Rare Blood Donor Registries

Programs that maintain a computerized registry of individuals whose red blood cells lack common antigens or have uncommon antigens and are willing make regular donations of blood which may be used in the treatment of patients who require this blood type for a safe transfusion. In situations where none of the blood centres have the requisite rare blood, a donor may be contacted to help a particular patient. A person's blood type is considered rare if only one other person in 1,000 lacks the same antigens or shares the same uncommon antigens.