Some people rely on donations of rare blood. Please keep donating if you have a rare blood type, such as the Ro subtype.
Coronavirus has resulted in some changes and extra safety measures when you donate.
AB negative is the rarest of the eight main blood types - just 1% of donors have it.
Despite being rare, demand for AB negative blood is low and hospitals don’t struggle to find donors with AB negative blood.
However, some blood types are both rare and in demand.
This includes the Ro subtype, which is often used to treat people with sickle cell.
Only 2% of donors have it but demand for it is increasing by 10-15% each year.
The combination of being rare and sought after makes people with these blood types very important donors.
Most blood transfusions are based on the ABO and Rh groups.
But if someone needs ongoing transfusions, blood works best when it closely matches their own.
If you have a rare subtype, your blood could be vital for a patient who also shares that subtype.
If you give blood, you'll find out if you have a rare subtype after your first donation.