and AB-negative. There are eight main blood types organized from a combination of two systems: ABO blood types (A, B, O, AB) and Rh type (positive or negative). This process takes about two-minutes to complete.

Anyone 17-years or older can go to a blood services typing event, they prick your finger, take a few droplets of blood, it gets mixed with a substance called antisera and this determines your blood type. It allows doctors to know what your blood type to determine who you can donate blood to and receive blood from.įinding out your blood type is not difficult. Knowing your blood type is vital for two reasons. Ironically, those who don’t give blood on a regular basis may not know what their blood type is, thus don’t have a chance to help to save someone’s life - not only here in Newfoundland and Labrador - but globally. How often have you heard that call go out?Ĭanadian Blood Services (CBS) is in need of a certain type of blood - generally O-negative - to combat a blood shortage or at times, a need for a special or rare blood type.

Blood types percentages