Blood Group

[Stu]

I have reached 67 years of age without ever knowing if I am blood group A, B, O etc. I found out accidentally while in hospital. I saw a doctor with my file and he opened it and shwed a colleague. I overheard him say "Blood EL".

I guess EL is a very rare blood group.

Stu

[Fred in Skirts]

Blood type EL is not a recognized blood type.

There are eight different blood types:

A positive: This is one of the most common blood types (35.7% of the U.S. population has it). Someone with this type can give blood only to people who are A positive or AB positive.

A negative: Someone with this rare type (6.3% of the U.S. population) can give blood to anyone with A or AB blood type.

B positive: Someone with this rare type (8.5%) can give blood only to people who are B positive or AB positive.

B negative: Someone with this very rare type (1.5%) can give blood to anyone with B or AB blood type.

AB positive: People with this rare blood type (3.4%) can receive blood or plasma of any type. They’re known as universal recipients.

AB negative: This is the rarest blood type -- only 0.6% of the U.S. population has it. Someone with this blood type is known as a “universal plasma donor,” because anyone can receive this type of plasma.

O positive: This is one of the most common blood types (37.4%). Someone with this can give blood to anyone with a positive blood type.

O negative: Someone with this rare blood type (6.6%) can give blood to anyone with any blood type.

Related:
What to Know About This Treatable Blood Disorder

The four major blood groups are based on whether or not you have two specific antigens -- A and B. Doctors call this the ABO Blood Group System.

Group A has the A antigen and B antibody.

Group B has the B antigen and the A antibody.

Group AB has A and B antigens but neither A nor B antibodies.

Group O doesn’t have A or B antigens but has both A and B antibodies.

The third kind of antigen is called the Rh factor. You either have this antigen (meaning your blood type is “Rh+” or “positive”), or you don’t (meaning your blood type is “Rh-” or “negative”).

Check with your doctor and ask what your blood type is.

[Susie]

British humour doesn't always make it over the pond, but it made me smile

[denimini]

Blood EL means something is not normal.

[Stu]

Blood type EL is not a recognized blood type.

I know. It was a joke aimed at British readers who would more readily understand it. Try saying "blood EL" fast in a British accent.

[Midas]

Perhaps ‘fire’ should have been added.

[Coder]

Blood type EL is not a recognized blood type.

I know. It was a joke aimed at British readers who would more readily understand it. Try saying "blood EL" fast in a British accent.

After you mentioned it was a joke this is what my mind went to, but I was skeptical.

[Mouse]

What I hope from Stu making jokes, is that he is feeling better with his new clock ticking away.

[Bertino56]

My Army dog tags had that information. Type B-Positive.
I donated blood 135 times. And helped organize blood drives at my workplace.
No more donations, since I now have a pacemaker.
I have never received a transfusion, but my late partner of 36 years, as a cancer patient, had several.

[Stu]

What I hope from Stu making jokes, is that he is feeling better with his new clock ticking away.

Thanks, Mouse. So far so good, even if I do have a sore shoulder and can't raise my right arm or carry any more than 5kgs.

[Mouse]

Thanks, Mouse. So far so good, even if I do have a sore shoulder and can't raise my right arm or carry any more than 5kgs.

Take things easy and let things heal. Pleased things are going well at present.

[Fred in Skirts]

Sorry Stu, I did not catch the joke! While I enjoy British humor and have for many "hundreds of years" sometimes it still goes over my head as big as it is!!

I hope you and your new pacemaker get along this time. My ex Mother in Law (God rest her soul!) had to have the leads replaced on hers twice as they were recalled by the company that made them. She hated having to sit around all day and do not so much because of her age and health while she healed.