Having rare blood types can make you feel unique, but do you know if you have the rarest blood type? If you have a basic knowledge of blood types, you know that AB negative and O negative are among the most rare blood groups.

But, while these are rare blood types, they are not the rarest. Rh-null is the rare blood type that is possibly most treasured in the blood donor community among the most rare blood groups in the world

Rarest Blood Groups

Our blood is more complicated than you may think. You’ve probably heard of the 8 basic blood types: A, AB, B, and O and their positive or negative variations. But did you know that these 8 types can be divided into millions of varieties? Our blood contains antigens that coat the surface of the red blood cells, and these antigens are important to know about when donating or receiving blood.

If a person receives blood that contains antigens their own blood does not, his or her immune system might try to attack the foreign blood cells, which can be deadly. The antigen-negative blood types are among the most rare blood group.

What’s the Rarest Blood Type?

Which blood group is rare? First, it’s important to note that there are currently 33 recognized blood group systems (more will likely be discovered). Each has antigens that make it more unique, creating some very rare blood types.

A blood type is considered rare if fewer than 1 in 1,000 people have it. One of the rarest blood types in the world is Rh-null, which lacks any antigens in the Rh system. There are only 9 active donors in the community of rare blood donors that have Rh-null blood. Rh-null, which is the rarest blood group, is considered a “universal blood” for anyone with a rare blood type within the Rh system. However, anyone who has Rh-null blood can only receive Rh-null blood in a transfusion.

Discover Your Blood Type at FastMed

If you’ve ever wanted to donate blood, you may have wondered about your blood type. Finding out your blood type is simple. You can purchase a blood test kit from most pharmacies, or you can stop by your local FastMed Urgent Care for a blood test. We have on-site labs, enabling us to get your results to you quickly and conveniently, and at an affordable cost. If your blood belongs to one of the rarest blood groups, you are a much desired donor! For any other questions about blood, blood tests and rare blood groups, contact us or check out our online medical library.