Chat with us, powered by LiveChat
Blood Types: What Do They Mean?

Facts About A- Blood

Despite type A- blood's relatively rare prevalance, A- blood donors can safely help nearly half of us! That's a pretty nifty superpower.

A negative blood type superhero

A negative blood is highly valuable in emergency and routine medical care. Known for its compatibility with A and AB negative blood types, A negative blood plays a crucial role in saving lives.

Want to know more about what makes our A negative donors so unique? We thought you'd never ask!

Our Recommendation for A- Donors

To help the most people with your donation, we recommend our A negative donors give whole blood every 56 days.

As your donation can be used to help people with A positive, A negative, AB positive or AB negative blood types, we also encourage you to consider making a Power Red donation. Through that process, donors are able to give twice the red blood cells they're able to with a traditional whole blood donation. What's more, our apheresis machines separates your red blood cells from the rest of your blood products, which means you will leave with your platelets and plasma — and some saline to ensure you're properly hydrated.

Schedule Your Donation Today Maximize Your Donation with Power Red

Video

Key Facts About A- Blood

  • A- Blood Type: How Rare Is It?

    Present in only 1 in 17 people living in the United States — that's just 6% — A negative is more rare than O positive, O negative, A positive and B positive blood types.

  • Who Can A- Donors Donate to?

    People with an A negative blood type can donate red blood cells to patients with A positive, A negative, AB positive or AB negative blood types.

    And while we recommend that our A- donors give whole blood, A- platelets can also help patients with A positive, A negative, O positive and O negative blood types.

  • What Type of Blood Can A- Patients Receive?

    A negative patients can only receive blood transfusions from donors with A negative or O negative blood — roughly 13 percent of the population. One major reason why donating whole blood is so important for our A negative donors!

Not to Bug You, But...

Did you know that you're less likely to get eaten up by mosquitoes if you have an A negative blood type? It's true! That goes for those with an A positive blood type, too.

Mosquitoes buzzing

Mosquitoes are attracted to far more than just blood type, so you're not out of the woods yet. Want to know why they seem to like you so much — or why they don't? Read one of our buzziest blog posts yet.

Yes, Mosquitoes Can Tell Your Blood Type

More on the Other Primary Blood Types

Want to learn about what makes other blood types unique? Visit our blood types hub or use the drop-down bar below for a deeper look at a specific blood type.