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Caucasian: Kell B-negative and Vel-negative blood types.

East European and Russian Jewish: Drori A-negative blood type.

Pacific Island and Asian: JKnull blood type.

Native American and Alaskan native: RzRz blood type.

African American: U-negative and Duffy-negative blood types.

The American Red Cross data below list the rare blood type and the ethnic group in which it is most common: Some of these rare blood types and blood group systems are distinctly more common in certain ethnic groups. In addition, scientists have identified 36 different blood group systems, some of which can cause problems with blood transfusions. If only 1 in 1,000 people lack it, the individual’s blood type is very rare. Having an antigen that most people do not have, or missing an antigen that most people do have, means that an individual has a rare blood type.Īccording to the International Society of Blood Transfusion, if only 1 in 500 people are missing the same antigen as an individual, their blood type is rare. It is important to make a distinction between the rarest of the eight most common blood types and the extremely rare subtypes.

Caucasian: 1% AB-negative, 2% B-negative, and 3% AB-positiveĪ and B antigens only represent two of approximately 600 other known antigens that can differentiate blood types.

Asian: 0.1% AB-negative, 0.4% B-negative, and 0.5% A-negative.

Latin American: 0.2% AB-negative, 1% B-negative, and 2% both A-negative and AB-positive.

African American: 0.3% AB-negative, 1% B-negative, and 2% A-negative.

Statistics from the American Red Cross show that the following are the most rare forms of the major eight blood types in the U.S. is AB-negative, with less than 1% of the population having this type. The rarity of, and demand for, this type of blood emphasizes the importance of blood donors.Ĭlick here to learn more about blood types. As such, the American Red Cross suggests that when people, especially those with rare blood types, need blood, the best matches tend to come from people of the same race or ethnic background.įor this reason, some blood centers collect ethnic information from blood donors.įor some conditions, such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease, this matching is even more important because these conditions are more common among certain ethnic communities, and people may need frequent transfusions.įor example, only 2% of donors have a rare subtype of blood that doctors often use to treat sickle cell disease, but demand for it is increasing by 10–15% each year.

These genetic factors tend to run in ethnic groups. The genes that a person inherits from their parents determine the mix of antigens and proteins in their blood. If it is present, the blood group is Rh-positive, but if it is absent, the blood group is Rh-negative.Ĭombining these two characteristics yields the eight most common blood types.

Red blood cells may have another antigen called the Rh antigen on their surface. Blood group AB has both A and B antigens.Blood group O has neither A nor B antigens.Blood group A has A antigens on the red blood cells.This system classifies blood types as follows: These define blood types according to which antigens are present on red blood cells. People can define blood types using the ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group systems. Share on Pinterest A person’s blood type may fall into any of the 36 human blood groups.

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