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LordLandis t1_iydwg7r wrote

Reply to comment by NotDolledUpForYou in Can someone with an O Rh- blood type really donate blood to every single human being on earth or is there more nuance to it? by Yalkim

Ooh, what's that? It's been about 22 years since I was in the field, and that one's new to me.

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NotDolledUpForYou t1_iyeayd7 wrote

Golden blood is the rarest blood type you can have in the world. So rare they estimate that less 50 people have it worldwide. Its also known as Rh-null blood because unlike being Rh negative (such as O- or B-) they have no Rh antigens at all, like not a single one out of the 61 possible antigens at all. This is because of a mutation that essentially leads to the carbon backbone the antigens are formed on not existing on the red cells. This also makes it ideally the absolute best transfusion blood because it will not cause any reactions no matter what the receivers blood type is. However because so few people have it and it is so rare, any blood that is donated of it is saved in a small pool for other people with golden blood, as if they require a transfusion they cannot accept any other blood without risk of a transfusion reaction.

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LordLandis t1_iyedtjp wrote

Neat! Thanks for the primer. Sounds like a fascinating topic to read up on at the genetic/chemical level.

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kelephon19 t1_iyf32vh wrote

I remember reading about a guy in Belgium I think with Rh-null blood. If I remember right he walked in amd donated blood and they later told him that they had theorised that somebody could be born with that but most likely would not survive past infancy.

I believe he has to travel semi-regularly to France to donate blood for long term storage in case either he or others with rare blood types ever need it.

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MalayaleeIndian t1_iyeypbu wrote

Wow! I learned something totally new and unexpected today. Thank you so much!

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